How to Care for Marmosets
Housing Marmosets
Marmosets are similar to the Tamarins in size and housing requirements. These type of monkeys require a whole conditioned room for their exclusive use. In addition to toys, you will need tree trunks, ropes, plants, feeders and water dispensers.
Also, this type of monkey likes 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 Marmosets
Marmosets need a range of appetizing and nutritious food as part of their diet, as they are selective eaters. Feeding affects their growth, disease resistance, lifespan, breeding and susceptibility to stress.
There are commercially available dry pellets containing the necessary nutritional components of the Marmoset’s diet. These pellets require supplementing with a variety of other foods, including the following:
- fresh and dried fruit
- vegetables
- seeds and nuts
- animal protein (e.g. insects, mealworms, boiled chicken and hard boiled eggs)
Training Marmosets
Marmosets don’t like to be picked up or handled in any way, as this can cause fear and distress for them. However, it is possible for this type of monkey to grow used to handling with nitrile/vinyl gloves if there is a lot of patience and time to gradually desensitize them using small treat foods. Handling Marmosets requires you to be firm but gentle, using a lower voice and moving slowly and calmly without sudden movements.
A technique called positive reinforcement training (PRT) can help you avoid the need for direct handling. Offering food is the first step of any training program. The following in suitably tiny portions are great for rewards:
- grapes
- raisins
- marshmallows
- banana chips
- gum arabic
Veterinary Care for Marmosets as Pets
Regular veterinary visits are necessary for overall health of your Marmoset. Many diseases that can affect Marmosets 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 Marmosets as pets. All Pets provides monkey veterinary care services in Bryan/College Station, TX. Contact us with the link below for more information.
