The Marmoset Monkey Page

Housing

 

· Shelves, ropes and branches provide marmosets with some diversity in their captive environment, it is also important to provide some variation in the lengths and widths of these objects.

· The stability of the objects should vary so that the marmoset can learn to adapt to those objects that move when jumped onto and those that stay still.

· This increases both physical and mental stimulation which in turn helps to alleviate boredom, as well as helping in the development of proper co-ordination and physiological development (the development of the muscular system).

· When keeping marmosets indoors, especially in the winter when heating is used, it is important to keep the humidity level up to at least 50 to 75%, this is especially so if they are youngsters.

· Marmosets being housed individually should be kept at a temperature of 26.6 to 27.7 degrees C.

· Those maintained in pairs or groups can withstand lower temperatures as they draw body heat from each other.

· Marmosets mark their territories in the wild by "scenting", this is also done in captivity by rubbing their scent glands against a perch or some other object in the cage, note these preferred areas.

· Cleaning and disinfecting the cage is extremely important for good health, and to alleviate odours.

· However, do avoid washing the areas of the cage frequently which are most often used for scent marking purposes.

· Marmosets have been known to develop behavioural problems and skin lesions due to an over stimulated need to scent-mark their territory in a sterile environment.

· It is advisable to wash these areas on a rotation basis, where you wash certain objects one time and the other objects the next, by doing this, the monkey will always feel "at home".

· The same is true when replacing perches and branches etc.

· Never replace them all at once, but rather work the new ones in a couple at a time.

· With all this discussion on scent, it should be noted by anyone planning on keeping Callitrichids that they are rather smelly, and this should be a major factor when deciding if the care of these creatures is for you.

· When providing bedding for these little creatures, care must be taken that you do not give them bedding with loose fibres, as these can become entwined around their little fingers and toes cutting off circulation.

· It is important to provide covering for marmosets, which are housed primarily outdoors.

· In their natural habitat, large birds frequently prey on them; as a result they rely heavily on dense foliage for cover and protection.

· If they are not provided with cover, over at least half the enclosure, marmosets feel insecure and this may lead to problems related to stress.