What to Expect When Owning a Capuchin Monkey (2024)

FAQs

What to Expect When Owning a Capuchin Monkey? ›

Capuchin monkeys are energetic animals that require enrichment and an active lifestyle—often, when raised by humans, they rarely get enough stimulation. They may be adorable as babies, but as they get older, capuchin monkeys can get bored easily, which can lead to increasingly destructive behaviors.

They're unhappy in a home environment and can become aggressive. They need the company of other capuchins and lots of space for exercise, which they simply can't get in a home environment. When kept as pets, capuchins often suffer from life-threatening and expensive health problems, as they need a specialist diet.

In captivity, capuchin monkeys live compatibly in pairs or groups, but they do not live happily alone.

Capuchin monkeys exhibit incredible adaptability, cleverness, and social intelligence, which has made them stars in entertainment and as pets. While Capuchin monkeys can be extremely cute and cuddly, caring for a Capuchin comes with many risks and huge responsibility.

They'll insert their fingers right up to the knuckle into each other's sockets. Other playful trust games include sniffing hands, sucking on tails and fingers, and passing around tufts of their hair.

Capuchins, like other primates, can transmit certain diseases to humans, the most notable being hepatitis and rabies. Monkeys are also natural hosts of herpes B (or monkey B) virus, which can cause fatal encephalomyelitis in people.

Sometimes, younger monkeys can be partially potty trained, but they lose that ability as they mature. In addition, as they're attempting to potty train, they tend to throw their poop and play with their pee. Because of this, pet monkeys have to wear diapers throughout their lives.

Capuchin monkeys are territorial by nature. When they perceive their living space as invaded or threatened, they may resort to aggressive behaviors, including biting, to defend their territory. This can occur when introducing new pets, rearranging their enclosure, or when they feel their personal space is compromised.

Given the proper care and attention that they require, Capuchin monkeys can make good companions. However, they are still wild animals and may become upset, angry, or scared, causing them to adopt aggressive behaviors. Preventing aggressive behavior is the best method to avoid trouble.

Remaining hidden among forest vegetation for most of the day, capuchin monkeys sleep on tree branches and descend to the ground only to find drinking water.

What is the lifespan of a capuchin monkey? ›

Weight ranges from three to 11 pounds. A capuchin's lifespan in the wild is 15 to 25 years; in human care it can be more than 40 years.

Northern Muriqui Monkeys are the most peaceful primates in the world, living in uniquely egalitarian societies where relationships between males and females are free of conflict, and instead full of hugs.

These primates use a variety of vocalizations to communicate a wide range of feelings and intents, from piercing screams and loud barks to gentler coos and trills.

The monkey may also raise its fur and tail. Older capuchins will often say hello to young or baby monkeys by smack- ing their lips, opening and closing them rapidly. It is a very friendly signal, and the baby may respond by reaching out.

Campos and Fedigan [2009] also reported that capuchins stick out their tongues (“tongue-out” behavior) more often in the dry season, which was suggested as a means to help them keep cool by evaporation off the tongue.

Scratching is one of the most commonly described displacement activities in primates and is related to frustration and anxiety.