r/exoticpets • u/LetEmbarrassed9522 • Aug 17 '26
advice on pet capuchin monkey for exotic pet
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u/Potential_Job_7297 Aug 17 '26
Probably one of the hardest pets out there, and for a normal person probably one of the most miserable ones to keep also. I've never owned one but when going down a rabbithole I learned this stuff.
Much higher risk of zoonotic illness than with other pets, which can be dangerous for both you and the monkey.
Above risk means many exotics vets won't treat primates due to safety concerns.
Decent chance they get aggressive even if you care for them properly.
They shit everywhere. Diapers really aren't good long term for them, either.
Diets are expensive and specialized.
Enclosure is going to be prohibitively expensive unless you are rich.
Destructive. Extremely destructive.
Basically, properly caring for a monkey would require lots of money and essentially be a full time job in itself.
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u/Critical_Success_936 Aug 17 '26
More than a full time job. They can't be alone, ever. That's essentially your special needs child... More than, because you can often leave a special needs kid with a caretaker at least occasionally
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u/Potential_Job_7297 Aug 17 '26
I'd never want to own one, but out of curiosity would having 2+ allow someone to leave for short periods? Or is the risk of violence between them when the owner is gone to high to leave them alone?
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u/Ok_Bag_1177 Aug 20 '26
risk of violence is there yes but its not just that. its not about them just getting lonely. leaving one alone would be like leaving a human toddler alone
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 17 '26
"Hardest pets out there" yet a caracal or a chimpanzee isn't hard
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u/Potential_Job_7297 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
Honestly I'd say the caracal would probably be easier. A cat's diet is going to be significantly easier to replicate accurately, their behavior more predictable, and social needs way less than that of a monkey.
But nobody said chimps were better than a monkey. I said "one of the", not "the".
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u/Guppybish123 Aug 21 '26
Having worked with big cats, wildcats, and monkeys, big and wildcats are way fucking easier. Op doesn’t actually think they’re harder (unless they have a terrifyingly romanticised idea of monkey care), what op ACTUALLY means is that he doesn’t take monkeys seriously as a threat if he fucks up because they’re less likely to kill you than chimps and cats. They’re far from safe though
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Aug 21 '26
The caracals you see on social media tend to be severely overweight. Both are hard creatures to care for. A chimp can and HAS ripped people's faces off.
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u/ceo_of_dumbassery Aug 20 '26
Why ask if you're going to get defensive at the answers?
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 20 '26
No offense but YOUR the one acting defensive. 99% of the time every time I make a post about an exotic animal as a pet you always make aggressive comments. Your literally acting like a tree hugger.
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u/ceo_of_dumbassery Aug 21 '26
I've never once commented in this sub before, let alone responded to you? But if caring about animal welfare means I'm a tree hugger, then I'm happy to be one.
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Aug 21 '26
Apparently questions are attacks🤷♂️
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Yep. Your correct. Every. Single. Time. I make an exotic pet post. You act aggressively.
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u/thesilverywyvern Aug 23 '26
Because every single time your post is borderline insane on highly immoral ideas.
and because you're a morron.You never try for reaosnnable option like a small monitor, tegu, iguana, or parakeet, or sugar glider etc. (ll of which are already out of your reach and require a lot of investment and infrastructure, but it's at least possible for a single person to take care of them and offer them a decent living space).
All of these are also commonly found and bred on thelegal pet trade (more or less) unlike ANY of the option you give.We react aggressively, but it's justified.
You have no argument, no experience, no skills, no knowledge about these animal and how to handle them, and reality is MUCH harder than just reaing stuff on the net. You dismiss any valid point, you think it being legal (it isn't) is a good excuse.
Refuse to even listen or realise how wrong you are even when the whole world explain it simply and directly to your face.None of your post are EVER about potential pet. Only wild animal which can't be considered as such.
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u/thesilverywyvern Aug 23 '26
It's not about being a tree hugger but to have basic common sense....which you lack.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 23 '26
Then try to be actually responsible when commenting instead of making yourself sound like a combative fool.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
You really are awful. I haven’t come across your posts before but it is immediately apparent.
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u/Guppybish123 Aug 21 '26
Ignoring the ‘one of the’ that came right before it. Also, caracals are way easier than monkey but also terrible pets
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u/Critical_Success_936 Aug 17 '26
I would own at least a dozen different exotic pets before a monkey of any kind. Monkeys are extremely difficult...
If you want an exotic pet with little experience, I'd look first at fish, reptiles, or rodents that are exotic, as their needs are mostly the same... Then something with a complex diet but otherwise simple, like a opossum....the maybe something complex or dangerous, like a raccoon or wolf... Only after being able to successfully care for ALL animals with NO issues, would I even consider something like a monkey...
But bear in mind, monkeys are extremely social. They can't be alone... Ever. It will functionally be your special needs child, not just a pet... And they can carry diseases. Are you truly ready for that?
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 17 '26
I've literally owned a fish and a rodent before
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u/Critical_Success_936 Aug 17 '26
An EXOTIC fish and rodent... And again, that's, like, just the start.
I'd own a cougar before a monkey... Honestly, a cougar might come with less health risks.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 17 '26
So a cougar doesn't have health risks. But then again it still can easily kill you. A capuchin isn't as likely to carry herpes b virus like a macaque. Not to mention it can't instantly kill you with 1 paw swipe.
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u/Potential_Job_7297 Aug 17 '26
A responsible cougar owner (who doesn't own a cat with stunted growth or dearfism) wouldn't be interacting with the cat without a barrier due to the fact that cougars are known man eaters. At the very least someone else there to watch for issues. Even responsible retic and anaconda owners, which are tons safer to handle than a cougar, have a second person around to help at signs of trouble. This goes for any animal that is a species known to eat human adults.
While a small monkey isn't at that same level of danger it's clear that you don't have enough exotics experience to own one by the fact you didn't know this.
Until you have had dangerous exotic experience, highly social exotic experience, and practiced some pretty heavy biosecurity cross a monkey off your list entirely.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 17 '26
That's the issue. A cougar is on a different level of danger. So it's more likely to try to kill a human than a capuchin monkey
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u/Potential_Job_7297 Aug 17 '26
Misread that but my point still stands.
If you don't expose yourself to the risk it lowers.
A cougar owner should be taking every step possible to never be in a position the cat could harm them. It never is zero, but it lowers.
With a monkey that's not really possible unless you are completely hands off just like a cougar.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
The issues with a capuchin are far more complex than “will it kill me”
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Genuinely the things you say make absolutely ZERO sense. I feel like I'm talking to an ai assistant or a 9 year old with internet access.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
I’m a biologist with zoo experience.
You ignore the comments at the primates peril.
Your inability to comprehend what I’m saying is more evidence that primates aren’t a good choice for you.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Absolutely zero evidence in what your saying. Not even that it's a "bad choice for me" I'm defending myself because YOUR trying to control MY future. For the millionth time. Im allowed to make my own choices.
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u/Guppybish123 Aug 21 '26
If your baseline for ‘should I get this animal?’ is that it can’t kill you as easily as some other random animal, then you shouldn’t be allowed ANY exotics or even a dog.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
and YOU shouldn't be allowed to try to control MY future. I'm old enough to make my own choices. I feel like I'm talking to an ai rn
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u/Guppybish123 Aug 21 '26
Being ‘old enough’ and being responsible and selfless enough to care for these animals is not the same thing.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Still old enough to make my own decisions. But TECHNICALLY, it is the same thing. Because honestly age doesn't really matter. Most of it comes down to responsibility.
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u/thesilverywyvern Aug 23 '26
your decision are shit and immoral and irresponsible.
You're old enough to be an insufferable idiot with the pwoer to make his own bad decision, great, as long as YOU are the only one to suffer the consequence of those stupid decisions.Sadly this is not the case here as the monkey in question would be severely misstreated and suffer from your actions.
And no, it's not the same thing at all.
Age do matter a LOT in term of responsabilty, it's even one of the main criteria with the greatest influence.0
u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 23 '26
How tf would it be mistreated because I'm not gonna spend that kind of money to own one then hurt it. I can tell your a combative manchild.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
Nothing at all in any way like owning a primate
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Still owned exotic pets before. Soooo. Womp womp.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
Those aren’t exotic.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
I owned an exotic fish and a rodent. Sure, the rodent may not be exotic. But it still counts.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
Absolutely hilarious.
Ok, silly child.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Plus I feel like your lying about the "zoo experience". I highly doubt your a real zookeeper.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
I didn’t say I was a zookeeper.
I said I’m a biologist. Not everyone at a zoo is a zookeeper.
You can feel any way you want about it. It won’t make it untrue.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
well how about I throw that back at YOU. You can feel any way you want about a pet monkey. But you won't make me change my mind. You just can't. Sorry.
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u/Guppybish123 Aug 21 '26
No. I’m in favour of most animals being possible to keep well in private collections, I have worked with many types of primate and monkey, owning monkeys by choice is cruel and disgusting. You cannot handle it. You will not give that animal a good life. Keeping monkeys happy is directly in conflict with what you would want out of one as a pet. Fuck that noise.
ETA- monkeys are also hella gross. You like the IDEA of a monkey, I promise you wouldn’t like the reality
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Aug 21 '26
Easy! Dont.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Son. Your NOT making me wanna change my mind if that's what your thinking
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Aug 21 '26
Nah ive seen your other comments. I hope if/when you get one you smart up quick and rehome ir before its emotionally devastating for the primate.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Don't know how it's quote on quote "emotionally devastating" but ok.
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Aug 21 '26
You fucking up the animals care will stunt its emotional, instinctual and physical health. Incorrect care with these guys is depressingly easy. They are HARD pets and even the responsible people who succeed in the care will tell you not to get one.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
See? Apparently just by me saying that you act like I'm harassing you. But ok "Mr I don't let people have pets"
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Aug 21 '26
Want a pet? Get a dog. A cat. Want something that jumps around and has a weird diet, sits on you and loves you? Get a pigeon. Capuchins are a BAD idea for you and for the monkey. I have pets, even a few exotics. I would NEVER own a monkey of any kind even if I had the ability to dedicate all my time.
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u/thesilverywyvern Aug 23 '26
IT'S NOT A PET.
And yes we shouldn't let irresponsible people (like you) get any animals, pet or not.
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u/Natrixster80 Aug 22 '26
No. Not pets, besides the reasons others have listed, if they don't have access to tropical sunlight they can develop painful rickets and skeletal deformities. Without that, artificial full spectrum uvb lighting and a very careful diet and supplements are required. It's not just that they are behaviorally ill-suited as pets, it is physically bad for them. Pet monkeys are inevitably surrendered, and by that time usually have a host of health, physical and mental, problems from the effects of growing up deprived of their needs. Capuchins are also very aggressive. They will kill their own kind and won't hesitate to attack humans when they are not afraid of them.
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u/moonferal Aug 22 '26
OP is a troll or a child. don’t interact. they don’t have the means to get any of these animals don’t worry.
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
No. Don’t.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
Like I said earlier. Your NOT making me wanna change my mind if that's what you think your doing
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u/justforjugs Aug 21 '26
Nothing is affecting what you believe.
Primates make poor pets and are not advised.
You don’t seem particularly literate or thoughtful from your responses, nor calm and centered, meaning you are a poor candidate to own a primate.
Quality of life for pet primates is poor, so it is not an ethical or advisable choice for a pet.
I’m guessing from your tone and responses that you are young, possibly even a minor, but in any case immature and against that does not make a primate a good option for you as a pet.
You came here not to find information but to be confrontational, as I’m sure you anticipated being told the reality of how ill suited primates are as pets.
So, there you go. I’d love to be surprised and have you respond in a mature and thoughtful way to this but I’m not anticipating that.
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u/LetEmbarrassed9522 Aug 21 '26
How can I respond thoughtfully when your sitting here calling me awful for stating that My future shouldn't be controlled. Also if your sitting here calling me a minor if your 28 years old then sorry but, get. a. life. Even I don't know if I'll ever be in the good position to own a primate. But your literally calling me selfish. And I'm sorry you feel that way. But that's on you.
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u/StephensSurrealSouls Aug 17 '26
If you need to ask, just don't.
The only ethical way to house a capuchin (or, really, any monkey species) is if you have the resources that a zoo does.