How to Care for Tamarins
Housing Tamarins
Tamarins as pets require a large cage so they can climb around and play. At the minimum, a single adult Tamarin will need a cage that is 3 feet wide, 3 feet long and 7 feet high. However, bigger is always better.
Additionally, enclosure bars need to be no wider than a half an inch apart. This prevents your pet from putting his or her hands outside the cage and unlocking the door. It is ideal for the floor of the cage to have a three-inch layer of foam in thick blankets covering it. Large climbing branches are necessary in the cage for your Tamarin to climb, jump and play on. These primates also enjoy having platforms, ladders, ropes and small baby toys in the cage to play with.
Tamarins like to sleep in a box where they feel secure. They prefer to sleep up high and like to have towels, blankets and stuffed animals to snuggle.
Feeding Tamarins
Tamarins are omnivores. Therefore, they eat both meat and fruit. These primates are extremely intelligent so it is necessary to feed them a rotating diet to prevent boredom.
Most Tamarins enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables such as the following:
- bananas
- young leaves
- eggplants
- grapes
- apples
- chopped broccoli or carrot
- cucumber
- cooked yams
- corn on the cob
- peaches
- plums
- celery
- papaya
- mango
- cooked beans
- raw string beans
In addition, a Tamarin diet can include the following:
- honey
- small insects
- beetle larvae
- nuts
- hard boiled eggs
- raw peanuts
- cooked pasta
Like all pets, Tamarins need fresh food and water daily.
Training Tamarins
Similar to all small pet primates, Tamarins are active, intelligent and very friendly when well socialized and cared for. However, they are not pets to be taken on lightly. These monkeys require more daily commitment and dedication than the average pet does.
Additionally, pet Tamarins are not particularly messy animals, so they can be somewhat easy to train to defecate in a given area.
Veterinary Care for Tamarins as Pets
Regular veterinary visits are necessary for overall health of your Tamarin. Many diseases that can affect Tamarins are transmittable to humans, so routine veterinary visits are essential.
All Pets Veterinary Medical provides veterinary care for primates in Bryan/College Station, TX. Contact us to discuss vaccination requirements for your exotic pet.
These are just the basics on how to care for Tamarins as pets. All Pets provides monkey veterinary care services in Bryan/College Station, TX. Contact us with the link below for more information.
