Has anyone had a capuchin monkey or other kind as a pet?

Lots of people try keeping all sorts of monkeys as pets. It often doesn't work out well for the people - it pretty much never works out well for the monkey. Without even knowing they are doing it, people who keep pet monkeys are causing huge amounts of suffering, and ruining lives.

Even monkeys that people think they have a great relationship with, that they've raised from birth, can be unpredictable. I work with a capuchin monkey that disabled his owner for life. Every few months a new story appears about somebody's pet primate "unexpectedly" (though actually, you certainly should expect it) turns on them. The methods that some people use to prevent this from happening are extremely cruel (removal of teeth, drugging, etc).

All monkeys, even small ones, can be very dangerous. They seem sweet and friendly as babies (of course they do - they've been taken from their mothers and should, normally, be clinging on to them nearly 24 hours a day!) but the fact is, they will grow up. And being wild animals, they will act like wild animals. Unless the monkey is unhealthy (psychologically or physically), it will eventually attack you or someone around you.

Domestication is a measurable biological process that takes place over many generations of selective breeding. Some species just don't domesticate. Monkeys, for example. This means that, though a cat or a dog might be perfectly satisfied and happy and able to act on its true nature when living with people, a monkey cannot. Monkeys raised like little pets or little people become extremely confused, distressed, unhappy, and mentally ill. To add to this, in order to be kept as pets they are almost always removed from their mothers at only a few days or weeks old - this is known to be extremely unhealthy, it causes lasting psychological damage and can even hinder proper brain development! The result? You get monkeys who do crazy, repetitive, bizarre or even self-destructive things that uninformed owners often even encourage, because they do not understand what they are seeing and they think it is "cute" (for example, hopping up and down, doing backflips, becoming extremely subordinate - or more destructively, chewing of their own tails, pulling out all of their fur, becoming hyperaggressive). The only thing that can sometimes help these monkeys is if they get sent to good rescue and rehabilitation centers where they begin the long and difficult process of resocialization. After a lot of work, they can usually learn to act like monkeys again to some degree, in proper social groups with others of their own kind - but the damage is never really undone (and the rescue centers are usually overfull and underfunded). Dignified, beautiful, intelligent animals that are perfectly adapted to life in their natural habitats are reduced to cage-dwelling shadows of what they should have been. It's just not fair on the monkeys. How can this bring any pet owner pleasure?

But apart from that: capuchins can live into their 40s, even sometimes their 50s. Can you or anyone you know guarantee good, consistent care (which is extremely expensive) for that amount of time? The monkey might well live longer than you do! Who will take care of it when you go? And do you have thousands of dollars to spare every single year? Are you willing to give up your social life, and perhaps even your job, in order to be sure the monkey gets the attention it needs?

Please take your interest in monkeys and use to to help, rather than harm them. You could volunteer at a sanctuary is there is one close to you, or at a zoo., Learn about what they are really like, what they really need, and you will NOT want to do any monkey the disservice of trying to keep it as a pet. The only people who promote the keeping of primates as pets are those who somehow benefit (or think they benefit) from it. Breeders, dealers, people whose selfish need to be with these admittedly amazing creatures overrides any sense of compassion or charity. Or those people who think that their "freedom" gives them the right to devastate the lives of other living creatures for no good reason, just because they want to.

The danger, cruelty and destructiveness of the trade are facts, proven over and over again. Please recognize this before you put yourself in danger and cause another living creature to suffer unnecessarily. Drop the idea of getting a capuchin as a pet!

Before you decide that you want a monkey for a pet, please consider the following:

- If a pet isn't commonly kept, there is almost always a good reason.

- Monkeys masturbate a lot. They don't clean up after themselves and that alone can get very disgusting very quickly. I am not joking or making that up. I know two people who have had a monkey as a pet, and have also heard horror stories over years of working in the pet industry.

- These animals are very intelligent and social. Why would you want to take someone that can feel and miss their own kind so that you can lock them up and play surrogate family to them on your free time?

- Vet bills: HUGE! You may not be able to find a decent vet within any kind of driving range. What happens if your pet has a medical emergency? Hope you have a helicopter.

- They do bite. Some of them bite a lot. It really hurts and it can lead to some pretty dangerous and gross infections. They scratch, too. They can become violently territorial AND sexually aggressive (ew).

- Think of all of the animals that make AWFUL pets, either because they can't be kept happily or because they make their owners miserable. Now multiply that by ten because even the ppl who spur-of-the-moment bring home and kill a sugar glider don't think they can handle a monkey.

Please don't go all JaneGoodall because you have childhood dreams of a friendly pet monkey that will be your best friend. The reality isn't at all what you may think. If the moral implications of making a pet into something that would be miserable aren't enough, think of the financial issues, possible legal repercussions, and whether you want a pet that plays with its own poo.

I manage an exotic animal store in Florida and we have a black tufted marmoset as a store pet. She's great. I don't agree entirely with what other posters have said as the behaviors mentioned are VERY much due to the types of monkeys kept. The larger monkeys tend to be the ones you see in movies and such but also have the most "attitude" problems. If you're up to basically raising a child who wont be able to talk or age past about 2, then a bigger monkey might work great for you. But if you want something that might be a lot easier than that, consider the smaller marmosets. They typically come hand raised from breeders (NEVER buy a monkey in a cage at a pet store, that's asking for trouble) and are diaper and harness trained so as long as you continue training and keep shots up to date, you can walk around in public with them. The last thing I would mention is that ALL monkeys have an odor. Its slightly like old gym socks. They have a body odor just like we would if we never wore deodorant, and most monkeys scent mark at least a little, so be aware of that especially if you don't own where you're living, smells are hard to remove from rented spaces. Do your research and be very sure of your decision before you purchase.

Monkeys, whilst being primates, are nonetheless wild animals. Wild animals on no account make well pets. My first husband needed to have a puppy monkey, he notion it might be neat. That used to be the vilest, so much depressing little creature I ever had the displeasure of understanding! I love animals, greater than so much folks, even. That animal made me dislike it. It used to be very clever, so it used to be difficult to hold. It had intellectual problems, I feel. It chewed it is possess tail. I attempted lavishing it with TLC and the whole thing, it simply undeniable hated me. It bit me each and every hazard it acquired, it escaped it is cage constantly, and I do not care how most likely you wiped clean that cage, it stank to prime heaven. We eventually had our vet uncover a compatible dwelling for it. I simply could not do whatever with it. There is not one well factor I can say approximately preserving a monkey as a puppy. You might remorse it! By the best way, feeding it's not all that convenient. You have got to pass somewhere that includes Monkey Chow. How average do you feel that's? It's luxurious, and also you have got to steadiness it with the correct quantity of specified recent friuts, greens, and so forth. Try discovering a vet inclined or certified to take care of it! Unless you reside close a zoo, well success! There are tons of zoos which might be way more certified than the natural character to take care of monkeys, allow them to have 'em.

No, but my sister-in-law did, When her husband was in Vet. school he brought one home. About a week or so later, it jumped on her head and back as she was scrubbing the floor and started scratching and biting in a vicious manner.

Needless to say he got rid of it... remember that chimp that tore that ladies face off a year or so ago??

They are so cute and funny, but they are unpredictable.

dont keep them as pets! eat them. theyre pretty good in chili