PRIMATE
Husbandry and Nutrition
By: Monica Morgado
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
Conservation Status
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Total # of Species
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254
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107 Endangered
102 Lower Risk
8 Critically Endangered
6 Not enough data
4 Threatened
3 Rare
https://secure.worldwildlife.org/ogc/ogcAC_speciesDetail.cfm?gid=69
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/44/primates.gif
http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/primates/primates_01.jpg
Taxonomy of Extant Primates
Kingdom = Animalia
Phylum = Chordata
Class = Mammalia
Order = Primates
Prosimians
*6 F
Tarsiers
*1 F
New World
Primates
*2 F
http://afarensis.blogsome.com/2005/11/06/what-is-a-primate/
Old World
Primates
*1 F
*2 SF
OWP
Lesser
Apes
*1 F
OWP
Great
Apes
*2 F
Prosimians and Tarsiers
Prosimians and Tarsiers
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
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Most primitive of the primates
They’re NOT monkeys nor apes
Nocturnal and sensitive
Socialized and tropical
Most are endangered
Where can Prosimians and Tarsiers be
found?
http://www.globaltouch.net/mapit/world/WorldAtlas.gif
New World Primates
New World Primates (Monkeys)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
New World Primates
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Family Callithricidae
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Smaller tamarins and marmosets
Family Cebidae
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Sakis
Spider and Woolly
Owl
Capuchin
Howler
Titi and Squirrel
Uakaris
New World Primates
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Live in the neotropical forests
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Range vastly in size
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Central and South America.
6 inch pygmy marmoset
3 feet howler monkey
Long tails
(sometimes prehensile)
No buttock pads
No cheek pouches
Old World Primates
(OWP)
Old World Primates (Monkeys)
Old World Primates
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Family Cercopithecidae
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Subfamily cercopithecinae
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Macaques
Baboons
Mandrills
Vervet monkeys
Patas monkeys
Subfamily Colobinae
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Colobus monkeys
Langurs
Leaf monkeys
Old World Primates
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Live in Africa and Asia.
Larger than the New World monkeys. They
are diurnal.
Longer hind legs than forearms.
Prominent buttock pads that they can sit on.
Tails, but not prehensile.
OWP-Great Apes
OWP-Great Apes
Orangutans
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Chimpanzees
Gorillas
Humans
Bonobos
They have no tails.
The face is almost naked.
Live in complex social groups.
The arms are longer than the legs.
Rely mostly on vision and hearing rather than smell.
OWP- Lesser Apes
OWP-Lesser Apes
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Smaller and more slender forms
No tail
Gibbons live in pairs for life.
Siamangs are
the largest type of gibbon.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
Nonhuman Primates as Pets
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Most common
Pet-Primate species:
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Squirrel monkey
Capuchin or “organ
grinder” monkeys
Spider monkeys
Marmosets
Baboons
Chimpanzees
Orangutans
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd191/ntuforex/Vol13issue2/82076ca5.jpg
Nonhuman Primates as Pets
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Most Common Reasons
People Buy Pet
Monkeys:
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"They're so cute!!"
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"I wanted an unusual pet.“
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"They're so adorable
dressed up like people!“
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Child substitute
http://lolayabonobo.wildlifedirect.org/2008/03/14/tigers-in-the-backyard
/
Require Permit
Partial Ban
Must Be Banded
No Requirements
Ban
http://petmonkeyinfo.org/laws.htm
Before getting a Nonhuman Pet
Primate you must…
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Make sure your primate has been bred in the
U.S. and not imported.
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Center for Disease Control of the United States
Public Health Service Regulation in 1976
Realize that monkeys are complex
social/emotional animals
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"high-care/high-need", "difficult" pets
Before getting a Nonhuman Pet
Primate you must…
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Know that they are
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Virtually impossible to toilet train
Can be destructive of property
Have a high propensity for biting
As they mature, their behavior becomes less
predictable
www.cynical-c.com/.../bloggraphics/miabite.jpg
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Nonhuman Primate vs. Newborn Child
http://www.superlaugh.com/pets/babymonkey.jpg
http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2007/12/02Grevel_family2.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. 2yr Old Child
http://www.pepperspollywogs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/WindowsLiveWriter/MonkeyingAround_7FE6/j0428530%5B3%5D.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. 5yr Old Child
http://www.baynews9.com/images/news/2006/8/8/mood2.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. 15yr Old Kid
Before getting a Nonhuman Pet
Primate you must…
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Know that they can have
different relationships with
members of a family:
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www.cynical-c.com/.../bloggraphics/miabite.jpg
liking the most dominant adult
picking on weakest or youngest family member
Monkeys have a life-span of 20-40 years.
Health Concern: Common Diseases
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Nonhuman primates have a high potential for
carrying zoonotic diseases:
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Hepatitis
Tuberculosis
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Owners should test their pets at least once a year.
Owners should be tested once a year.
Shigellosis
Salmonellosis
Herpes viruses
Herpes Simplex Viruses
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Herpesvirus simiae (Herpes “B”)
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Host: Macaques
Rhesus monkeys may develop ulcerations in the
oral mucosa.
http://www.ccac.ca/en/CCAC_Programs/ETCC/Images/ZoonosisHerpesBRhesus.jpg
Herpes Simplex Viruses
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Herpesvirus tamarinus (Herpes “T”)
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1ry Host: Squirrel monkeys and spider monkeys
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Tamarins, marmosets, owl monkeys, and titi
monkeys
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Asymptomatic
Clinical disease
May develop ulceration in lips, oral mucosa and
conjunctiva.
Herpesvirus tamarinus
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Ulcerative dermatitis in a titi monkey
The Ideal Caretaker (patience….etc.)
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Patience
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Commitment
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2008-04/37512900.jpg
Do not over estimate
their force for their size.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/11/images/large/primate2.jpg
Primate Housing
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Have the proper sized
housing setups from
day one.
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Should allow large
motor exercise, running
and leaping.
Primate Housing
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Cages for display are
not usually large
enough.
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Cage must be setup
with easy, hands-off
cleaning in mind.
Primate Housing
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Not recommended:
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Kennel crates
Cat cages
Bird cages
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3763322t400.jpg
http://www.staffordmall.com/media/dog-crate.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/birdcages/chrome%20plated%20large%20parrot%20cage.jpg
Primate Housing
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Primates of different
species should not be
housed together.
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Prevent disease
transmission
Species-specific
behaviors
Interspecies
aggression.
http://www.salem-news.com/stimg/november122007/monkey_rhesusx2350.jpg
Primate Housing
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A collar or harness should
be worn continuously
around the house.
http://www.fordogtrainer.com/pics/dog-training-equipment-choke-leather-collar.jpg
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Nonhuman primates should
be caged while
unattended.
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Do not allow them to run
loose in the home.
http://www.wildcatcommerce.com/productimages/large/28/monkeykidsharness.jpg
Cage Accessories
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Durable and easy-toclean materials.
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Special housing needs
depending on the
primate:
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Arboreal
Nocturnal
Ranging
http://www.primatecare.com/cage1.jpg
Cage Accessories
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Lighting and climate controls should be on
automatic.
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18-17ْْ C (65-80ْ F)
55-70% Humidity
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Marmosets 70-80%
http://www.advancedradiantsolutions.com/image/2218681.jpeg
Toys and
enrichment
devices
http://www.awionline.org/lab_animals/LAREF/jennifer.html
Mop heads strung with pasta
and treats knotted on the ends
Acrylic mirror
Foraging for fallen treats
Treats out of the cones
“pylon surprises”
Disinfectants
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Cleaning cases, dishes, and toys
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Roccal-D
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Winthrop, New York, NY
One-Stroke Environ
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Ceva Laboratories, Overland Park, KS
http://www.valleyvet.com/swatches/21361_L_vvs_000.jpg
http://www.animart.com/productimages/439.jpg
Nutrition for Old World
and New World Primates
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Nutritional deficiencies:
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Owner’s lack of
knowledge
Common protein
deficiencies
 high level of fruits and
starches
Many owners feed table
foods an not commercial
biscuits or canned diets.
http://ephemerist.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/monkey.jpg
Vitamin Deficiency
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Vitamin C
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Supplements needed due to decreased levels in
diet after 90 days of storage.
Daily fresh fruits or monkey vitamins
1-4 mg/kg of body weight every day
Causes:
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Swelling of long bones and hemorrhaging of the
gums
Vitamin Deficiency
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Vitamin D3 (New World Monkeys)
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Supplements needed due to insufficient sunlight.
2000 IU per kg every day
Causes:
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Soft bones, bone deformities and multiple fractures.
How much should I feed my primate?
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Consumption of adults:
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3% to 5% of their body
weight DAILY
Waste a lot of food
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Greater quantity should be
offered.
Offer “meals” 2-3 times a
day instead of once daily.
http://www.awionline.org/lab_animals/LAREF/Jen-Salad%2014.jpg
How about treats?
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Commercial food
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Treats
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80% to 90% of daily intake
Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Commercial “treats”
http://www.ericsons.net/images/343.jpg
New World monkeys
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Mealworms
Crickets
Canned dog food
Hard broiled eggs
http://tarrant.tamu.edu/garden/images/Fruits.gif
http://www.swarmsupplies.co.uk/images/Silent-crickets-6.jpg
Water and Fruit Juices
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Water
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Fresh and clean
Available at all times
Sipper-tube or valved water
system.
http://www.primatecare.com/water.jpg
Fruit juices
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Offered occasionally as a
treat.
http://www.fehd.gov.hk/safefood/food_safety_plan/images/control_juice.jpg
OVERVIEW:
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Do RESEARCH!!
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Check with your state and county for local
laws.
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Have the right cage size for your primate.
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Feed the right diet depending on the specie’s
requirements.
References

Horne, William A. Primate Anesthesia. Veterinary Clinics of North
America: Exotic Animal Practice. 2001;4(1): 239-66.
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Johnson-Delaney, Cathy A. Primates. Veterinary Clinics of North
America: Small Animal Practice. 1994;24(1):121-56.
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Satterfield, William C. and William R. Voss. Nonhuman Primates
and the Practitioner. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small
Animal Practice. 1987;17(5):1185-202.

Wallis, Jannette and D. Rick Lee. Primate Conservation: The
Prevention of Disease Transmission. International Journal of
Primatology. 1999;20(6):803-826.

Whitney, Robert A. Primate Medicine and Husbandry.
Symposium on Non-Domestic Pet Medicine. Veterinary Clinicis of
North America: Small Animal Practice. 1979;9(3):429-45.
QUESTIONS?
http://saldf.stanford.edu/images/primates3.jpg