Husbandry of a small breeding colony of opossums (Didelphis virginiana).
A small breeding colony of opossums was established in a semi-enclosed structure. Minor modifications of pre-existing pens permitted efficient and productive management of the opossums. Dry dog food was provided, and large amounts of shredded paper was used for nesting material. Vaginal smears were taken from opossums that were restrained only by their tail, a procedure that allowed one person to obtain and interpret vaginal smears from 20 females in less than 2 hours per day. Pregnancy resulted from 90% of the copulations when the females were mated at proestrus. This productive breeding colony was established quickly by obtaining lactating females from the wild in late winter and early spring.
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D001947:Breeding; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D009893:Opossums / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction