If you want to have a pet around the place, then it stands to reason that you want something a little different. Not everyone just wants a simple pet like a dog or a cat; some of us like to go a bit out there. For many Americans, though, it is interesting to think about the idea of having a pet monkey.
Monkeys are tremendous animals, and they can be highly fascinating to spend time around. Crucially, though, not every breed of monkey out there would make a good family pet. Choose the wrong one, and you could come home to a wrecked house. Some monkey breeds are illegal to keep as pets, too. With this in mind, you should probably look closely at the various different breeds which you could have as a pet. There are some very interesting breeds out there which are regularly kept as pets.
To help you try and understand each of the major pet monkey breeds out there, we will try and break them down for you below. So, what are some of the most common breeds that people keep as a pet monkey today?
Is owning a monkey even legal?
So, before you go any further with the dream idea of having a pet monkey around your place, the question of legality will come up. Monkeys are not always legal where you live in the USA. Some states have very strict rules on animal ownership, while others are a touch more blasé. You should always look to thoroughly research the state rules where you live with regards to monkey ownership.
Even then, you need to look at the rules that you need to follow. Some states have very particular and strict rules about what you can and cannot do with a pet monkey. Make sure that you are able to keep a monkey as a pet before you commit to buying one.
They are outstanding animals, but they might not be something that you are legally permitted to have at home. Make sure you look closely into all of the appropriate state laws before you go ahead and put the considerable investment needed into a monkey.
Each state has its own laws, so always look closely. At the same time, think about your neighbors and those in the local community too before you commit.
Why would I keep a monkey as a pet?
Before we look at the actual breeds though, we want to take quick look at how suitable a pet monkey actually is. The idea of owning a monkey as a pet is impressive, hilarious even, but is it as fun as the idea would suggest?
Monkeys are more or less the total opposite to what most people would look for in a typical pet at home. They are energetic, frenetic, and highly active. They can be hard to domesticate, and they can generally just be a bit of a nightmare to have around the place. Monkeys are nothing like what you would typically associate as a ‘good pet’ – they need massive amounts of space, time, energy, and commitment.
They also need a quite ludicrous amount of attention, so if you cannot provide your pet monkey with that then you should not get one. It really is that simple. If you fail to give a monkey the needed attention it wants, it will be hard to form a meaningful bond with your new friend.
Let us put it this way – if you have ever had a family dog and found them to be hard work, a money is multiples worse. They are also quite hard to be around sometimes as they have a very odd behavioral pattern. Sadly, there are reports of monkeys simply changing their behavior from one moment to the next. A relatively happy pet monkey could attack a friend, family member, or another pet – all without any real warning about a changing in their mood.
Violence is sadly something that comes with the territory with some monkeys out there. Add in the massive and expensive dietary needs of a monkey, and they are an incredible investment of time and money.
Having a monkey as a pet is a massive commitment
Many love the idea of having a pet monkey. The reality, though, is often very different. One of the biggest shocks to many people is the dietary needs. You might just assume that your monkey will get by on this or that. That is not the case. They have very strict and specific dietary needs. You have to give them a really diverse range of nutrients and you have to keep them very well-fed.
The cost of owning a pet monkey is massive because they are simply such intense and energizing creatures. If you want to have a pet monkey, you should really prepare yourself for the cost that it will incur. These are not animals that you can simply have about the place as and when you wish.
They will not cuddle you; they will not sit on the couch with you, and they will not act like a pet. They can become aggressive for no reason, and they can generally just be hard to spend time around. Throw in their extensively varied behavioral patterns that often come with no warning, and monkeys become an incredible commitment overall.
The most popular pet monkey breeds in America today
Capuchin
First on our list of pet monkey options would be the Capuchin monkey. These are very small in comparison to some of the other options out there. This makes them something that you could more reasonably care for. They can weigh around 10lbs and only reach around 2ft in size, so you should not have to worry about it towering over you.
They can live for over 20 years, too, so you could have a capuchin in your life for a long time. Out of all of the choices out there for a potential pet monkey, you could find this to be among the most amenable. They are less likely to be violent and aggressive, and their small size means that an adult would probably have relative success in controlling the situation.
Still, they are highly demanding and expensive to care for, so it is still a massive commitment.
Squirrel Monkey
The pet monkey of choice for many, the Squirrel Monkey is a rather interesting animal. They are very small and can only reach around 14” in size, weighing as little as 3lbs at their peak. They love to hang around nature, though, so you would need to have lots of space so that it can hang from trees and the like.
They need some of the largest space that you could need for a pet monkey because they love to be outdoors and hanging around. They typically swing around tree branches using their incredible agility, so it needs lots of room to avoid your friend from becoming bored.
However, please not that this form of pet monkey needs a very diverse and specific diet. They can be hard to get to eat properly, and it can mean lots of expensive waste when their fussy eating habits kick in.
Spider Monkey
Though the name conjures up some frankly horrifying images, the Spider Monkey is a good choice for those with lots of time. They need huge amounts of time and attention, and they are probably quite likely to become aggressive without that care and attention. So, if this would be your choice for a pet monkey, you have to be present basically all day.
They simply will not take to you not being around them on a regular basis, and they can become hostile if you are only there for a short period of time. They are highly social animals so you should need to interact with it on a regular basis. This is a massive time commitment, and again you can be facing off against a highly powerful monkey if you do not give it what it is looking for.
A good choice if you have masses of spare time.
Guenon
A Guenon monkey is a common pick for a pet monkey for those who want something a little bit different. They come in different forms, so you have to look into the type you would want. Guenons come in various forms, from the vervet to the grivet and all manner of other sub-types. They are beautiful monkeys that come with some very interesting colors in their coat.
They are around 22” in size at their maximum so they very much fit into the mid-size kind of thinking. They can weigh around 15lbs so they can be quite a sizeable monkey without being too much. In terms of attitude and demands they are a touch more sedate than other pet monkeys on the list. That being said, they still need lots of space, a fair amount of attention, and a diet that is unlikely to be cheap unfortunately.
Tamarin
While the Tamarin is among the smallest pet monkey options out there, they need a fair amount of comfortable living space. Around 7 square feet is needed to give a tamarin the kind of space that it needs to enjoy its quality of life that it deserves.
However, please note that these monkeys despite their tiny size – they will often weigh less than 1lb – need a huge amount of time. They need lots of energy and a fair amount of commitment and will not be too pleased if you do not give them lots of attention. Their diet can be quite specific, too, so make sure you speak to anyone whom you get a tamarin from about what to feed that particular monkey.
It can be tough to get right, but the tamarin is a great choice of pet monkey if you can keep it happy. Definitely one to consider if you are limited in space but really want to have a pet monkey at home.
Chimpanzee
Of course, what list of options for a pet monkey would be complete without the humble chimp?
Chimpanzees are a common choice as a pet monkey, well as far as any monkey would be ‘common’ in choice. They are great to have around the place but given they can reach as large as 5ft tall and weigh over 150lbs you need to be ready for having a rather large companion hanging around the house.
They are more powerful than a man, too, once they reach a few years of age. So, don’t assume that you could hold it off if your chimp got angry. These are kept by some people, but their aggressive nature makes them really hard to control. Sadly, we would not really recommend keeping one to anybody who is not able to provide it with what would essentially be a gated nature enclosure for safety.
Are you committed to the idea of having a pet monkey?
If so, you now know more about the process and the legality involved in owning such a creature. We highly recommend that you look at the idea of having a pet monkey from different angles. They are amazing creatures, but you have to really be committed.
Can you afford the time, the money, and the energy that would be needed to keep a monkey? Can you keep it happy and avoid any of the potential problems that monkey ownership brings up?
These are some very important factors that we highly recommend you take into account as you look at the various monkeys out there. Again, owning a monkey sounds amazing. So does owning any exotic animal. They are exotic for a reason, though; they have unique behaviors that you would not get with a simple cat or a humble dog.
So, keep that in mind as you try and determine if owning a monkey would be something you would be capable of enjoying. Take a closer look and see for yourself why monkey ownership is both a blessing and a challenge.