CAPUCHIN MONKEYS

COMMON NAME: Capuchin monkey

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cebinae

ADULT SIZE: 13 to 22 inches; Up to 4 pounds

LIFESPAN: 15 to 25 years in the wild

Capuchin Monkey Price

Capuchin Monkey Behavior and Temperament

Capuchins—considered the smartest of the New World monkeys—are diurnal (active during the day), social, and territorial. They spend most of their waking hours searching for food, urinating to mark their territory, and hanging out in trees. They are mostly found in rainforests in South America and Latin America. capuchin monkey sounds

Captive capuchin monkeys are charming as babies and need to be cared for similarly as a human baby would. 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. You can hire a specialized monkey trainer, but it is very difficult to find a trainer with primate experience who will ethically train a monkey. cute capuchin monkey

Once they reach age five, capuchin monkeys become much harder to handle. A bored monkey may display aggression, biting its owner or someone else to get attention or garner interest. It may also try to escape its enclosure or misbehave—even throwing feces. Aggressive behavior is typical in capuchin monkeys and can sometimes occur without prior tendencies. Most capuchin monkey owners use diapers for the monkey’s entire life and keep them on leashes in and out of the house for both the safety of the monkey and the public. All of this begs the question, “Should we keep monkeys as pets?” capuchin monkey diet

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Veterinary Treatment

Capuchin monkeys were trained as service animals until 2010 when the American Disabilities Act deemed them a danger to both owners and the public due to disease transmission and aggression. Because of this, the American Veterinary Medical Association discourages the use of primates in service, making it difficult to find an exotic vet to treat pet capuchins.

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Housing

In the wild, capuchins swing from tree to tree, something that most home enclosures don’t permit. The lack of natural habitat in a home setting raises controversy regarding keeping these monkeys at all. Typically, there isn’t nearly enough space or foliage safely enclosed in the average yard to allow the primate proper exercise. how much is a capuchin monkey

That said, the bigger the enclosure, the better. 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. Even healthy and happy monkeys are curious, and a breakout is inevitable if they’re given the time and an outlet. capuchin monkey baby

Baby Capuchin Monkey

What Do Capuchin Monkeys Eat and Drink?

In the wild, capuchin monkeys eat bugs, fruit, small birds, nuts, and flowers. Mimicking this monkey’s natural diet in captivity can be somewhat tricky. A high-quality, formulated monkey chow provides the bulk of their nutritional needs, while ample outdoor space allows them to forage. You can also supplement their diet with baby food, fruits, and vegetables. A varied diet keeps a monkey interested, especially if you hide it and they have to search for it. It is best to feed your monkey on a regular schedule twice per day. amazon capuchin monkey

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. capuchin monkey lifespan

Capuchin Monkey Pet

Common Health Problems

Capuchins can become infected with common human ailments since their immune systems are not as robust as ours. Many pet capuchins develop diabetes due to improper nutrition. Like humans, your pet monkey should have regular blood screenings to monitor glucose and cholesterol levels closely. can a capuchin monkey kill you

Capuchins can suffer metabolic bone disease, especially when taken from their mother so young and due to a lack of adequate replacement nutrition. If you purchase a capuchin, check with your veterinarian for diet recommendations to avoid this life-threatening illness. pet capuchin monkey