The squirrel monkey as a pet in my opinion is not a very sensible idea. In most cases these are animals poached and illegally hunted. This means that many of the 42 cataloged species are in danger of extinction. Their possession is also punishable by law in some countries, and only a few specific species are raised in places that can guarantee their legal origin and are not extracted from the wild world.
However, even if we adopt a marmoset raised in an authorized hatchery, such is the social complexity of these species and their level of aggressiveness despite their size; that if it is not under some very specific environmental circumstances that the home of the future adopter of a marmoset has, it is inadvisable the adoption of a marmoset monkey as a pet.
Continue reading this article on our site and learn about the idiosyncrasy and character of the marmoset monkey as a pet.
Marmoset social structure
Marmosets live in groups of smaller or larger numbers of individuals, but they do not conceive of life alone. It is common among marmosets for there to be a dominant female that is the only one in the group that reproduces, leaving the other females and also the males to take care of the offspring. Even in some species of marmoset the dominant female mates with several males and emits some pheromones that inhibit the ovulation of the remaining females in the group.
The Santarem ear tamarin, Mico humeralifer, is an example of a group between 5 and 15 individuals governed by a dominant pair. They are endemic to Brazil.
In the image we can see the Santarem marmoset:
Pet Marmoset Aggressiveness
Cases of aggressiveness are common among pet marmosets as they become adults.
A frequent reason is that they are alone with no other specimen to accompany them. But the solution of adopting a second specimen to provide company for the solitary marmoset is not so simple either. Many species are territorial and do not accept specimens that do not belong to their family group right away.
The golden-mantled tamarin,Saguinus tripartitus, is an example of a species that hovers on the border between threat and concern minor for the integrity of the species. Illegal capture and the destruction of its habitat have a disastrous effect on this beautiful marmoset, which comes from the Amazonian jungle of Ecuador and Peru. Live in groups of 6 to 9 members.
In the image we can see the golden-mantled tamarin:
"Exclusive"Pet
Marmosets that come from legal hatcheries are in an intermediate state of mind. On the one hand, they have the ancestral genetic load recorded for tens of thousands of years in their genes. On the other hand, they have not learned "correct behavior" from their parents, so to speak. This causes them insecurity, inability to relate to their kind and deep disorientation.
Human breeders don't have too much time either to help encourage behavior in their specimens, since they have to be put up for adoption before they are 2 months oldof life because if this is not done, it will be very difficult for the marmosets to be docile and they can be trained by their adopters.
Raised marmosets are often very jealous animals that can't stand competition from other pets, and even newborn babies In the home. There have been cases of aggressive marmosets against children. Against dogs and cats it is rarer because they defend themselves and are more powerful and stronger than marmosets. But this circumstance provokes a resentment in the marmoset that it channels against its caregivers through scratches, bites and defecation all over the house if it is loose. They can be taught if they are adopted very young to relieve themselves in a specific place, but under certain circumstances they can disobey the instruction on purpose. Why should they?
The white-headed marmoset, Callithrix geoffroyi, is the most common species of marmoset kept as pets.
In the image we can see a white-headed marmoset:
Marmoset traffic
There are many cases of illegal trafficking of baby marmosets. This execrable trade means that many of the 42 species of these platyrrhine apes are threatened.
Before even thinking about adopting a marmoset, you should be very well informed of the current legislation on the subject at hand. There may be substantial fines if the law is broken, even inadvertently and due to ignorance of the laws that protect animal species.
The black brush tamarin, Callithrix penicillata, also known as myco-star, is one of the examples of a species protected by the Brazilian Environmental Crimes Law, with prison sentences for poachers.
In the image we can see a black brush marmoset:
Marmoset Adoption
It must be clear that in order to adopt one or more marmosets, the origin must be legal and be accredited with the relevant documents.
The veterinary control must be exhaustive by a professional ape specialist. Monkeys, apart from suffering diseases that can harm them, are also carriers of serious ailments that can transcend the human sphere. The veterinarian should mark the dietary guideline of the marmoset.
They will also practically need a room set up just for them. Trunks, ropes, plants, feeders and drinkers plus their own toys will be necessary in said enclosure. Marmosets are very active animals, and if they are confined to small spaces they can develop osteoarthritis due to lack of exercise, stress and anxiety.
A daily and scrupulous hygiene must be observed. In nature, some species of marmosets defecate on their limbs to improve their grip. This is compensated by the ambient humidity of the jungle and the profusion of water, which is very difficult to recreate in a home.
However, we must not overlook that the marmoset is not an animal that should live in a home under any circumstances: away from members of its species, promoting species trafficking andcondemned to a life in captivity.
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