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Monkeys are one of the most intelligent animals on earth. You would think a monkey would make a great pet, but this is not the case. Dogs and cats have evolved for thousands of years to be a domestic pet to man. Monkeys are wild. They will never adapt to being in a home. It is very expensive to keep a primate happy and healthy. A monkey that doesn't bite is extremely rare and their teeth are sharp. Monkeys are impulsive, unpredictable and excitable. The monkey can never be toilet trained. Monkeys should not be kept singly. They are social animals and socializing with you is not enough. They will become lonely and become sick or die. So are you sure you want a monkey?
While this is a review about monkeys in general, when specifications are mentioned, the size of monkey that is being referred to is the size of a Capuchin, Squirrel or Spider Monkey.
DO NOT KEEP MONKEYS UNLESS YOU CAN FULLY SATISFY THEIR NEEDS
Legal Issues
Check with your state, county, city, subdivision, and other local government agencies to see if they are legal. If they are in fact legal in your state, it may be illegal in your county, city or even neighborhood.
Purchasing a monkey
Find a primate veterinarian before purchasing a monkey. Primate veterinarians are few and far between.
I have listed two examples of what a monkey can cost. This does not include the enormous cost of housing, feeding, and maintaining a monkey.
“Capuchins - Infants are $4,500+. All species available -- black-capped, cinnamon, black & white, and wedge-capped. Price includes transportation (delivery), health papers, formula, bottles, feeding instructions and more.
Spider Monkey - 3 1/2-year-old tame male, silver. $2,500
Finding a reputable source to buy a monkey is difficult. Pet stores rarely will carry a monkey. Dealing with a wholesaler is sometimes risky business. It is difficult to obtain information on many of these dealers. Was this monkey you are interested in, smuggled out of Central or South America? Was he drugged and smuggled in someone's backpack? Could the monkey be infected with tuberculoses?
With the prohibitive cost of an animal like this, and the fact that bringing a monkey into your home could risk you and your family’s health. I would bring a veterinarian with you or at least someone that has years of experience with monkeys. Make sure the monkey is healthy. Very few breeding facilities will allow you a look around. In fact if they do I would be wary of them. It is not healthy to the breeding stock to have outsiders in any breeding facility.
Housing
Monkeys are very agile, smart, and have very nimble fingers. Escaping out of a cage is a piece of cake for them. Make sure the cage is constructed of strong materials. Don't underestimate the strength or the intelligence of a monkey.
The cage needs to be big. The bigger the cage the better. The height should be no less than 6 feet. Monkeys feel secure in a high cage. Hundreds of dollars is needed to build a secure and safe primate cage. Don't use anything less than a 12 gauge wire. Never use chicken wire. A safety entrance must be included to prevent the escape of your monkey. If the enclosure is going to be built outdoors, make sure a large portion of it is in the shade. A heated sleeping area must be included. If they become cold they must have a place to go. If the cage is built inside, make sure it is in a well-ventilated area. Monkeys need light to survive, so provide them with a Vita-Lites (replicates natural sunlight) Primates need this light for their skeletal development.
The floor of the cage should be wire, high enough off the ground so that the monkey can't reach the food that has dropped to the ground. Another reason it needs to be high is so it can be raked and cleaned easily. The floor can also be cement or linoleum for easy disinfecting and cleaning.
The cage needs to be cleaned daily. It should be disinfected weekly with a mild disinfectant bought at a pharmacy or pet store.
The branches and plants should be changed occasionally to provide variety. Monkeys are intelligent and need a lot of variety. Please avoid use of toxic plants and branches.
Monkeys love to bathe, splash and play. If you can incorporate a pond into the cage your monkey would love you for it.
Dietary Requirements
Variety is an important key to feeding a primate. Feed him a commercial primate diet. Supplement the primate diet with fruits, cooked vegetables like carrots, raw vegetables, seeds, nuts, wheat bread, and boiled eggs. Feed the monkey insects like crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms. In the wild primates feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, berries, insects, lizards, rodents and small birds.
Supplement their diet with primate vitamin mixes. Sprinkle the vitamin mix over their food.
Health
Monkeys need a complete health exam once a year. They need their TB test to protect their health. Also needed are a parasite examination and a complete blood screening. Find out the vaccination requirements for monkeys.
Monkey's like children can get into anything. Watch medicines, poisons, anything that is dangerous to a child, is more dangerous to a monkey because he can more readily get into things.
Summary
The lifespan of a monkey is considerable. They usually live from 20 to 40 years. Where will your monkey go if something happens to you? A home for a monkey is not easy to find. You must make arrangements for your monkey far in advance of anything ever happening. In the next 40 years do you intend on going on vacation? What if you need to attend an out of state funeral? Who is going to take care of your monkey? These things have to be pre-arranged. What will you do if your monkey bites someone? Monkeys bite and they bite hard. The health department will remove him from your custody. The health department will remove his head and test him for rabies. You must keep him away from any and all strangers. Monkeys do not adapt well to new situations. Are you ever planning a baby? Do you think you will have a grandbaby in your home? I don't know either and that's the point! They will not adapt to an addition of a new spouse or child. They have no resale value once they have outgrown their infant charm. If you are a young person with your entire life ahead of you, what are you going to do with him if you go away to college, the military, or a promotion that involves a move at work? What I am trying to say here, serious questions need to be answered before you can consider a monkey as a pet!
If it seems like I am trying to persuade you away from buying a monkey as a pet, I am. With many exotic pet purchases, animals suffer. Luckily the cost of a monkey is prohibitive in it self and is less likely to be bought on a whim.
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