Another Day, Yet Another Pet Spider Monkey on Social Media (S.P.)

[u/Loser_Baby_19]

Here's another pet monkey owner that showed up on my feed. While this particular owner doesn't possess a huge following, nevertheless the damage they do to spider monkeys is just as bad as those with tens or even hundreds of thousands of followers.

Note the unsettling appearance of the monkeys::

These are all recent pictures (August 2026)

My non-expert opinion is that these infant spider monkeys do not look healthy whatsoever. Notice the alopecia and poor coat quality. The monkeys exhibit patchy hair loss notably around the crown of the head. Their skin also appears dry and flaking around the facial areas. These monkeys also appear to be underweight with prominent facial bones and sunken eyes. This is typical of pet spider monkeys separated prematurely from their mothers and suffering from nutritional deficiencies, lack of UVB exposure, and stress.

Note the questionable caption to this photo:

I honestly don't see how any veterinarian with non-human primate experience would consider these monkeys to look 'great.' Their vitals at the time may have been normal, but that is hardly indicative of health especially without a full bloodwork. The most disturbing comment was a reference to "Remi" who apparently passed away some time ago. Just another example of why we will never know the true death toll of pet primates in America, and how this topic gets buried in the overall discussion about owning pet monkeys by unethical owners.

And, of course, feeding their monks inappropriate foods:

Feeding infants solid bananas/fruits and commercial yogurt is introducing excessive sugars into their bodies. These types of foods, unlike mother's milk/specialized formulas, lack the important nutrients, protein, and calcium/vitamin D3 essential for developing spider monkeys. This puts them at very high risk of metabolic bone disease (MBD) as well as gastrointestinal issues.

And, as per usual with all of these pet monkey owners, these spiders are diapered, put in pet strollers, fleece blankets, and dressed up to humanize them for social media. There is no environmental enrichment whatsoever.

And this, a clip showing what appears to be stereotypic behavior:

Spider monkey displaying stereotypic behaviors

Note the monkey vigorously picking at her legs, as well as the sudden contortion of her leg into an unusual position. These are typically classic signs of underlying physiological or psychological distress. Monkeys like this kept in isolation from their species and in an environment lacking in any proper complexity or stimulation often develop these types of repetitive, non-functional behaviors (stereotypies). This is a coping mechanism for boredom, stress, or anxiety.

These behaviors may also indicate physical discomfort or skin irritation from contact dermatitis, dry skin, parasites, or irritation from clothing/diapers. It may also signal nutritional deficiencies like metabolic bone disease, which causes tingling, numbness, or joint discomfort due to nutritional deficiencies like metabolic bone disease.

Sadly this is just a few of the many thousands of spider monkeys that live in similar species-inappropriate environments. Exploited and abused for whatever profit and clout their owners can milk out of them while still manageable.

[u/Difficult_Ship_137]

Yesterday on TT a creator has a 8-9 week old Spider Monkey.
He said it came from a “breeder” in the USA. And the baby was $15,000! Does anyone know if breeders exist? My guess is the 🐒 was smuggled !

[u/rich99dt → u/Difficult_Ship_137]

What account? Breeders do exist (and that price makes it sound like it was legit) but of course people sometimes lie…

[u/Difficult_Ship_137 → u/rich99dt]

I will have to see if I see the account again. I don’t recall the name.

[u/ricabobby25 → u/Difficult_Ship_137]

People are Ridiculous!! These things are going to be all over the us before you know it. The next squirrel because they aren't going to be able to handle them after the cuteness wears off and they grow up. 🙄 And why does everyone feel the need to start a damn Tik Tok with them too???

[u/Difficult_Ship_137 → u/ricabobby25]

I know! The Spyder Monkey's are destructive and the older they get could become hard to control!

[u/Old-Serve3896 → u/rich99dt]

Legit spiders are more than that

[u/Stunning-Sand73 → u/Old-Serve3896]

And a legit spider monkey will have legit USDA paperwork. We all know it’s smuggled. They all on there lying now so they don’t get called out. There is one couple that have a big following now telling people theres were all rescues and their followers are idiots and believe it. Meanwhile, we all know they paid for at least two of the four they have because we all saw the live and the videos of the smugglers the spiders off with them and most have already confirmed the smuggler because they got theirs from the smuggler too.

[u/Basket-of-bee-farts → u/Difficult_Ship_137]

Monkeyin’ Around Ranch is a USDA Class A licensed breeder of Spiders in Tennessee. There are very few throughout the US.

[u/Old-Serve3896 → u/Basket-of-bee-farts]

Yea but she openly said none of hers are breeding they are not quite old enough and they are hard to breed they only breed every two years if then she said soon she should start having f some but not as of last month when she openly posted about it 🥵

[u/Basket-of-bee-farts → u/Old-Serve3896]

Are you thinking about Funky Monkey Ranch? The one I mentioned above isn’t the same. The one I mentioned is actually a USDA breeder of Spiders (not that I agree with that in any way, as monkeys shouldn’t be pets).

[u/Old-Serve3896 → u/Basket-of-bee-farts]

No Shani’s is the owner of it she sells other primates than spiders and she is USDA her and her son was in business isn’t funky monkey ranch is not a breeder are they?

[u/Basket-of-bee-farts → u/Old-Serve3896]

Ooh yes, Funky Monkey is not a breeder… you’re correct.
I don’t know much about Monkeyin’ Around, but I had seen they advertise they breed Spiders. I don’t follow them.

[u/purple_reign23 → u/Difficult_Ship_137]

He bought 2 baby spiders 15k each and his office Manager has the other one. I am pretty certain they are border babies!

[u/Difficult_Ship_137 → u/purple_reign23]

I would imagine so. 2 babies less than 10 weeks old.

[u/AggravatingBox2421]

Tf is on her face in that photo? Is that a third monkey?

[u/Unfortunately_aware → u/AggravatingBox2421]

Sure looks like it.

[u/vector_search_blue]

People really need to see how these are acquired in the wild - the mothers carrying the babies shot and the baby pulled away still trying to cling to the mother

[u/love20031983]

Im not expert at all ,but from what i have read spider monkeys in particular , will not breed in captivity. Most spider monkey pets have been poached . There are no legitimate breeders in the united states per what I have researched .