Capuchin Monkey Behavior and Temperament. Is a state and federally licensed private zoo and professional zoological breeding facility proudly located in Kingsbury, Texas. They usually end up as incompatible pets, rendering them difficult to care for and resulting in rescue or euthanasia. Aggressive behavior is typical in capuchin monkeys and can sometimes occur without prior tendencies.
Before acquiring a capuchin monkey, it's important to do a great deal of research regarding their needs and requirements to ensure you can fulfill your duties as an owner. In the wild, capuchins usually stay with their mother for the first several years of their life. The American Veterinary Medical Association also discourages the use of primates in service, making it difficult to find an exotic vet to treat pet capuchins. You should feel comfortable asking a lot of questions about the animal, including its current care schedule and the breeder's assessment of the monkey's temperament. Can You Own a Pet Capuchin Monkey? Some trainers recommend removing all four canine teeth from the monkey to prevent serious bite injuries down the road.
Many pet capuchins develop diabetes due to improper nutrition. That said, the bigger the enclosure, the better. Are Capuchin Monkeys Good Pets? A bored monkey may display aggression, biting its owner or someone else in order to get attention or garner interest. Typically, there isn't nearly enough space or foliage safely enclosed in the average yard to allow the primate proper exercise.
Jungle Friends is a sponsorship service for monkeys released from research labs. Capuchin monkeys can cost anywhere from $5, 000 to $7, 000. Scientific name: Cebinae. They spend most of their waking hours searching for food, urinating to mark their territory, and hanging out in trees. A high-quality, formulated monkey chow provides the bulk of their nutritional needs, while ample outdoor space allows them to forage. Once they reach age five, capuchin monkeys become much harder to handle. It can be difficult to verify if a breeder or dealer is reputable, but it only takes a few minutes to confirm if your breeder is USDA-licensed.
Try to buy directly from a breeder rather than going through a broker. In their infancy (up to age five) they are considered more tame and easy to care for, but they will quickly become a handful and are not a suitable choice for pet owners that do not have previous primate experience. Captive capuchin monkeys are charming as babies and need to be cared for similarly as a human baby would. Additionally, monkeys are social creatures and will benefit from being surrounded by a large "family" of other primates like themselves. It is best to feed your monkey on a regular schedule twice per day. Capuchin babies can form a tight bond with their human mother or father, may need to be bottle-fed for some time (if not forever), and will need to be trained to be a part of the family. This practice is yet another debatable issue, and few veterinarians will perform the procedure. In the wild, capuchin monkeys eat bugs, fruit, small birds, nuts, and flowers. Every month or so, wash your monkey with a mild shampoo designated for human hair, being careful not to get soap in their eyes. Capuchins also thrive with the occasional cooked meat treat (about 1 teaspoon), but never give them table food, dairy products, or sweets, as this is not part of their natural diet and can lead to health problems. It is recommended that you seek out a kind and patient trainer skilled in primates to help you with your capuchin, whether that's training them to be on a leash or if you're hoping they'll do tricks. Capuchin monkeys are energetic exotic animals that require enrichment and an active lifestyle—often, when raised by humans, they rarely get enough stimulation.
Capuchin monkeys are often surrendered as pets because they have needs most humans don't have the skills or time to fill, making it more than likely that owning one is—in most instances—unethical. A year-long donation provides food, housing, and enrichment opportunities for the monkey of your choice, granting you a certificate of sponsorship, a photo, and access to a video link of the monkeys in their natural sanctuary. It may also try to escape its enclosure or misbehave—even throwing feces. Ask to see the license or, if over the phone, ask for their federal number and look them up for validation. Capuchin breeders take the babies from their mothers at an extremely young age—this practice helps the human owner form a tighter bond but can cause permanent emotional and psychological damage to both the mother and the baby. Are pet capuchin monkeys hard to take care of? Common Name: Capuchin monkey. If you do decide to house a capuchin monkey, make sure it has plenty of trees to swing and jump from, provide a shaded area for shelter from the elements, and be sure it's monkey-proofed.
Monkeys live in the wild and are not often suitable pets, but if you are interested in owning a pet monkey or similar species, check out: Otherwise, check out other exotic animals that can be your new pet. Rinse soap throughouhly, then dry your capuchin with a soft towel or hairdryer set to low heat. Like humans, your pet monkey should have regular blood screenings to monitor glucose and cholesterol levels closely.