PRIMATE

Husbandry and Nutrition

By: Monica Morgado

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
Conservation Status
Total # of Species
254
107 Endangered
102 Lower Risk
8 Critically Endangered
6 Not enough data
4 Threatened
3 Rare

https://secure.worldwildlife.org/ogc/ogcAC_speciesDetail.cfm?gid=69
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/44/primates.gif
http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/primates/primates_01.jpg
Taxonomy of Extant Primates
Kingdom = Animalia
Phylum = Chordata
Class = Mammalia
Order = Primates
Prosimians
*6 F
Tarsiers
*1 F
New World
Primates
*2 F
Old World
Primates
*1 F
*2 SF
OWP
Lesser
Apes
*1 F

OWP
Great
Apes
*2 F
http://afarensis.blogsome.com/2005/11/06/what-is-a-primate/
Prosimians and Tarsiers

Prosimians and Tarsiers



Most primitive of the primates
Theyre NOT monkeys nor apes
Nocturnal and sensitive
Socialized and tropical
Most are endangered
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
Where can Prosimians and Tarsiers be
found?
http://www.globaltouch.net/mapit/world/WorldAtlas.gif
New World Primates
New World Primates (Monkeys)

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
New World Primates
Family Callithricidae
Smaller tamarins and marmosets
Family Cebidae
Sakis
Spider and Woolly
Owl
Capuchin
Howler
Titi and Squirrel
Uakaris
New World Primates
Live in the neotropical forests
Central and South America.
Range vastly in size
6 inch pygmy marmoset
3 feet howler monkey
Long tails
(sometimes prehensile)
No buttock pads
No cheek pouches
Old World Primates
(OWP)
Old World Primates (Monkeys)

Old World Primates
Family Cercopithecidae
Subfamily cercopithecinae
Macaques
Baboons
Mandrills
Vervet monkeys
Patas monkeys
Subfamily Colobinae
Colobus monkeys
Langurs
Leaf monkeys
Old World Primates
Live in Africa and Asia.
Larger than the New World monkeys. They
are diurnal.
Longer hind legs than forearms.
Prominent buttock pads that they can sit on.
Tails, but not prehensile.
OWP-Great Apes
OWP-Great Apes



They have no tails.
The face is almost naked.
Live in complex social groups.
The arms are longer than the legs.
Rely mostly on vision and hearing rather than smell.
Orangutans Chimpanzees Gorillas Humans Bonobos
OWP- Lesser Apes
OWP-Lesser Apes
Smaller and more slender forms
No tail
Gibbons live in pairs for life.
Siamangs are
the largest type of gibbon.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/apevsmonkey.htm
Nonhuman Primates as Pets
Most common
Pet-Primate species:
Squirrel monkey
Capuchin or organ
grinder monkeys
Spider monkeys
Marmosets
Baboons
Chimpanzees
Orangutans
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd191/ntuforex/Vol13issue2/82076ca5.jpg

Nonhuman Primates as Pets
Most Common Reasons
People Buy Pet
Monkeys:

"They're so cute!!"

"I wanted an unusual pet.

"They're so adorable
dressed up like people!

Child substitute
http://lolayabonobo.wildlifedirect.org/2008/03/14/tigers-in-the-backyard/
http://petmonkeyinfo.org/laws.htm
Require Permit
Partial Ban
Must Be Banded
No Requirements
Ban
Before getting a Nonhuman Pet
Primate you must
Make sure your primate has been bred in the
U.S. and not imported.
Center for Disease Control of the United States
Public Health Service Regulation in 1976

Realize that monkeys are complex
social/emotional animals
"high-care/high-need", "difficult" pets
Before getting a Nonhuman Pet
Primate you must
Know that they are
Virtually impossible to toilet train
Can be destructive of property
Have a high propensity for biting
As they mature, their behavior becomes less
predictable
www.cynical-c.com/.../bloggraphics/miabite.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. Newborn Child
http://www.superlaugh.com/pets/babymonkey.jpg http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2007/12/02Grevel_family2.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. 2yr Old Child

http://www.pepperspollywogs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/WindowsLiveWriter/MonkeyingAround_7FE6/j0428530%5B3%5D.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. 5yr Old Child

http://www.baynews9.com/images/news/2006/8/8/mood2.jpg
Nonhuman Primate vs. 15yr Old Kid

Before getting a Nonhuman Pet
Primate you must
Know that they can have
different relationships with
members of a family:
liking the most dominant adult
picking on weakest or youngest family member

Monkeys have a life-span of 20-40 years.

www.cynical-c.com/.../bloggraphics/miabite.jpg
Health Concern: Common Diseases
Nonhuman primates have a high potential for
carrying zoonotic diseases:
Hepatitis
Tuberculosis
Owners should test their pets at least once a year.
Owners should be tested once a year.
Shigellosis
Salmonellosis
Herpes viruses
Herpes Simplex Viruses
Herpesvirus simiae (Herpes B)
Host: Macaques
Rhesus monkeys may develop ulcerations in the
oral mucosa.
http://www.ccac.ca/en/CCAC_Programs/ETCC/Images/ZoonosisHerpesBRhesus.jpg
Herpes Simplex Viruses
Herpesvirus tamarinus (Herpes T)
1ry Host: Squirrel monkeys and spider monkeys
Asymptomatic
Tamarins, marmosets, owl monkeys, and titi
monkeys
Clinical disease
May develop ulceration in lips, oral mucosa and
conjunctiva.

Herpesvirus tamarinus
Ulcerative dermatitis in a titi monkey
The Ideal Caretaker (patience.etc.)
Patience

Commitment

Do not over estimate
their force for their size.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2008-04/37512900.jpg
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/11/images/large/primate2.jpg
Primate Housing
Have the proper sized
housing setups from
day one.

Should allow large
motor exercise, running
and leaping.

Primate Housing
Cages for display are
not usually large
enough.

Cage must be setup
with easy, hands-off
cleaning in mind.

Primate Housing
Not recommended:
Kennel crates
Cat cages
Bird cages
http://www.freewebs.com/birdcages/chrome%20plated%20large%20parrot%20cage.jpg http://www.staffordmall.com/media/dog-crate.jpg
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3763322t400.jpg
Primate Housing
Primates of different
species should not be
housed together.
Prevent disease
transmission
Species-specific
behaviors
Interspecies
aggression.
http://www.salem-news.com/stimg/november122007/monkey_rhesusx2350.jpg
Primate Housing

A collar or harness should
be worn continuously
around the house.

Nonhuman primates should
be caged while
unattended.

Do not allow them to run
loose in the home.

http://www.fordogtrainer.com/pics/dog-training-equipment-choke-leather-collar.jpg
http://www.wildcatcommerce.com/productimages/large/28/monkeykidsharness.jpg
Cage Accessories
Durable and easy-to-
clean materials.

Special housing needs
depending on the
primate:
Arboreal
Nocturnal
Ranging
http://www.primatecare.com/cage1.jpg
Cage Accessories
Lighting and climate controls should be on
automatic.

18-17

C (65-80

F)
55-70% Humidity
Marmosets 70-80%

http://www.advancedradiantsolutions.com/image/2218681.jpeg

Acrylic mirror
http://www.awionline.org/lab_animals/LAREF/jennifer.html
Foraging for fallen treats

Treats out of the cones
pylon surprises
Mop heads strung with pasta
and treats knotted on the ends
Toys and
enrichment
devices
Disinfectants
Cleaning cases, dishes, and toys
Roccal-D
Winthrop, New York, NY
One-Stroke Environ
Ceva Laboratories, Overland Park, KS
http://www.valleyvet.com/swatches/21361_L_vvs_000.jpg http://www.animart.com/productimages/439.jpg
Nutrition for Old World
and New World Primates
Nutritional deficiencies:

Owners lack of
knowledge

Common protein
deficiencies
high level of fruits and
starches

Many owners feed table
foods an not commercial
biscuits or canned diets.



http://ephemerist.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/monkey.jpg
Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamin C
Supplements needed due to decreased levels in
diet after 90 days of storage.
Daily fresh fruits or monkey vitamins
1-4 mg/kg of body weight every day
Causes:
Swelling of long bones and hemorrhaging of the
gums
Vitamin Deficiency
Vitamin D3 (New World Monkeys)
Supplements needed due to insufficient sunlight.
2000 IU per kg every day
Causes:
Soft bones, bone deformities and multiple fractures.

How much should I feed my primate?
Consumption of adults:
3% to 5% of their body
weight DAILY
Waste a lot of food
Greater quantity should be
offered.
Offer meals 2-3 times a
day instead of once daily.

http://www.awionline.org/lab_animals/LAREF/Jen-Salad%2014.jpg
How about treats?
Commercial food
80% to 90% of daily intake

Treats
Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Commercial treats

New World monkeys
Mealworms
Crickets
Canned dog food
Hard broiled eggs
http://www.ericsons.net/images/343.jpg
http://tarrant.tamu.edu/garden/images/Fruits.gif
http://www.swarmsupplies.co.uk/images/Silent-crickets-6.jpg
Water and Fruit Juices
Water
Fresh and clean
Available at all times
Sipper-tube or valved water
system.

Fruit juices
Offered occasionally as a
treat.
http://www.primatecare.com/water.jpg
http://www.fehd.gov.hk/safefood/food_safety_plan/images/control_juice.jpg
OVERVIEW:

Do RESEARCH!!

Check with your state and county for local
laws.

Have the right cage size for your primate.

Feed the right diet depending on the species
requirements.
References
Horne, William A. Primate Anesthesia. Veterinary Clinics of North
America: Exotic Animal Practice. 2001;4(1): 239-66.

Johnson-Delaney, Cathy A. Primates. Veterinary Clinics of North
America: Small Animal Practice. 1994;24(1):121-56.

Satterfield, William C. and William R. Voss. Nonhuman Primates
and the Practitioner. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small
Animal Practice. 1987;17(5):1185-202.

Wallis, Jannette and D. Rick Lee. Primate Conservation: The
Prevention of Disease Transmission. International Journal of
Primatology. 1999;20(6):803-826.

Whitney, Robert A. Primate Medicine and Husbandry.
Symposium on Non-Domestic Pet Medicine. Veterinary Clinicis
of North America: Small Animal Practice. 1979;9(3):429-45.

QUESTIONS?

http://saldf.stanford.edu/images/primates3.jpg