Six Best Pet Monkeys, Their Cost and Where To Buy

Monkeys like humans are social animals and therefore need large amounts of quality and frequent social interaction. A pet monkey that is not showered with enough time, attention, and love could lead to such an animal developing some unusual behavioral issues like screaming, biting, and destroying things all in the bid to get your attention.

Different species of monkeys need different types of care, space, food, and in some cases, even playthings. This article discusses what you need to know about keeping a monkey as a pet. We’ll even include a list of the best pet monkeys to buy so that you can get the perfect one for your needs.

Is Pet Monkey A Good Companion?

Yes, some monkeys can be quite sweet for a time. But the reality is, these creatures cause too much harm and need too much care. Even though as babies, monkeys might appear so sweet, irresistible, and helpless, they often grow to become very stubborn and difficult animals as adults and make it difficult for the owners to keep up.

Even domesticated animals can be unpredictable, which means having a pet monkey is a dangerous proposition. If you decide to adopt a monkey as a pet, you’ll find that even the neediest dogs are better in comparison. While dogs just need some attention and love, monkeys will require an enormous amount of space, along with constant care and interaction.

As a pet, your monkey will need to live in an enclosure. It is important that the enclosure provide everything the animal requires for its physical and psychological well-being. Monkeys can suffer from cage shock if after spending a lifetime roaming around you suddenly confine them to a cage or room.

Monkeys You Can Have As Pets

Some examples of small monkey breeds that could be kept as pets after serious consideration include:

#1. Capuchin

The capuchin monkey is said to be the most intelligent of the monkey species, hence its selection as a pet. But even with their smartness, capuchin monkeys never seem to know where the toilet is and keep on messing the whole place up. They typically weigh about 5 to 7 pounds and, after the socialization and training process. This species of monkey also tends to be mischievous and highly territorial.

#2. Macaque

Macaque monkeys are another choice of pet monkey. They are native to Asia and are very small monkeys compared to the capuchin. Their size could get up to 40 pounds with a life span of about 30 years. They also need to wear diapers throughout their lifetime.

#3. Tamarin

Tamarins are tiny New World monkeys that weigh less than a pound but will live about 15 years in captivity. Despite their small mouths, they can still give nasty bites. If you are considering Tamarins as pet; you need to provide a very secure cage with small bar spacing; if not, they will escape or get stuck in the bars. For an indoor cage, you can house one in a 7-feet square enclosure. However, they will need access to a larger outdoor enclosed space for highly needed vitamin D for their growth and development.

#4. Squirrel Monkey

Squirrel monkeys are acrobats; you will enjoy their displays if you have them as pet. Squirrel monkeys often use their tails to hang on branches, and need a lot of space and hanging branches for clinging and moving around. You will ensure they wear diapers for their entire life. They have extensive dietary requirements and require a wide variety of foods. Squirrel monkeys live up to 25 years

#5. Marmoset

Marmoset monkeys can make a good pet. They share many similarities with the tamarin monkeys in terms of size and the necessary features required for their housing. The only difference is the nutritional needs of the Marmosets which include insects, fruits, the sap of trees, and some smaller animals. It is not really easy to train or handle a Marmoset monkey due to its special feeding habits and temperament.

#6. Guenon

Guenons are monkeys found majorly in the Sub-Saharan forests of Africa. As a pet monkey, Guenons can manage to live for about 25 years. They weigh nearly 10 pounds. Guenons are maintenance animals that survive and thrive better in large groups. Therefore, to successfully keep this monkey as a pet, it will also be required to keep a large number or troop of them.

Where To Buy a Monkey For a Pet

There are breeders who sell monkeys online and through classified ads in newspapers and magazines, most breeders prefer to meet potential buyers face-to-face before selling them their monkeys. Here are three online stores where you can buy a pet monkey:

1. Primate Store: This store sells monkeys of different sizes and breeds. Primate Store has all kinds of different monkeys to choose from and they’re super friendly, so it’s easy to pick out the perfect one for your family. They take credit cards and cash, so there are no worries there either.

2. Poggi’s Animal House: They’ve got everything from dogs to birds to cats and even some monkeys. You’ll love how well taken care of these animals are when you see them for yourself, you’ll be able to tell that this is a place you can trust with your wallet or credit card too (they take both).

3. Pets4You: We couldn’t forget about Pets4You because they have an amazing selection of pets including monkeys. Pets4You have everything from dogs and cats all the way down to rabbits and birds.

Your sources should also be able to provide documentation about their breeding practices so that you can see how long they have been breeding monkeys and what kind of health record their animals have had over time.

Challenges of Keeping Money as a Pet

The challenges of raising and training a monkey as a pet are usually enormous because caring for a pet monkey is not the same as caring for a dog or cat or even a rabbit. Pet monkeys are prone to sudden displays of aggression, regardless of size, especially at the age of sexual maturity.

Pet monkeys may destroy everything in your house and bounce off the walls in fits of agitation. They might also develop psychological problems which are even worse because it could be quite difficult to find a cure for them. Primates have special and specific needs that need to be taken care of and great thought needs to be given to considering taking a monkey as a pet.

Another challenge is that monkeys who are pets tend to get used to their owners so much and could get jealous and possessive when new additions are made to the house such as a newborn child or a new spouse. It is also not very possible to leave your pet monkeys at home to go for vacations, nor can they be kept with neighbors or family members, and in some other countries keeping monkeys as pets is prohibited.

How To Care For A Pet Monkey

If you have decided to own a pet monkey, it is important to know what makes monkeys good pets and how to keep them safe and happy: I have created a small guide you can follow:

1) Get a Good Cage: Monkeys need a good cage that allows them to move freely and display their innate behaviors. Ventilation is another factor to consider when building or buying a monkey cage. A well-ventilated cage helps eliminate odors and prevent airborne diseases. A cage of at least two feet wide and three feet tall (or larger) is good for a start. A two-story cage will work best, they’ll be able to climb up and down with relative ease.

2) Feed Monkey a Balanced Diet Every day: Monkeys need to be fed a high-quality diet that’s appropriate for their size. They should be given fruit in the morning and at night, along with vegetables like carrots and celery sticks. Monkeys love banana peels and will eat them right out of your hand. Ensure you check the nutritional composition of the food before buying; this tells what the monkeys will derive from eating the food.

3) Clean their cage regularly: Cleaning the cages regularly helps keep the monkeys fit and resist any diseases. The leftover food should be removed before serving a fresh one. Monkeys need clean air and fresh water every day. Monkey cages should be cleaned at least once per week by using mild soap and warm water so that they don’t get sick from dirty conditions inside their home away from home,

4) Give them lots of toys: Monkeys love toys. You need to provide them with a variety of toys so they don’t get bored. Some monkeys enjoy physical play such as wrestling or throwing things; other monkeys enjoy mental stimulation such as puzzles or card games; still, others prefer just sitting quietly alone in their cage with nothing but each other for company.

6) Protect Their Territory: Keep them away from other pets or animals that may cause harm to your monkey’s health or temperament. For example, if you have a cat, make sure there are no strings between the two animals’ cages or areas where they could get tangled together, this could lead to injury.

7) Show Affection: The most important thing for you as a human is to treat your pet right by offering lots of love and affection throughout the day (and night).

Places Where Pet Monkeys are Legal

The ASPCA lists invasive primates as animals to avoid as pets because they can carry diseases like Herpes B, tuberculosis, and parasites. The CDC identifies one disease known as monkeypox which can be deadly for humans with no cure. Several countries have banned pet monkeys entirely, including Malaysia, Australia, Barbados, and Egypt.

Keeping a monkey as a pet may seem like a common occurrence, but it’s only legal in certain areas. States that are allowed to own pet monkeys are Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, Florida, Arizona, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as well as West Virginia.

Cost of A Pet Monkey

The cost of owning a pet monkey depends on the type of monkey you get and its age. A typical Barbary macaque (the most common pet monkey) will cost between $4,000 and $6,500 each. The younger monkeys are slightly cheaper starting at $2,000 or so. Not all monkeys are going to be as expensive, depending on what kind of monkey it is.

Obviously, a pet capuchin is going to be the cheapest. In addition, a chimpanzee will be about $70,000. That’s because a chimp can live to be 50 years old and their care throughout the years costs quite a lot more than taking care of a smaller pet monkey. In addition, You need to get a monkey permit from your state before adopting a monkey as pet for safety reasons.

Lastly, while the idea may seem exciting, owning pet monkeys has inherent dangers. There is always the risk of unpredictable behavior and even damage to yourself or your property owing to the monkey’s wild nature. Do well to provide sufficient resources that ensure your monkey adapts better to your neighborhood.