Buying a Pet Monkey

From LoveToKnow Buy

If you're interested in buying a pet monkey, you're not alone. Some of the most common reasons for wanting to buy a monkey for a pet include:

They "seem" cute and cuddly
They are attention-getters
They're intelligent
They are so much like humans, it's amazing, and some people even treat them as if they are their own children

Where You Can Buy a Monkey

Buying a pet monkey isn't as easy as strolling into your local pet store or contacting one of the many breeders for the type of dog or cat you want, though it will be a private deal. It is advised that you see pictures of the monkeys first and go pick up the monkey from the current owner. Here are a few websites to browse through to find the monkey for you, close to your home.

Primate Store: You can find monkey listings to include pictures, prices, contact information, and more. In addition, if you check the sidebar, you can find information about their diet and housing. You will also find a shopping section designed to help you find the food, treats, and toys your monkey will want.
Go Pets Online: This site has a Pets for Sale section that may occasionally include monkeys. This works like a classified ads section, so you may want to check back from time to time to see if the type of monkey you'd like is available in your area.
Animal Web: Here, you'll find another classified ads section that sometimes features monkeys.
Pets4You: This site has monkey and primate breeders listed with contact information so that you can find one that lives close to you. You'll also see classified ads with pictures featuring the monkeys they have for sale.

Types of Monkeys to Buy

Some types of monkeys are more popular as pets than others. Monkeys most frequently purchased as pets include:

Marmosets
Spider monkeys
Capuchins
Squirrel monkeys

For statistics on these types of monkeys as well as a few others, visit the Primate Store's Choosing a Primate guide.

Cautions When Buying a Pet Monkey

Monkeys may look cute, cuddly, and like the perfect pet, but beware! Adult monkeys may not be the companion you were hoping for, as they can be strong-willed and intelligent enough to get into trouble. That's a far cry from the furry little baby monkey that made you want to scoop it up and take it home.

Also keep in mind that purchasing a pet monkey means a much longer commitment than other pets—and sometimes even a longer commitment than raising and feeding your own human babies. You could be responsible for the monkey for up to forty years.

Potential problems with a pet monkey include:

They may not like the other people in your life, and since they tend to be aggressive as adults, you may run into biting and other unpredictable behaviors
It's not as simple as kenneling a dog when you want to go on vacation for a while, plus when you're away at work just for the day, your monkey will need a companion
It's not like in the movies—they aren't that easy to train
Many veterinarians won't treat monkeys
They're messy and destructive no matter how well you train them, especially as adults
It may be illegal in your state to own a pet monkey
They are expensive to buy (usually between $7,000 and $8,0000)—and keep. Primates Sanctuary estimates the cost of owning a monkey over the course of its lifetime to about $50,000 to $60,000 because they need a varied diet and lots of enclosed space to play both indoors and out.

Check out Monkey Maddness' Reality Check page to see if you think a monkey is right for you. It includes a quiz.

A Final Word

When you're buying a pet monkey, proceed with caution. Make sure it's legal to have one in your state, then prepare your house as if you're having a toddler come and live with you. From there, when you're looking for sellers, make sure you have pictures of the monkeys upfront, then inspect the monkey before you pay for it. A monkey as a pet is a large investment financially and emotionally, so you should make sure he or she is healthy at the time of purchase.

Retrieved from "http://buy.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Buying_a_Pet_Monkey"