Monkeys as Pets: Guidelines and Basic Tips (2025)

FAQs

How to take care of a monkey as a pet? ›

Monkeys need a large, secure enclosure, which can be expensive to construct. They should spend time outdoors if possible. And they must be provided with a wide variety of ever-changing toys and exercise equipment to keep them challenged or they will suffer from boredom.

Natural daylight for primates

Generally, all primates should have access to natural daylight for proper conversion of pro-vitamin D2 to vitamin D3. Nocturnal primates may not get enough sunlight and therefore their diet may need to include vitamin D3 supplements.

Most primatologists and primatological organizations are strongly against keeping primates as pets. The reasons are numerous: Many primates are endangered and it is illegal to keep them as pets or even in captivity. Many primates are taken illegally from their families and habitats in the wild and sold illegally.

Whatever a breeder may tell you, primates need specialised diets and access to the outdoors. Health problems – primates need specialist vets, which can be expensive and hard to find. Diseases can also spread between primates and humans. Herpes and measles can be fatal to primates.

Don't yell at, sing to, tease or heckle the monkey. Avoid any postures that would seem aggressive to a fellow human being and keep your motions minimal. Being aggressive will only get you attacked. Be careful when taking pictures.

Every month or so, wash your monkey with a mild shampoo designated for human hair, being careful not to get soap in their eyes. Rinse soap thoroughly, then dry your capuchin with a soft towel or hair dryer set to low heat.

They are identified with a proverbial saying, 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil', first recorded in 1926 and now generally used sarcastically against those who, through selfishness or cowardice, choose to ignore some wrongdoing.

Spend quality time with your pet monkey, engaging in gentle play, grooming, and bonding activities. If possible, consider introducing your marmoset to a compatible monkey companion to fulfill their social needs. Encourage Natural Foraging Behavior: Marmosets are natural foragers.

Monkeys probably don't know much about nutrition, but they know they love bananas. Why? It's probably because bananas tend to grow in the hot, tropical areas where monkeys usually live. They're a convenient source of food that provides a lot of nutrients in a small package.

The chemical Capsaicincontained in chilli is an excellent repellent against monkeys, squirrels, and some other wild animals. Farmers who grow chilli will also benefit from an extra source of income.

Why can't monkeys be potty trained? ›

Sometimes, younger monkeys can be partially potty trained, but they lose that ability as they mature. In addition, as they're attempting to potty train, they tend to throw their poop and play with their pee. Because of this, pet monkeys have to wear diapers throughout their lives.

Guenon. These 10-pound monkeys hail from the forests of sub-Saharan Africa and can live up to 25 years in captivity. Guenons are also high maintenance. There are almost two dozen species of guenons; the green monkey, vervet, and grivet are the most popular species kept as pets.

All primates, big and small, have complex social, physical and psychological needs that require expert care. Monkeys are social creatures that require constant interaction with their own species as part of a large group. They need space to climb and play, a proper diet, and lots of mental stimulation.

This confirmed that macaques use nighttime cuddling to fight off the chill. The researcher also saw that if two macaques hung out and groomed each other during the day, they were more likely to huddle together at night. And they saw that monkeys who had more grooming partners also slept in bigger huddles.

Very hard. Caring for a monkey presents the same challenges as caring for a great ape. People may choose to purchase a pet monkey out of empathy and love for the animal, but their misguided actions lead to a traumatic life for the creature they sought to care for.

Monkeys are quite demanding in terms of care and attention. They have particular food and environmental requirements, which can be difficult and expensive to satisfy. For their wellbeing, appropriate shelter, enrichment, and mental stimulation are crucial.

States with Outright Bans to Own a Monkey in US

This category includes: Northeast: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. West: Washington, Utah, Colorado, California, Hawaii.