The nest box should be 1 cubic foot – 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 foot, made from 1 inch thick plywood screwed together with stainless steel screws, and painted with non-toxic paint. A 4 inch diameter circle hole for the entrance should be drilled on one of the sides of the boxes. Inside the box goes 3 or 4 dish towels which need to be changed every 4 months. The box should be on the outside of the cage so that the only thing exposed to the monkey is the entrance hole of the nest box. The rest of the box should be protected by the wire so the monkeys do not chew on the nest box wood from the outside.

These marmoset monkeys do not fare well in the cold weather. Keep your marmosets indoors for temperatures under 60 degrees

Fahrenheit. Under even colder conditions, we also advise the use of a heating pad covered by a towel so no part of the pad or wire is exposed to the monkey. They will chew on the pad and/or the wire and cause damage to the heating pad and/or themselves.

Cage Size

Check with your local fish and wildlife department for your minimum requirements for housing your pet marmoset monkey. Cages should be a minimum of 3 feet wide by at least 6 feet long and 6 feet high.

Despite their small size, marmosets need a relative large area. Minimum sizes are 6 ft tall (2 meters), 3 ft deep (1 meter) and 6 ft wide (2 meters). The wide size is important because marmosets live in trees. It’s easy, how bigger how better. If possible create outdoor enclosures with a heated indoor cage. Many marmosets, like all monkeys, show signs of boredom in captivity. So, use a lot of different items in their home.

Items Needed Inside Every Cage

Branches must be a very hard wood, non-treated and non-toxic. For example, we use dragon-wood, similar for what they use for parrots.

Swings are good as long as they are non-toxic and non-chew-able. No ropes made with glue.

Toys – all plastic baby toys approved for human babies are fine. i.e. rings, balls with bells, small squeaky toys , etc.

Platforms can be made of the same welded wire. Not wood. They will chew it!

Indoor Marmoset Monkey Cages for Adults

Indoors are just like outdoor cages with a few exceptions. There is no roof needed and cages still need to be off the ground at least a foot or two so that monkeys cannot reach their old food or feces. One important thing you must add is a vita-light which is an imitation sunlight lamp, similar to the ones used for reptiles. It should be the length of the cage and on at least 12 hours a day. Wires and the lamp itself should be kept out of reach from the monkeys.

Environment

Change their environment from time to time.

You must clean indoor cages every week. It is very important that you sterilize their cage. Clean the nest box EVERY 3 DAYS and the cage every week at the least. Use a mild disinfectant or bleach 50/50 with water to clean their cage. They need a temperature of 20°C – 25°C in indoor marmoset monkey cages (use also heat lamps). For outdoor cages, don’t forget to provide 95% shade.