The Marmoset Monkey Page

The Growing Marmoset

 

· As with all primate species, parental ability is a learned behaviour and therefore this experience is important. By four to 6 weeks old, the young become interested in solid food and begin to sample items that the parent is eating.

· By 2.5 to 3 months, the young are almost self sufficient from a feeding point of view, but they continue to sleep on their parents' back until they are four months old. Permanent teeth begin to push through at 3.5 to 4 months of age, beginning with the molars, and are completed by 7 to 8 months with the emergence of the canines.

· Sexual maturity is reached between 9 to 13 months in the male, and 18 to 24 months in the female. The oestrous cycle averages every 15 to 17 days with no menstruation occurring.