Honey Possum

Honey Possum (scientific name: Petaurus breviceps) is a marsupial mammal in the family Petauridae and genus Petaurus. The body of the Honey Possum resembles that of the Mustelidae family, and it has a long tail that cannot grasp objects.

The Honey Possum, known as 蜜袋鼯 in Chinese, is a type of marsupial mammal found in Australia, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Over 20 years ago, people in China started keeping Honey Possums as pets, and they have gradually gained popularity. In recent years, pet Honey Possums bred and sold in the United States were originally imported from Indonesia, so these small marsupials, which originally lived in forests, are now kept in cages.

The Honey Possum is suitable for all ages, but it is a nocturnal animal and is close to a herbivorous omnivore. Evening is the best time to feed them. In their natural habitat, they prefer sweet-tasting foods such as flowers, nectar, and pollen. They also eat tree buds, sap, leaves, seeds, and insects. When kept in captivity, in addition to providing commercially available food, it is advisable to supply them with fruits and sweet foods such as honey, according to their natural diet. It is important not to feed them frozen food, as this can lead to death.

Cataracts

The Honey Possum is a cute little "big-eyed baby" with a pair of bright and adorable eyes. However, some Honey Possums are born with congenital cataracts, and their pupils appear white or cloudy.

The cause of cataracts in Honey Possums may be genetic. It is not difficult to find that the probability of Honey Possum offspring having cataracts greatly increases when female Honey Possums are obese or malnourished during pregnancy.

This may be due to a lack of vitamin A or a high sugar content in their diet, as well as the presence of conditions such as diabetes in female possums. Non-congenital cataracts may be caused by a lack of vitamin A.

Corneal injury

Honey Possums often glide between trees in the wild, and their eyes are more prominent, making them prone to corneal injuries during their activities.

Therefore, in the process of artificially raising Honey Possums, it is not recommended to use homogenous bedding materials such as wood shavings. Such bedding materials can have a certain impact on the eye and respiratory health of Honey Possums.

Dental stones and periodontal disease

Honey Possums have front teeth similar to rabbits, but their front teeth do not continue to grow. Therefore, Honey Possums do not need to maintain the proper length of their front teeth through gnawing or other tooth grinding methods.

Artificially raised Honey Possums have diverse dietary conditions, and their food content and composition are more abundant. Therefore, Honey Possums are prone to dental stones and other periodontal diseases. When necessary, the owner can ask a professional veterinarian to perform professional treatments such as oral cleaning for their pets to maintain the oral and dental health of Honey Possums.

Enteritis and prolapse

Like most mammals, Honey Possums may also be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites, which are the main causes of enteritis in small mammals.

Infection with enteritis can cause serious diarrhea and even prolapse. When pets have such abnormalities, the owner should provide timely medical intervention and treatment to prevent severe problems such as intestinal inflammation or necrosis.

Muscle weakness

Honey Possums have certain requirements for nutrient intake. When Honey Possums lack calcium and nutrients such as vitamins A, E, and D, muscle weakness may occur, and they may even experience spasms and paralysis. The daily activities of Honey Possums will be affected. Therefore, the diet of Honey Possums should be balanced, with a diverse range of food.

Tumors

Due to their individual characteristics, Honey Possums have a higher incidence of tumors in the lymphatic system. As these tumors occur in the lymphatic system, they can cause certain damage to the organs such as the spleen, liver, and kidneys. When Honey Possums suffer from such diseases, the mortality rate is higher.

Skin problems and inflamed pouches

The skin health of Honey Possums not only requires daily nutritional support but also depends on a clean living environment. When there are changes in the breeding conditions of Honey Possums, such as unclean breeding environment, malnutrition, or infection, the skin health of Honey Possums will be affected, leading to inflammation and redness of the skin. The pouch of female possums may also become inflamed due to bacterial or fungal infections, or water ingress.

Self-inflicted injuries

Although Honey Possums may seem cute and silly, they are emotionally sensitive little babies. They may have self-inflicted behaviors due to monotonous and boring lives, poor breeding environments, or imbalanced relationships between couples.

When Honey Possums have injuries caused by self-infliction or fighting, the owner should promptly treat and clean the wounds, thoroughly investigate the causes of such behavior, and give reasonable solutions. They must not be neglected.

Although the care of Honey Possums is relatively simple, they, like all pets, require care and comfort from the owner in terms of breeding details and psychological reassurance.

The Honey Possum can be fed with special feed for its main diet, supplemented with small pieces of vegetables and fruits such as apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, and bananas. The Honey Possum is an omnivorous animal, so you can also buy some insect feed used for beetles to feed it. If there are a lot of Honey Possums being raised, the bottom of the box is easily soiled by excrement. In this case, you can lay a layer of meshed partition and then cover it with some sanitary paper or newspaper.

Before bathing the Honey Possum, it is necessary to prepare because Honey Possums generally do not like bathing. They may bite or scratch during the bathing process, so it is essential to wear gloves when bathing them. The bathing products should be mild in nature, and a dedicated bathing basin should be used.