Raymond WhitneyThe cutest monkeys are the ones with little sizes. In this post, we will take a look at the many kinds of little monkeys that are now in existence as well as some fascinating information regarding them.
Prepare yourself for an onslaught of adorableness!
Let’s begin with a table that lists all of the many species of tiny monkeys:
| Breed | Size |
| Tarsiers | 4-6” |
| Marmosets | 8” |
| Squirrel Monkeys | 10-14” |
| Spider Monkeys | 33”</td |
| Saki Monkeys | 12-20” |
| Howler Monkeys | 22-36” |
| Gibbons | 31” |
| Macaques | 16-28” |
| Guenons | 16-22” |
| Vervet Monkeys | 16-20” |
| Capuchin Monkeys | 12-22” |
| Night Monkeys | 25” |
| Titi Monkeys | 10-22” |
Can I Keep Them As Pets?
We have indicated in the following list all of the species that are suitable for keeping as household pets. After the headline, it will be enclosed in parenthesis for your convenience.
In spite of the fact that it is possible to purchase them legally as pets, there are a number of considerations you need to give careful attention to before obtaining one. Because taking care of a monkey is not a simple chore by any means!
Consider the following, which are just some of the things to keep in mind:
- Some people will never get the hang of urinating outside (!).
- They are capable of hostile behavior.
- Most of the time, they are not really interested in being held or cuddled. They want a large amount of room. They must never be confined to small cages.
- They are competent and robust.
In addition to all of these essential things to think about, you need to be aware that the creatures in question are pricey.
To the extreme level of expense. It is not only quite expensive to obtain them in the first place, but also very expensive to retain them for an extended period of time because it requires a lot of specialized equipment and food.
You should also be informed that some of them will live 20 to 30 years, which means that purchasing one of these adorable little animals is nearly equivalent to making a commitment to care for it for its whole life.
Therefore, in the same way, that you shouldn’t have a chimpanzee in your house, you shouldn’t maintain any of these primates. Primate species do not make suitable pets since they demand a lot of attention and a significant amount of living space.
You have to be well aware of what you are doing, and you probably need a significant amount of knowledge as well.
Before you make the decision that this is something you want to do, you should absolutely consult with an expert first.
Tarsiers
The tarsiers are well-known for the enormous golden eyes that they possess. They have an extremely intense appearance due to the fact that their eyeballs appear to be on the verge of bursting out of their tiny skulls.
The eyes are completely open, and despite the size of the ape, they appear to be rather large in images due to the primate’s diminutive stature.
They are only around 10 to 15 centimeters (four to six inches) in length, but when you factor in their tails, their overall dimensions quadruple.
Common Marmosets (pets)
The family Marmoset has a total of 22 different species. They are members of a group that we referred to as the New World monkeys.
They may grow up to 20 centimeters in length (about 8 inches), and instead of having nails, they have little claws on their toes.
These are the five families of primates that are native to the tropical areas of South and Central America. The monkeys found in the New World have snouts that are more flattened than those found in old world monkeys.
Pygmy Marmosets (pets)
When they are arranged in a row like this, the Pygmy Marmosets have a really endearing appearance. They have an appearance that is quite similar to that of young birds, and one may even mistake them for young owls.
They have a stare that may be described as intense, and the fact that their faces are so hairy reveals how inquisitive these little guys are.
They are the smallest breed of monkey in the world and stand little more than 5 to 6 inches tall. They share this distinction with the Tarsiers mentioned before (14- 16 centimeters).
Because of how little and delicate they are, people sometimes refer to them as “finger monkeys.”
Are finger monkeys good pets?
If you want to maintain monkeys as pets, you need to devote a lot of time and attention to them, just as we indicated at the beginning of the article. Monkeys are extremely unique creatures, and if you want to keep them as pets, you need to do so.
You should also be aware that when they get older, the baby finger monkeys tend to have a belligerent and sometimes violent personalities.
In addition to this, they are highly sociable creatures, which presents another problem. You shouldn’t retain just one of these animals by itself; instead, you should maintain at least two of them at a time.
As you can see, it doesn’t take long for it to become a significant burden, and horses do need a significant investment of both time and money.
Squirrel Monkeys (pets)
The tropical forests of Central and South America are also home to a subspecies of monkeys known as the squirrel monkey. There are five distinct species, and each one has fur that is rather short and dense.
They stand anywhere from 25 to 35 cm (ten to fourteen inches) in height and have long, hairy tails.
It is difficult to maintain them as pets, just like it is difficult to keep any of the other monkeys discussed on this page.
They will not be able to learn to urinate and defecate in the same location (like cats), and as a result, they will most likely become bored and begin scattering their feces all over the house.
Therefore, despite the fact that they appear adorable, it is nearly hard to retain them as pets.
Spider Monkeys
There are a total of 14 species and subspecies of spider monkeys. There are a few of the species that are in the direst of straits. In the same way as a very lengthy list of other creatures that live in rainforests are threatened with extinction.
They are native to Central and South America, just like the majority of the other species of monkeys discussed on this page.
They will normally measure between 33 and 85 centimeters in height, making them one of the tallest monkeys discussed in this article.
White-Faced Sakis
The Saki family of monkeys normally ranges in size from 12 to 20 inches (30-50 centimeters).
There are around 16 different species of Saki monkeys, with the white-faced saki (shown above) being one of the most common and most recognized of the group.
They also call the rain forests of Central America their home, and they occasionally venture out onto the surrounding countryside.
In the event that this does not occur, they will continue to remain in the trees and spend most of their life in the branches. Fruits make up the majority of their diet, although they will also consume a tiny amount of leaves, flowers, and even insects.
Howler Monkeys
There are around 15 different species of howler monkeys, not including subspecies. They stand between 22 and 36 inches (55 and 91 cm) tall and have round noses that resemble snouts.
Their tails are just beautiful. They can pluck fruits and nuts off the trees with them, and they are strong enough to support the weight of the body.
They often reside in groups of up to twenty individuals, which can sometimes be quite big.
Because there will normally be approximately free adult males and just one group, the guys are able to get along with one another.
Even if they get along well with one another and don’t fight often, they will ultimately quarrel and hurt one another.
Gibbons
There are over forty distinct species and subspecies of gibbons, and some of them have even become extinct.
They stand around 31 inches (80 cm) tall and are known for their strong sense of community.
They can scream considerably more loudly than humans can, and their voices are already quite loud, to begin with.
Macaques (pets)
Within the family of monkeys known as macaques, there are around 27 different species and subspecies.
They stand between 40 and 71 centimeters (between 16 and 28 inches) tall and have been utilized rather frequently for the purpose of animal testing of items intended for human consumption.
They have also been cloned, which has allowed for more sorts of laboratory testing to be conducted on them.
They are a member of the family of monkeys that are native to the ancient world, and they frequently live in close proximity to people.
The majority of them follow a vegetarian diet, although they do occasionally consume meat from insects and other small animals.
The mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as Sri Lanka and India, as well as the tropical rain forests of southeast Asia, all include populations of these animals.
They have an average life expectancy of between 20 and 30 years. As a result, it should not come as a surprise that children should not keep them as pets.
Due to the fact that macaques are sociable animals, you should purchase at least two of them if you wish to keep them as pets.
They take a significant time commitment on your part, and you should always seek the advice of a specialist before acquiring one.
Guenons (pets)
There are 26 different species of Guenons, and their length ranges from 16 to 22 inches (42 to 55 cm).
They are often reddish, brown, green, or yellow in color, and they have gorgeous silky fur that covers most of their body.
Because, as you can see, they are incredibly colorful creatures, their vivid appearance is also the primary reason why people are fascinated by them.
They have such adorable tiny noses that are round and short at the same time.
They may be found in West Africa, where they consume a variety of plant life, including leaves, fruit, and other flora. They will ultimately consume other smaller animals as well as insects as well.
They are lean animals that are long and slender, having long limbs and legs. They, like many other kinds of monkeys, live in groups, but unlike most other kinds of monkeys, there is normally only one male in each group.
As pets, Guenons require a significant amount of care and attention. They have the same average lifespan as the other monkeys, which is around 25 years in captivity, so you need to be prepared to make a commitment that will last your entire life.
You should also keep in mind that you need to purchase at least two. These are the kind of creatures that often congregate in huge groups, and if they were to be isolated, they would not do well.
Vervet Monkeys
There are five different species of vervet monkeys, and they can all be found in South Africa. All of the vervet monkeys are located in South Africa.
They are predominantly herbivores, which means that they consume plants and other forms of vegetation in their diet.
They may reach lengths of 16 to 20 inches (40 to 50 cm) and also congregate in large bunches.
The moms are the only ones who are able to identify their children, and they do it by listening to distinctive cries.
They all have their own distinctive screams, which they employ repeatedly in the hope of attracting the attention of the mother.
Capuchin Monkeys
The group consisted of more than 20 infant members of the Capuchin family. They have achieved quite a bit of notoriety, and because of their agreeable demeanor and adorable appearance, they have been showcased in a number of films and television series.
They are between 30 and 56 centimeters in height and dwell in Central and South America. Their height can range from 12 to 22 inches.
Capuchins (pets)
Movies and television have also helped popularize the capuchin monkeys. They have a highly recognizable and even solemn expression that contributes significantly to their widespread popularity.
They have an incredible amount of intelligence, and their lifespan may reach up to 40 years.
After reading that information, if you are still thinking about obtaining one as a pet, you should be aware that they are unable to be trained to wear diapers under any circumstance. Like ever. Therefore, you should mentally prepare yourself to clean up pee and feces for the next about 40 years.
Golden Lion Tamarin
In spite of its humorous moniker, the Golden Lion Tamarin is not a member of the lion family. People think of it as a lion because of its beautiful golden fur, which gives it that appearance. You’ll understand why when you see:
Tamarins are a kind of tiny monkey that is native to the jungles of Central America. Tamarins reside in the trees. They move far more quickly than other living groupings, which generally consist of about 40 individuals.
They are on the horse, which indicates that their diet consisted of fruit, other plants, and tiny insects in addition to those things.
There are a number of species that are suitable for inclusion in this article; however, for the purpose of this discussion, we will focus on the golden lion tamarin (seen above) and the red-handed Tamarine (pictured below).
The tamarins have a life expectancy of up to 18 years and range in height from 5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 cm).
Red-handed Tamarin
As you can see, the red-handed tamarind is something very unique and exceptional. The remainder of its body is covered in black hair, which serves as a stark contrast to the little hands that are vividly colored in contrast to the rest of its body.
It has an appearance that is both friendly and intense, with sharp eyes and ears, giving the impression that it was the basis for the Gremlins film series.
Night Monkeys
These primates are also frequently referred to as “Owl monkeys,” another common name for them.
There are two different species of this kind of monkey, and their height is around 25 inches (64 cm).
They are nocturnal species, which means that they are more active throughout the night and have large brown eyes. Additionally, they are nocturnal creatures.
They are one of the rarest creatures that are active at night and do not have eyes that emit light (due to a reflective layer behind the retina).
The fact that these animals have evolved to be nocturnal creatures is most clearly demonstrated by this fact. They haven’t always been active at night, but they presumably needed to in order to live, thus they acquired this behavior.
They are most common in the middle and southern parts of the American continent.
Titi Monkeys
Titi monkeys range in height from 10 to 22 inches (25 to 56 cm), depending on the species. There are three living species of Titi monkeys, in addition to three extinct species.
They come in a wide variety of hues, each one distinct, and have tails that are particularly lengthy and covered with fur.
The number of Titi monkeys that have been spotted in recent years has actually increased by a factor of two. Since the year 2000, researchers in the fields of biology and science have been successful in discovering a number of previously unknown species in the Amazon rainforest.
This is incredible because it enables us to explore an entirely new universe of monkeys that were previously unknown.
Are Pet Monkeys Legal In My State?
RSPCA.org is now working on legislation that would make it illegal to own primates as pets in the United Kingdom. However, at this moment, it is still permissible to keep a monkey as a pet in a number of states located inside the United States.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has gathered more than 62,000 signatures in support of its campaign to make it illegal in the United Kingdom to keep primates as pets.
In light of this, it should be noted that you are permitted to keep many monkeys as pets in the majority of the states in the United States, including the following states:
- Nevada
- Idaho
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Missouri
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Florida
- Georgia
- Alabama
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
However, you should be aware that you may require that permit. You really must investigate this possibility in your immediate area.
How Expensive Are Pet Monkeys?
The price of a pet monkey ranges anywhere from $5 to $8,000, depending on factors such as age and temperament.
You should plan on spending closer to $10,000 if you want a young monkey that is also well-behaved as a pet. Because they are sociable creatures, you need to be aware that you should buy at least two of them.
They come at a very high price.
They are not only costly to acquire, but also prove to be quite costly in the long term due to the fact that they have a lengthy lifespan and necessitate the use of a great deal of apparatus and instruments.
It is reasonable to estimate that purchasing a large outside cage will cost you something in the neighborhood of a couple of thousand dollars. In addition, you will want a significant quantity of toys and other accessories. They can rapidly build up to a total of around one thousand dollars as well.
To adequately nourish the monkey, you will require a significant quantity of both food and vitamins.
They also require a significant amount of veterinary care, and the costs associated with this may soon pile up.
When it comes to the pet monkey, however, the most significant investment you will need to make is in the amount of time you devote to providing proper care for this endearing little creature.
Because they are highly sociable animals, you will need to have at least two pet monkeys in order to double most of the costs that were previously outlined.
