| $ $ Primary Expenses: $2K - $10K | $ $ $ Continuous Expenses: $2k - ? |
Pygmy marmosets, better known as finger monkeys, are small primates that live in the wild in the rainforest and jungles of South America.
They are not considered to be an endangered species, but their habitat has been and still is affected because of human activities.
They are adorable, tiny, curious, and social primates.
If you’re thinking about getting a finger monkey as a pet, there are a few things you should consider first, like their main characteristics, basic needs, and also your budget.
Table of Contents
Is A Finger Monkey The Right Pet For Me?
Finger monkeys are primates, and because of this, having them as pets could be seen by some as unethical.
Primates are not only a different species than other types of pets, but their DNA is closely related to us human beings.
This fact makes some people think it’s not right to have a primate as a pet.
However, finger monkeys are not banned in all states or countries, but you should still check first whether it’s legal or not to have one in the town or city where you’re living.
Finger monkeys like most primates are highly social, so they need companionship, especially from their kind.
They’re mostly monogamous, so they tend to mate for life.
This gives you an idea of how much they need another companion.
You should consider getting two if you’re ready to not only commit to taking care of a pair of primates for years or decades -they can live from 10 to 20 years in captivity-, but also be ready to afford them.
They are expensive pets, as you’ll see in the next few sections.
Primary Expenses
Here you’ll find the most common things you’ll have to pay once when first getting a finger monkey.
Buying A Finger Monkey
There isn’t the option of adopting a finger monkey because shelters won’t have them.
They’re not only rare as pets, but again, they’re expensive to keep, illegal in some states, or potentially unethical to keep locked up in a cage waiting for adoption.
People that have had them and later realized it’s not the kind of pet they want, might sell them themselves or try to return them from where they first got them.
There are breeders in some states that will have them for sale, costing from $1,500 to $6,000 per monkey.
Cage
Finger monkeys are highly active and love to jump, so they need bigger cages than other animals that are kept as pets.
Depending on how big you want it, a cage for a finger monkey could cost between $400 to $3,500.
In addition to that, you’ll have to have a house big enough for the cage to be put inside or, a large enough yard that could also protect your monkey finger from any outdoor dangers.
Toys And Accessories
You could buy different types of toys to keep your finger monkey entertained, as well as accessories such as branches, swings, or hammocks.
These can usually cost anywhere from $10 to $50.
Continuous Expenses
Here are the expenses you’ll have to keep making either monthly or annually if you want to have a finger monkey as a pet.
Food
Finger monkeys in their natural habitat eat generally fruits, vegetables, small insects, resin, and gum that’s exuded from trees.
In captivity, you can provide mostly fruits, vegetables, and even some insects.
You’ll spend from $900 to $1,200 per year.
And remember, they can live for decades!
Vet Visits
As exotic animals, it might be difficult to find a veterinarian that has experience with this kind of pet.
It’s not just that they are primates, they are also very small, so their anatomy and organism greatly differ from common pets.
There are vulnerable to various viruses and diseases that can also get from humans, so they are delicate animals.
There isn’t a basic price range for vet visits, but considering the type of animal, you should expect to pay a large sum of money for vet check-ups and medical treatments.
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