Common Marmosets are not an ideal animal to have in the
home. Cub Creek Science Camp discourages most people
from getting a marmoset as a pet. While very
affectionate as a baby and pre-adult, they tend to developed
the need to protect their space from intruders as they grow,
making them unpredictable. They live 15 plus years and
require continual mental and social stimulation. In
our opinion they should always be kept in pairs or small
family groups.
Marmosets are kept at Cub Creek Science Camp to show our
campers first hand why they do not make ideal pets.
Cotton Eared Marmoset
The Common Marmoset (Callithrix
jacchus), or Cotton Eared Marmoset, is
is a New World monkey from Brazil. There are four families
of New World monkeys, and the Common Marmoset belongs to the
family Callitrichinae. Their size ranges from only 14 to 18
centimeters and weigh around 400 grams. Their diet consists
of tree sap, fruit, insects, eggs of birds, flowers and
spiders. Common Marmosets have long limbs and tail which
they use for climbing and have specially designed teeth for
extracting gum from trees. Distinguishing characteristics of
common marmosets include white ear tufts, and a white blaze
on the forehead.
At Cub Creek Science Camp we have a family
group of a male Cotton Eared Marmoset
named Meeko and a female Cotton Eared Marmoset named Miley.
They have raised several babies, one of which we have taken
to hand raise. Cotton Eared Marmosets are wonderful
parents, each sharing a part in the carrying of the young. Meeko is very protective of Miley and the young marmosets
and does not want anyone to come close to them. These
are one of the few non-contact animals that we have at
Science Camp. Camper may give them treats through
openings constructed in their enclosure for this purpose.
They love bananas and gummy bears and are very fun to watch
jumping and playing in their enclosure.
