As we said in our intro, monkeys are very expensive animals, and buying your monkey is just the beginning. You’ll have to build an enclosure as large as possible even if you’re thinking about purchasing a small monkey like a marmoset or a capuchin. Don’t even think about buying a parrot cage. They are too small and should never be used to house a primate. You’ll also need to provide cooling, heating, and light. A monkey’s diet consists of commercial primate food, fresh food, fresh or cooked vegetables, cereal, eggs, grasshoppers, meat, and nuts, … So, if you can’t afford $3 a day for their care, you really shouldn’t buy one. You’ll also need to visit your vet at least once a year to make sure your pet monkey stays in perfect health.

Monkeys are very social animals If you are not home all the time, you will have to buy a companion for him. Realize when you buy a monkey that it will be nearly impossible for you to travel since it is very hard to find somebody who can and will take care of your monkey. All monkeys bite One way monkeys like to communicate is with their teeth. It is therefore not unusual for a monkey to bite somebody. Even smaller species like marmosets have pretty sharp teeth and will let you know when they’re unhappy. When raising a monkey, it is important to never allow your monkey to bite you even if it is just during playtime. Make sure to keep correcting their behavior to prevent monkey bites from occurring. To prevent outsiders from getting injured, you mustn’t take your monkey out in public too often because a possible bite (even if invoked by the other person) can result in the loss of their life. While there is no officially recognized rabies vaccine for primates, it is still recommended to get your primate vaccinated. That way if your primate happens to bite someone, it helps reduce the chances that your monkey will be euthanized to look for rabies. Finding a vet Make sure you find a vet who specialized in primates before you buy your monkey.

After you buy your monkey, the first thing you should do is visit the primate vet for a regular check-up. The most common procedures at the vet office are a complete blood work analysis, rabies vaccine, and tetanus shots. To reduce the number of mood swings with your primate, it is also recommended that you get them fixed within a year. Your vet should be able to provide you with the necessary recommendations. We hear too many times that people can’t find a good vet for their monkey when they really need one so make sure to put this item on top of your priority list! Training your monkey It’s time for a reality check. Forget about those movies where you see a monkey perform all kinds of tricks. Unless you are a professional animal trainer you won’t be able to teach your monkey a lot. If that is the reason why you want a monkey or if it is just to show off with them, then you will probably be the first to get rid of them again.