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Macropod Care Guide
Kangaroos, Wallabies & Related Species
Macropods are a family of athletic marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding islands. Pet macropods most commonly include the medium-sized Bennett’s wallaby (also known as the red-necked wallaby), gray kangaroos, and the much larger red kangaroo. Macropods have specialized husbandry requirements and their legality as pets varies by state, city, and local law — check your regulations before obtaining one.
Macropods are social and should be kept in pairs or small groups (called a mob). Males will box to establish dominance. Wallabies can live 5–12+ years and kangaroos often live 15–20+ years or longer as pets.
Enclosure
Minimum enclosure sizes:
- Wallabies: 650 square feet (larger if housing multiple animals)
- Kangaroos: 1,000 square feet (larger if housing multiple animals)
Solid, opaque, smooth fencing at least 6 feet tall is necessary to prevent injury and escape. Substrate should be soft — grass, sand, or soil. Wire, concrete, sharp gravel, and hard-packed earth are not recommended.
Provide a dry, sturdy, roofed shelter to protect from the elements, shade via trees, shade cloth, or shelters, and supplemental heat when temperatures drop below 50°F. Kangaroos and wallabies sweat only when exercising — at rest they regulate temperature by seeking shade and salivating on their forearms.
Temperature & Humidity
- Preferred temperature: 60–85°F
- Above 95°F: tolerable if adequate shade and water are provided
- Below 50°F: supplemental heat required
- Humidity: 40–60%
Water
Fresh, clean water should be available at all times in a sturdy crock. Disinfect the water bowl regularly.
Diet
Kangaroos and wallabies are herbivores. Their diet should consist of:
- 75–80%: high-quality grass hay (timothy or orchard grass)
- 20–25%: commercial macropod pellets (Mazuri Kangaroo/Wallaby Food)
- Less than 5%: vegetables and fruit
Animals not receiving pellets are susceptible to vitamin E and selenium deficiencies, which can result in muscular dystrophy. Rough, abrasive feeds are thought to contribute to mouth sores that can predispose animals to “lumpy jaw” and should be avoided.
Enrichment
Kangaroos and wallabies appreciate fresh browse (nontoxic leafy branches) and may use puzzle feeders or benefit from scatter feeding and foraging for their pellets.
Wellness & Preventive Care
- Annual wellness examinations are recommended
- Annual fecal testing with deworming as needed
- Annual bloodwork with Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) titers in endemic regions
- Sedated dental imaging (X-rays or CT scan) is often recommended to monitor dental health
- Clostridium multivalent vaccine including tetanus toxoid and rabies vaccinations are recommended; additional vaccines such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis may be recommended in certain areas
- Spaying females is challenging due to their unique anatomy
- Neutering males prior to sexual maturity is recommended to prevent behavioral issues, aggression, and unwanted breeding
Common Health Problems
Common conditions include dental disease (including “lumpy jaw”/oral necrobacillosis), trauma or predator attack injuries, Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis), toxoplasmosis, coccidia parasites, tetanus (“lockjaw”), obesity, capture/exertional myopathy, nutritional myopathy, and urolithiasis (urinary stones).
See a veterinarian immediately if your wallaby or kangaroo has:
- Poor appetite or lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid weight loss
- Swelling around the face or jaw
- Drooling
- Bleeding, limping, or obvious injury
