There are seventeen species of Short-Tailed Opossums. The most common species, and the one that will be addressed in this description, is Monodelphis domestica. The Short-Tailed Opossum is native to the South American countries of Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. It is becoming a fairly popular pet due to its cleanly and easy-going nature.

The Short-Tailed Opossum is sexually mature at about four or five months and can have up to four litters of as many as 16 babies a year. Female Opossums can be quite aggressive towards males except when they are ready to breed. Unlike most other marsupials, the female Short-Tailed Opossum does not have a pouch in which to keep nursing young. She does, however, have a circle of nipples on her abdomen like other marsupials. When a litter is born, only as many babies as the mother has nipples can survive. For example, if sixteen babies are born but the mother only has thirteen nipples, only thirteen babies have any chance of surviving. After being born, the babies crawl to the mother's nipples and begin suckling. The nipple then swells in their mouth. The babies usually suckle for about 30 days and then crawl to the mother's back. If the baby loses hold of the nipple, its chances of survival are very slim, since the nipple remains swollen and the baby can't get it back in its mouth. The only social relations between Short-Tailed Opossums are between the mother and young. Adults should not be kept in the same enclosure unless they are being bred. They are mostly nocturnal, although they will venture out during the day.

Pet Short-Tailed Opossums are often kept in an aquarium (ten gallons is usually big enough) with shavings and nest-building material such as cotton or shredded paper. They are fairly neat and clean, using one corner of their living space for a bathroom. They can also be trained to use a litter-box. They are basically odor-free and their cage only needs to be cleaned about once a week. Short-Tailed Opossums should be provided with a water bottle. In the wild, Short-Tailed Opossums generally feed on insects, fruit and vegetables. A similar diet can be reconstructed at home with mealworms, crickets, fruit, and bread. They can also do well with cat food or other dry feed. They should be given a bit of fruit often, if they are to be fed dry food. The Short-Tailed Opossum's living area should have lots of stuff to entertain them, such as a hamster wheel, nest boxes, branches and ropes. Short-Tailed Opossums kept as pets are quite friendly. They are easy to tame and make good pets, as they usually do not bite and are very clean. However, they can be quite aggressive to other members of the species, injuring or even killing each other.

Fully grown, Short-Tailed Opossums reach between three and seven inches in length, with a tail that is between one and a half and three inches long. They weigh between two and three ounces. Baby Opossums are born pink and hairless. As they mature, they grow a soft, thick fur that is similar to a rabbit's. The tail is bare. Their body structure is quite similar to that of a shrew. They have fifty very sharp teeth in a large, triangular mouth. Their ears are very thin and sensitive to sound. They have bulging eyes, which give them good night vision. Their tail is prehensile and used to grasp and balance while climbing.

The Short-Tailed Opossum originated in Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. It is highly valued by the natives of South American Villages not only because it is considered good luck but also because they keep insects, small rodents and even scorpions at bay.

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