Monkey as pet?

ok ... so i started my bearded dragons cage and savannah monitor .... but now my fiance wants a moneky -damn i want one too .... i guess we can't help it ...my house will become a zoo .

does anyone from here has a monkey pet? what kind of monkey ?
pics will be very appreciated
any advice on this ?
thank you

I don't have any myself, but the pet store where I work has some tamarins and occassionally other similar animals. And my boyfriend very seriously researched a pet monkey for himself.
We both came to the conclusion that they are terrible pets because:
1. They have hands with thumbs, so they can get in and out of anything that isn't locked with a key.
2. Are smart enough to get angry at you and are fast/agile enough to do some damage if they want to. (even the tiny ones!)
3. Are notorious for masturbating everywhere, all the time, even in front of guests.

I'd look into something else! lol They are cute but I think they are terrible pets.

You could have children, they live longer and are easier to train. They do have the same problems Olimpia mentioned though.

Trillian said:

You could have children, they live longer and are easier to train. They do have the same problems Olimpia mentioned though.

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Lol! Very true. Except we aren't "legally" allowed to lock them in cages

I have always wanted a monkey, but I think the novelty would wear off quickly. If you don't care about having a messy house that smells like pee, and if you don't care if your furniture is destroyed, and if you enjoy caring for something that is very much like a 2-year-old child that never grows up.....then a monkey may be the pet for you.

my aunts friend had a pet monkey. during her daughters birthday party it escaped its cage, flung poop at the guests, sat in the cake, jumped on the head of her son and began pulling his hair. there was cake, poop, and hair all over the place as well as many screaming children and adults.

Omg that's crazy, I didn't know they went that wild

I though about getting one too. But after doing some research I changed my mind. But it sounds cool to have a monkey

does anyone know a forum for monkeys ? i just can;t find one

camaleonte82 said:

my aunts friend had a pet monkey. during her daughters birthday party it escaped its cage, flung poop at the guests, sat in the cake, jumped on the head of her son and began pulling his hair. there was cake, poop, and hair all over the place as well as many screaming children and adults.

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OMG )) thats amazing =)))))) haha

arnau666 said:

ok ... so i started my bearded dragons cage and savannah monitor .... but now my fiance wants a moneky -damn i want one too .... i guess we can't help it ...my house will become a zoo .

does anyone from here has a monkey pet? what kind of monkey ?
pics will be very appreciated
any advice on this ?
thank you

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I think what I'd do first is find a primate interest group where you live, or possibly a rescue organization. Get to know their animals or volunteer. You'll get a chance to be around them without owning one, learn about the realities of keeping them, and maybe find the best fit for you. I think it's also very important to decide just what you expect from the animal in your home...do you want a surrogate child? A pet that you can interact with but not something you expect to treat like a human? A display animal that you get to observe?

There are lots of primate husbandry websites around. The better ones will be very frank about the realities of pet primates. Monkeys are one type, but there are kinkajous, bushbabies, couscous, lemurs, and the tiny tamarin/marmosets as well.

Frankly, the idea to have a super intelligent, easily frustrated, sexually aggressive animal marking territories with poop and pee, demanding a specialized varied diet, or one that no vet will treat, leaping around my house doesn't sound all that great. Even if its tiny like a marmoset or tamarin, its still going to be a mess.

Kinkajou are not Primates, but I can tell you owning a Primate is not something to rush in to. As everyone has stated, they are a handful to say the least. When they get out of hand it's not like you can just lock them up in their cage like a reptile. People that have bought marmosets on impulse call the exotics shop I work in and beg us to take them. They are a lot of work and require a dedicated owner.

Lizardlover said:

Kinkajou are not Primates, but I can tell you owning a Primate is not something to rush in to. As everyone has stated, they are a handful to say the least. When they get out of hand it's not like you can just lock them up in their cage like a reptile. People that have bought marmosets on impulse call the exotics shop I work in and beg us to take them. They are a lot of work and require a dedicated owner.

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You're right! I keep forgetting they aren't, but was thinking that they have many primate characteristics and can have many of the same pet concerns.

I have Marmosets, Ringtail lemurs and Galagos and they are not for beginners but if you raise them and bottle feed them as your own baby they will make a very attached pet and can be a good companion animal as long as you know what you are doing and get them from someone willing to help with any issues you may have. dont take getting one lightly, Its a 20 year commitment. I would never have any primate that wasnt a primitive primate as they dont have the "BAD" habits. I have not ever had one that threw poop or other not appropriate body fluids. It is worth it if you have the time and knowledge.

Here are a few pics of some of my personal primate pets. Notice no poop throwing here.

bluewuta said:

Here are a few pics of some of my personal primate pets. Notice no poop throwing here.

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You... have a lemur. Man am I jealous. Lemurs aren't poop throwers eh?

Yes, I have a couple and that is the largest of primates I would ever get. They dont throw poop. They actually have a wood post in the yard that they use to go the bathroom on. They only tend to go while sitting on the post so I just have to rake and clean up around it.

I've always been interested in the galagos, loris, some lemurs...the so-called "lower" primates. Also the marsupial cuscus and some of the possums. Frankly, trying to keep the others sounds very difficult because of their social, family, and intense enrichment needs. I do NOT want a surrogate human or one that expects me to be a mate!

I don't live in a climate that would ever permit outdoor cages and I won't cram any animal into an indoor cage that doesn't fill a room either. So, I guess I'll have to enjoy other people's animals vicariously.

Is there any website you'd recommend for realistic, thorough husbandry for lower primates? Not one of those that starts off saying just how cute and cuddly they all are at a mere 4 months old, please.

Possum are alot easier to raise socially and maintenance wise. I am a bug marsupial fan and have had 5 types of Opossum and Possum and enjoyed them all. But the smaller the type the more skittish they are, I had short tails and would not get them again. But them I had Yuwari from South America and Virgina and the Yapok and they were great and entertaining. The nice thing about possums is there are not a lot of diseases you have to vaccinate for like rabies as they have such a low body temp that the virus doesnt live inside them. My ultimate goal would be to find a pair of Spilocuscus rufoniger. Found on about 10 years ago but could never find a mate for him again. The only drawback is the the short lives they have. The picture is the black spotted Cuscus.

camaleonte82 said:

my aunts friend had a pet monkey. during her daughters birthday party it escaped its cage, flung poop at the guests, sat in the cake, jumped on the head of her son and began pulling his hair. there was cake, poop, and hair all over the place as well as many screaming children and adults.

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Sounds like my kind if party. LOL

After watching an episode of "I Survived" a chimp chewed off some dudes foot, and a pack of them beat a guy to death and chewed off his hands a feet(chimp sanctuary) lol I think I am good with my Chameleon