Animal Stories - Small Animal Pets


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Latest Animal Stories on Small Animal Pets (6283)

Kristy Nannie - 2019-05-23
We have female and squirrels, 15 weeks old. Not hand tamed yet, but they can be touched. Outdoor enclosure is brand new, never used; will sell together or separately. $275 for both squirrels, $200 for enclosure. Shipping is possible but buyer covers cost. Interested then text me via (972) 638 - 9315 Thanks

Lora - 2019-05-20
Hi Lisa. We are looking to buy. Do you have any avail??
If so can you call me 254-339-8933
Thanks
Lora

Lori Ferraro - 2016-01-09
We have had a STO for two weeks. She's been great, active, eating great. Yesterday she just didn't look right. She seemed lethargic and really wasn't really able to walk. She's been eating and drinking great, pooping. She ended up having one small episode of bloody stool and we found her dead this morning. Any ideas? We are beyond devastated.

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S-TO - 2019-05-17
Why would you let an "incident of bloody stool" go, without taking it seriously?

Small animals do not have bloody stool, as a matter of course.

Most animals do not, but it is very important to not ignore something like blood coming out of any orifice of an an animal as small as a STO.

It could be any of a number of things, that's why you need to take your STO to an exotic animals veterinarian, immediately, when something like this happens. It could have been a blockage, it could have been a rupture inside, if you have young kids with access to it, they may have hurt it somehow by squeezing or dropping it, and then put it back into the cage, etc.

PLEASE dont take these kinds of symptoms lightly. STOs are fragile and time is of the essence when they show a disturbing symptom like this. I'd feel as badly as you say you do if I ignored my STO when it had a symptom like this, knowing it died a miserable death over the hours that I could have taken it into a vet to be seen. Even if you couldnt help it, euthanasia is kinder than letting an animal suffer in pain for hours.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
Again, this goes for all animals, big AND small:
If they are suddenly lethargic, cant walk or have bloody stools, these are ALL individually reasons to get them to a vet, immediately. If they are having them ALL at once, dont ignore it-- DO IT.

Animals arent like humans. They don't have 'off' days. If they are showing distress, it is VERY SERIOUS. Wild animals, like STOS or any birds, etc, especially will try to hide a problem. So if youre seeing a problem, it is beyond serious, and they need to be seen by a professional, STAT.

Allison - 2015-05-10
I recently bought a STO and on the second day of owning her I tried the bathroom trick to have a more confined space to try and hold her. Well, she jumped down and found the smallest hole under my sink and is now loose inside of my wall. I have placed her food and her cage in thebathroom in hopes she will come out. Anyone have anymore ideas for me.

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Clarice Brough - 2015-05-11
Hopefully she will come out to eat, and as she gets more comfortable you may be able to catch her again.
jake - 2016-01-30
Either a 5gallon bucket or trash can with favorite food at bottom and some object close they can climb on to get in but can't climb out. Or I catch mine with large plastic mixing bowl and food tied to a stick to prop it up trick.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
Keep an open jar of baby food -chicken or turkey is good- out for her in front of where she left, and on every level of your house , and also a small dish of water. Leave her cage open and on the floor, so she may return to it. Set up a surveillance with video if you can, at night. Keep nightlights on every floor, and wait around dawn and dusk to see if it comes out. KEEP any other animals out of the room, and generally keep an eye on them all the time, also, so they dont get to the STO before you.

You have to get looking for the STO , immediately, because if they can dehydrate in a matter of 48-72 hrs, with no food and water.

The one time that mine escaped, she had found a tear in the lining underneath the couch and was hanging out in it like a little hammock.

You can also walk through your house and in your basement or crawlspace and see if you can hear them moving through the ductwork, or any noises from them. Watch your animals, if you have them, are they hanging around a certain area, listening to something? The STO might be near. If you have a dog, put it on a leash and walk it around the house, basement, etc, and just be silent, and watch to see if it hears something, looks to an area or turns its ears up or toward an area.
I have a scent dog as opposed to a sight dog, so I took a sock from the STO's cage (which she liked to sleep in), held it in front of my dog's nose and said the STO's name; I did it 3x and then I said, "Where is (STO)?? Go get (STO)!" And of course she just turned her head toward the couch, and took a couple steps toward it. My dog knew she was there the whole time we had been in the room, but she was ignoring her (she was jealous of her).

When it comes to the registers and duct work, you can stick a long piece of rope or tie some yarn together, or a long strip of fabric, and let it hang down into it, tied to the register or something, so that the STO can get a grip good enough to climb out of a smooth or vertical duct.

If youre putting out a bucket for the STO, make sure its not too short or flimsy, or some STOs could just knock it over.

Please do NOT put out any contraptions that falls down or springs shut!
Your STO is tiny and delicate, and can get injured horribly by them! They have tiny vulnerable little fingers, as well, and eyes that get injured.
I've never seen a store bought animal trap that was gentle enough to catch an STO, and most of them just work like garbage, in general.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
If you use the scent trick I did with my dog, obviously do not let them actually "go get" the STO. You can put the dog on a leash, first. It can then lead you to where the STO is, but you can prevent it from actually getting to the STO.

This trick may not work with every scent dog, but mine was a working dog breed.
If you dont have a dog ( you can try it with a non-scent dog, too), you can borrow one from a friend, family member or neighbor, if you are able to handle the dog and it cant break from your grip of the leash.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
Please do not bond with your STO in the bathroom. There are human fecal germs in every bathroom that spray out in a fine mist when you flush the toilet, and they can harm an animal -espcially a small one- that is walking around on the floors and surfaces of a bathroom. STOS are tiny, and their hands and feet also go in their mouths as they clean thmselves, and they clean themselves quite a lot. Any traces of bathroom cleaner can get on them, also, and that is toxic. Don't make your STO ill or poison them, please.

If you want to bond with your STO, first, understand that isnt going to happen over night, They are wild animals and afraid of humans. It's going to take time. As in weeks, probably.

Make sure their housing is in calm place and they feel secure. You might feed them some 'gourmet' crickets from a can (they love then), or small pet food grade worms, like wax worms (do not use wild caught insects because of potential pesticide poisoning). Dont take the STO out of its home or sleeping area to feed it. Let it feel secure and safe. If you pick it up, it will not feel secure or safe, period. Natural predators that are way smaller than a human pick them up to eat them, and they get scared with you when you do that, just the same.

Over time, if you are respecting them, they will feel safer with you, and you can coax them out to feed them.

Do NOT get food on your fingers and then put them by the STO. They have bad eyesight, and may bite your finger by mistake, thinking that it is food because it smells like food.

After they have built up a solid sense of trust with you, another way to bond with them, is to allow them to stay in a sock or soft slipper, while you hold them on your lap. You can use a bonding pouch or use the sock or slipper, etc. Whatever is soft an comfortable for the STO. Dont fuss with them, allow them to settle and feel comfortable. They may even start to come out and look around, or climb on you.

Be warned: The WILL pe on you. Actually pee & poop, as they have cloacas and both come out at the same time. This is also something they won't tell you, when you go to buy a STO. They are wiild animals and they will act like wild animals. It is nto something they grow out of, or that you can or should even try to train them out of. If you want an STO, get used to being peed and pooped on, nearly every time they are on you (or n your couch, bed, etc. ) It is gross, but that it who it is; they didnt ask to be a pet. They use this behavior a scent marking their territory, in the wild. IF they are ON YOU, then YOU are their territory.

Another way to bond, when they are very secure with you, is to let them snuggle down into the top of your shirt. If they are done exercising and exploring, the will settle down and clean themselves and then fall asleep.
Be careful that you do not fall asleep, either, though, or you will kill or cripple it, rolling over, etc. And of course do not forget it is there. If it's on your upper chest just under your sternum, you can keep your eye on them there.

Angela Johnson - 2013-05-28
Hello everyone, i am a proud owner of a sto, for short, whose name is benny, jr. We have had him for a few months and he is so sweet and friendly, but, and i say but in caps for a reason;are you ready? He eats his own poop! ! It is so completely nasty and i have caught him already a few times doing it. I provide him with the special food they recommended at the exotic pet shop where we bought him- but why is he doing this? What makes it worse is that he gets it on his little 'fingers' and flings it about his home,(a fish aquarium. ) he makes such a mess and it is just so gross because then we don't want to handle him after seeing it stuck to his feet! ! Anyone have this problem?

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Anonymous - 2013-05-28
I have seen this with dogs. I don't know of any absolute cures, but I've seen products for dogs that may help. There is a discussion here and products here . I can't attest to how well any of them work (thank goodness I've not had to deal with this problem myself)
Laurel - 2014-11-30
Some animals do eat their poop. Such as bunnies and guinea pigs. Maybe your animal does too.
Makenzie - 2015-12-20
Dont worry my STO does it too!
S-TO - 2019-05-17
If you have a STSO and it's eating it's feces, then there is a Problem, capital P. These are pretty fastidious animals, and eating its feces probably indicates something wrong with the nutrition or food that it's getting.
Is the feces wet, like diarrhea? It could be sicker than just nutritional problems.

You need to get it to an exotic vet, and bring your store bought food you bought for it, so they can see the food and nutritional info on the bag.

The urine and feces your STO makes should be removed at least once a day, more like 2 or 3 times in 24 hrs. The cage should be cleaned weekly and wiped down with a vinegar-water solution.

How big is the cage or habitat your STO is living in? If its too small, or he has no mental stimulation, then this is obviously bad. From wht I've seen, most people stick these poor creatures in homes that are WAY TOO SMALL for them. They need plenty of space to roam and things to climb and do. If you were stuck in a tiny space, you might try to fling your feces away from yourself, too. Any animal put into too small a space with start showing abnormal behavior, humans included. People in solitary confinement go nuts too, and fling their feces around, if they are in there long enough.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
Also, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR STO ANY PRODUCTS MEANT FOR OTHER ANIMALS, like the advice above about dg products.

STOS are marsupials > opossums.

They have NOTHING to do with dogs! Or rodents or any other animals.
NEVER use products meant for another species.

The very FIRST thing you should be doing, with ANY animal that eats it's feces, is take it to the veterinarian. They can determine if it's due to a deficiency in its nutrition or behavioral, or whatever else it may be.

jake - 2016-01-30
My sto seems to be not as energetic lately. Ive had him coming up on 2 weeks and I'm wondering if Hes eating too much? I can't find anything on how often to feed them. I've been leaving food in his cage and giving maybe 3 superworms every other day. But I want to regulate his food intake and see if that's the problem.

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Melissa - 2016-11-17
Try feeding it Friskies dry cat food. They love it. I have 4 of them that I feed everynight and they are doing great. Find a small cat bowl and place it where he can get to and just what he needs. It seems to be their favorite.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
If your STO is lethargic, then there is a problem and you need to take it to an exotic vet. Do not wait.

STOs need a lot of exercising, they can run up to 9 miles a night, in the wild. EVERY STO NEEDS AN EXERCISE WHEEL, PERIOD. One that allows them to run on it without bending it's back any. One without a bar along the outside of it, because it can fall off and injure itself.

If your STO is not using the wheel, then something is seriously wrong.

Have you been checking its water bowl to amke sure its drinking water? They can get dehydrated very fast. You should be giving them clean water every day.

Water bottles that have a tube sometimes get clogged and then the STO can't get water --that's why you need to change the water once a day and check out that the water is getting out, EVERY TIME. An STO can die of dehydration very fast. Look at his skin underneath the fur, is it wrinkly? That can indicate dehydration. IF you have a water bottle in their cage or habitat, then also keep a small bowl filled with water, too (make sure it is too heavy for them to tip over).

Your STO could be lethargic for one of any of a thousand reasons, so get it to the vet, ASAP.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
Friskies is also not a diet an STO should be on. Or an actual cat. Terrible food.

Lisa Pretsch - 2015-10-06
I raise these fun little critters and I'am having a hard time getting the word out there that I have young ones for sale. Any suggestions? Thanks

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Mary - 2015-10-21
Dear Lisa,
I am looking to get a STO for my other half for Christmas. I would like to be able to drive to meet and bring home our little one, so could you please let me know where you are located? We are in PA and would not mind traveling out of state, up to a point. :) Thanks!
grace - 2015-11-22
where are you located ? I am in new york.
Lisa Pretsch - 2015-11-28
Hello, I couldn't find the site again so Im so sorry it took me this long to get back to you. I live in Wisconsinl
Karma - 2015-12-06
Hi! What type of baby squirrels do you have for sale. I live in Illinois, and would really be interested. Were they bred in captivity? Age of babies? I've rescued and raised them before. Thanks! How much are you asking for them?

Karma
Sally - 2017-02-23
I would be interested in your STOs. Do you still breed them? My husband and I have been wanting to get one but can't find any in our area. What part of WI are you in? We're in MN.
DANIELLE - 2017-03-06
Hi i am interested in buying a baby and i live in wisconsin also. . . Please email me @ daniellen5505@gmail. Com asap and ill let you know where i am and see where we can meet
S-TO - 2019-05-16
Short-tailed Opossums are wild animals, not domesticated.

They are shy and can bite as fast, or faster, than a snake when they are scared. And they are very near-sighted, so even your hand WILL frighten them. You WILL get bit, and bit hard enough to draw blood. Most probably more than once.

They are NOT SOCIAL animals. They are also known as excellent escape artists. They WILL escape sooner or later, due to owner inexperience or simple mistake.

And if they do, they can die of dehydration in 48-72hrs. They can fall down a vent and get stuck in your duct work and die.

If you have a cat or dog, ferret, rat, bird, they will most likely kill them before you even notice they've escaped. They do make a soft noise that your other animals will hear, before you do.

Brazil, where they come from mostly, did the right thing, and prevented these animals from being exported out, to keep them out of the pet trade, shortly after releasing them for scientific study. They aren't meant to be pets.

Stop exploiting this defenseless little animal by breeding and selling them for profit.

I came by mine when idiots with 5 kids, and 3 big dogs were going to throw her out. They cannot survive cold weather and the tons of predators outdoors, both wild and domestic.

There isn't much known about S-TOs. There are hardly any research papers written about them, even. Exotic vets don't even have a lot of knowledge about them. They are not easy to take care of. They need warm tems and a high humidity, but not too warm or high. You've got to make sure they are getting the right nutrition, or the will suffer.

Stick to the small rodent family of pets where there is a ton of information out there on them and their care, and leave these poor creatures alone.
S-TO - 2019-05-17
NEVER listen to someone who is breeding an animal for profit.

The money they can get out of you, usually with lies, is ALL that they care about. Not the health of the animal they bred. Not if the people who want to buy the animal are able, or want to, care for it, properly.
ALL they care about is getting your money.

STO's are not "fun." They are non-domesticated animals that do NOT want to be your pet, and they will act accordingly. When I took in my STO, she was scared and hissed and bit me for weeks, because the family who had her treated her roughly. The breeder who gave her to a family with a house full of kids under 10, and three dogs, didn't care if she died horribly at their hands or paws.

And they didn't tell them that a STO's urine & feces smells HORRIBLE. Fresh skunk odor is like a field of daisies compared to STO poop.

Makenzie - 2015-12-14
I recently was gave an STO. When we picked it up out of the tank it was ice cold and look lifeless. It is moving in a weird motion, it turns its head and twists and turns and then all of a sudden it is still. It is also lethargic and wont eat or drink. It wont even eat scrampled eggs. The past owners says it is because of stress. There is no vets near my area for exotic pets PLEASE HELP!!!

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S-TO - 2019-05-17
I know this was written a few years ago, but for anyone else reading this, this animal is obviously INJURED and DYING. COMMON SENSE SHOULD BE TELLING YOU THAT.

IN THIS SITUATION, YOU NEED TO GET UP OFF YOUR BEHIND AND IMMEDIATELY TAKE IT TO A VETERINARIAN. IF ITS OFF HOURS, THEN GET IT TO AN ANIMAL/PET ER CLINIC, IMMEDIATELY.

TO ANYONE ELSE WHO IS THINKING OF GETTING A S-T OPOSSUM, THEY REQUIRE AN EXOTIC VETERINARIAN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN EXOTIC VETERINARIAN CLOSE BY, AND YOU LACK THE MEANS TO GET TO ONE FURTHER AWAY, THEN DON'T TAKE THE POOR ANIMAL. USE SOME COMMON SENSE AND SELF-RESTRAINT.

ANIMAL ABUSE IS PUNISHABLE, BY LAW. WHEN YOU SAW THE SHAPE THAT POOR ANIMAL, AND PROBABLY THE OTHERS, WAS IN, YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE POLICE ON THAT PERSON THAT HAD THEM. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH ANIMAL ABUSE.

Kelly - 2019-05-12
Looking to buy a female black or blue Havana bunny.
please email if anyone in New Jersey is selling them.

Evie - 2011-06-23
DESPERATELY looking for a newborn female muntjac deer... email me at evieemergency@gmail.com

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Charlie Roche - 2011-06-24
The best thing to do if you are looking for a baby muntjak is to look around where you live. They need to be fed the mom's colustrum for a couple of days before they can be hand fed by a human. Now hand feeding a muntjak from about 2 weeks on is fairly easy but hand feeding a muntjak (if you have never done it) from 3 days old is not necessarily easy. I doubt there is a safe way to transport them via plane at that age and driving a great distance (more thana few hours) would be pretty difficult. They also can't go to the bathroom on their own for a week or so and you would need to wipe their rear with a warm wet cottom ball to have them go to the bathroom - in a kitty litter so they know to do that from the start. Unless this is something you have been through, I would think you would rather have one 3 - 4 weeks old - fed by someone in the home with the kitty litter. Good luck.
SKYE SMITH - 2019-04-30
Charlie i have some questions about muntjac. If you could email me at skyesmith11@yahoo.com it would be greatly appreciated!

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