Expert: Jonathan Wright - 1/3/2005

Question
DO capachino or something like that monkeys make good pets id like to know becues i want one

Answer
Dear Megan

Thanks for your question.

Generally, capuchins do not make good pets, unless you have a lot of space to keep a group of monkeys and have a lot of time to spend with the monkeys. They require almost constant attention.

http://www.ettp://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/capuchins/Pet%20Trade.htm does not recommend keeping capuchins and other monkeys as pets. I am including their reasons along with related information from
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...epets.html#main and discussions on the http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload/lofiversion/index.php/t23767.html website:

1. Young capuchins are very cute and cuddly, but the monkeys are very demanding and keeping them is like keeping a 2 year-old child. Most behavioural problems occur when the capuchins become sexually mature. They can become very strong and aggressive. In an attempt to establish dominance, monkeys may attack their human family members.  Males grow large, dangerous canines, so their owners pulling out the canines.

2. Wild capuchins are destructive foragers. They tear apart and uproot trees and other plants to find food, so will also damage the homes of their owners. They are inquisitive and jump and climb well and may pull out cables and wires etc. capuchins shouldn't be kept in a cage.

3. Capuchins have a complex diet and most owners cannot provide the proper nutrition for a healthy capuchin.

4. Capuchins can become constantly sick. Most local vets are not trained to take care of monkeys, so may not treat a sick capuchin.

5. Capuchins may live 40 years in captivity and need constant attention. This means that somebody needs to be there 24 hours a day, so if you live by yourself, you won't be able to leave your home, without the risk of damage to your home or perhaps your monkey injuring itself or becoming ill. This means that you won't be able to go to work, unless your workplace allows you to bring in monkeys – very unlikely.

6. Capuchins may carry diseases and parasites and transmit these to humans, through bites or scratches.

7. Capuchins are highly social animals, which live in large social groups in the wild. They need to be with other capuchins to develop mentally and emotionally. Many capuchin owners complain that their monkey has become psychotic, biting, scratching and acting very aggressively towards humans. This is mainly attributed to lack of contact with members of their own species.

8. Many pet dealers illegally breed, import, and sell their animals and may not attend to the complex needs of these animals.

9. Infants are often taken away from their mothers at an early age (perhaps 3 days old) to be sold as pets. This is traumatic for the mother and the infant. The babies are often given an inanimate object, such as a stuffed animal or blanket as a surrogate mother and may develop emotional and developmental problems later in the infant's life, such as rocking, self-grasping and digit sucking.

10. Capuchins are messy and cannot be toilet trained. Placing them in diapers can cause serious rashes and irritations. Capuchins may throw faeces at people.
Some capuchins have been trained to look after disabled people. This gives the people a new lease of life, but I'm not too sure about the psychological impact on the monkeys.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...epets.html#main gives details of former Las Vegas organ grinder Sony Rickson, who owns four capuchins. She created the Monkey Moms Web site to educate potential owners, and gets 200 e-mails a day seeking advice and guidance.  "I think it takes a certain type of person to own a monkey," she said. "If you're committed, I don't have a problem with it."
Aggression is a problem. Rickson has been attacked by one of her capuchins. "You never know which ones will grow up and attack and which ones won't," she said. "I have one that I worked with for seven years and I'd go everywhere with her—and all of a sudden one day she just turned on me. I have another one that I raised from a baby who wouldn't even think of biting me."

"I wouldn't have a pet monkey," she said. "It's sad to watch the depression they go through if they're not getting enough one-on-one attention. These are the types of animals that should be left in the jungle."

http://exoticpetco.com/capuchin.html states that you must check with your local state, county, and city laws and regulations about whether you can legally keep capuchins or other monkeys. Nine states ban people from owning nonhuman primates. If you still want to keep a monkey, please check whether you are allowed to keep one legally.

I think you need to think very carefully before getting a capuchin, or any other monkey. The pet will need a lot of time and attention and will need a special diet. It is also likely to become more aggressive and more destructive as it gets older and may bite you or your friends or relatives. Capuchins are social animals and are better off with other capuchins as companions. It is therefore cruel to keep one capuchin. Please do not buy a capuchin just because it looks cute. This is an awful reason for keeping any animal and many animal charities take a lot of trouble looking after monkeys with medical and psychological problems. If you have any doubts about whether you can devote the same enthusiasm, daily attention and care for a pet monkey for up to 40 years, please do not give into temptation. It would be better to give your money to a charity trying to save wild monkeys from extinction, rather than keep an unhappy monkey, which may bite you or injure itself.

All the best

Jonathan