Ever since the discovery of the New World, it has been a fad among the upper class to keep wild and exotic animals. Usually not because they love keeping these animals as pets, but having one was basically a status symbol at the time. These days, keeping exotic pets is still in vogue, although it may be considered illegal depending on the species of the animal. One such endangered species sold and kept as a pet in the black market is the marmoset monkey.

Marmoset monkeys are also called long tailed monkeys. Their natural habitats are tropical rainforests where they live on a diet mainly consisting of fruit, insects and tree sap. Marmoset monkeys are relatively small and they don’t have opposable thumbs. Instead of fingernails that most other primates possess, they have long claws. Their social animals that prefer to live in groups as small as three individuals and as large as fifteen.

Marmoset monkeys have a great appeal as pets since full grown adults are still small enough to hold in one hand. They have soft fur and look adorable with a fringe of hair framing their simian faces. The common misconception people have about marmoset monkeys is that a monkey this small and this cute could not possibly be vicious. Marmoset monkeys are, in fact, wild animals and have not been domesticated like cats or dogs. Just because they act a little bit like a human, doesn’t mean that they won’t act like a wild animal. Anthropomorphism is the act of interpreting animal behavior as similar to, or congruent with, animal behavior. Thus, most people find monkey behavior cute because they are so much like a human’s. They smile when they’re happy and make sad faces when sad. They bare their teeth at anyone or anything that offends them. They’re even capable of using tools just like us. Marmoset monkeys are not ‘little people’. They’re wild animals and should be cared for with that in mind.

The inside of an apartment, even a big one, is not their natural habitat. Prolonged stay inside an enclosed area may even result in undue stress to a marmoset monkey used to living in tree tops. Stressed out monkeys will exhibit irritable behavior and may even develop psychosis. Potential buyers should also bear in mind that marmoset moneys live in troupes of three or more individuals, thus if you’re really committed to giving your marmoset monkey a good home, you should be prepared to erect an enclosure big enough for more than just two monkeys. Trees should be kept in mind when building the enclosure, as well as plenty of hiding places and exercise/play tools like swings, ropes, and ladders.

If you really want to take care of marmoset monkeys and maybe even breed from them, but don’t know how, the internet is a good place to begin your research on the do’s and don’ts of caring for a marmoset monkeys. Sanctuaries, zoos, and veterinarians are even better sources of information.