Full Grown Finger Monkey: How Big Do These Terribly Tiny Monkeys Get?

The term 'pygmy' is used for animals that have all the traits of their particular breed but are diminutive in size.

The finger monkey, also known as pygmy marmoset or dwarf marmoset is a species of New World Monkeys that are found in South America. As of now, there are two known species of this tiny marmoset known as the eastern pygmy marmoset and the western pygmy marmoset.

This monkey species, because of its small size and stature has become a particularly well-known monkey species in the pet trade. These monkeys are often taken from their natural habitats and sold in the pet trades due to a large demand for exotic species.

These monkeys have made their way across the world to people who specialize in raising such animals.

There are, however, several rules and regulations that prohibit the possessions of these creatures as a pet in several parts of the world, and to keep them as pets, necessary documents and licenses are required.

If you like this article about full grown finger monkey, be sure to check out articles about how long do monkeys live and can you own a monkey in California.

How big do finger monkeys get?

Pygmy marmosets, also known are finger monkeys, pocket monkeys or thumb monkeys are species of monkeys and are considered to be the smallest primates in existence.

These wild animals have become a part of the pet trade where they are taken from their natural habitat ranges and later sold as exotic pet species as they can become good pets thanks to them being social creatures.

These intelligent animals are the smallest species of monkeys because of their miniature size. Adult finger monkeys reach a body length of 4.6-6.2 in (11.6-15.7 cm) and their tail length is double their body size and ranges between 6.8-9 in (17.2-22.8 cm).

Because of their status as the smallest monkey in the world, they are a dream come true for pet owners across the world who raise exotic pet species.

Where do finger monkeys come from?

The pygmy marmoset or the finger monkey is a species of New World monkeys found in the rainforests of South America along with some other species of monkey.

Their natural habitat covers countries like Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Columbia. These finger or pocket monkeys are social animals and live in small groups where they live on their natural diet of resin, gum, small insects, and other small plants and animals that they scrape out of the tree bark.

Will a finger monkey make a good pet?

Finger monkeys or pygmy marmosets have become quite popular in recent years among pet lovers who are enthusiastic about other pets in the form of exotic animals.

However, it is to be noted that these monkeys are not like your average pet dog or cat as they are a wild animal species and are in most cases, not suited to a domesticated life that many exotic pets can adapt to.

As much as one would like to raise pet monkeys, it is difficult to tame these creatures because of their wild instincts.

A pet finger monkey should only be handled by someone who is experienced with exotic pets and even if they tame the finger monkey from a young age, it is possible, in most cases, that these animals, especially the adult finger monkey will show signs of aggressive behavior.

In theory, a baby finger monkey will carry on the tendencies that these monkeys have as social animals and will charm you with its cuteness and playful tendencies, however, this behavior will not last, as adult finger monkeys or pygmy marmosets, can become quite a handful.

Male finger monkeys are much more prone to biting and playing aggressively that can cause bodily harm to the handler or the finger monkeys themselves.

To put a stop to this aggressiveness it is recommended to separate your baby finger monkey from other monkeys that you may have.

Physical Characteristics Of A Finger Monkey

An adult finger monkey is known for its furry body and its tawny-colored fur that comes with black streaks. The underbelly of this species of monkey is usually white or cream in color.

Pygmy marmosets' tails are double their body size and have black rings on these tails that help them in balancing in their natural habitats of South America.

Finger monkeys have a mane-like coat around their heads, which is similar to that of a lion. Their eyes are almond-shaped.

The tails take up a large chunk of their body size and their heads and body together combine to form the rest of the body length.

Baby pygmy marmosets are tiny when they are born and by the time they are 2 years old, they become adults and gain sexual maturity between 12-16 months of age.

This tiny monkey species is lightweight, with a newborn baby monkey weighing less to nothing and as they grow older, they gain a body mass that is approximately 5 oz (141.7 g). Females weigh less than males as these pocket monkey species portray signs of sexual dimorphism.

The female finger monkey can give birth at a young age, which is after about 5 months. Babies are born alive after a gestation period of 135 days.

The female usually gives birth to a single baby, and in some cases, this number can increase to twins, triplets, or even quadruplets. After birth, the male pygmy marmoset will take care of the babies for some weeks before they are taken care of by older offspring or siblings.

The average lifespan of the finger monkeys is estimated to be around 12-16 years in the wild where they can often be targeted by larger predatory animals like snakes and cats. This lifespan can be extended to 20-22 years as pets if a specialized diet is followed.

The pygmy marmoset species is known to produce ultrasonic cries that are inaudible to humans and in most cases, this cry is used to antagonize others.

Finger monkeys have sharp claws that they use to move around and climb up and down trees. These monkeys spend most of their time making deep holes in the trees with their sharp teeth as they eat gum or resin that is produced by the trees.

In the wild, the finger monkey diet includes flower nectar, insects, reptiles, and spiders.

Ethics Of Keeping A Finger Monkey As A Pet

The ethics behind keeping a wild species is always something of a discussion as these creatures are built for a life in the wild but they have to adapt to domesticated situations when they are kept as pets.

A pet finger monkey might sound fancy but these creatures, like most exotic pet species, are not suited to be pets. Finger monkeys are on the costly side and a small baby will cost you between $1400-$4000 USD.

The legality of keeping finger monkeys are pets is debatable all across the world and in some areas keeping the pygmy marmoset as a pet can get you into a lot of trouble.

In the United States, there are many states that have had legalized or prohibited the use of the pygmy marmoset as a pet. Some of the states where it is legal to own a pygmy marmoset without any sort of permit are Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio, and Illinois.

States like Rhode Island, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Indiana require a special permit to keep a pet pocket monkey.

There are many conservation efforts to keep the pocket monkey out of the reach of pet owners, as some states have an all-around ban on the possession of primates as pets.

If you are someone who does not want to go through all the procedures of the legality of licenses, then it is recommended that you should check out these species in zoos or animal sanctuaries where they are raised.

Handling And Bonding With A Pygmy Marmoset

The pocket monkey species is one of the most amusing monkeys and is incredibly talented if they are taught tricks from an early age.

The finger monkey is able to rotate its head 180 degrees, falling just short of the owl species. These monkeys are also known for their ability to leap and jump to a height that cannot be reached by other monkey species, even the ones that are larger than the finger monkey.

These creatures can jump nearly 15 ft (4.5 m) in the air.

Handling and raising your finger monkey can be a challenge as these creatures have a high rate of fatality, and only about 67% of babies make it to their adult forms. In most cases, deaths occur inside the first two months of their lives.

Male pygmy marmosets can actually be a handful as they start to show aggression when they are nearing adulthood. They also become hyperactive and will need the companionship of other pets or humans. Handling them roughly can cause them to become more aggressive instead of being tame or docile.

Since the finger monkey species is small and delicate, it is recommended to handle them with extreme care as even a bit of extra pressure on delicate parts of their bodies can lead to injuries, or in worse cases, death.

These little creatures are extremely social, so be prepared to interact with them as much as possible, and provide them with social, mental, and physical stimulation to keep them healthy and active all the time.

Caring For A Pygmy Marmoset

The finger monkey species is actively social and their group consists of at least 6 members. Due to this, it is recommended to buy them in pairs so that they do not get bored of a solitary life with no mate to play with.

Buying them in pairs will relieve you of some pressure and help them in adapting to captive life.

Some of the important things to keep in mind to keep your finger monkey in its best state are as follows:

Housing - The finger monkey species is an active one, and they like to climb and jump around, due to this active way of life, great care should be taken when choosing their housing.

Their enclosure should be in a part of the house which gets a lot of sunlight as sunlight for these monkeys is as important as food.

The large cage should come as close to its natural environment as possible, so you should install swings, real or artificial trees, and a supply of clean water.

If sunlight is not present, a UV light or heat lamp should be installed in the cage. Living conditions that should be avoided come in the form of small cages with not enough space, or an enclosure with an opaque lid that prohibits sunlight from reaching the finger monkey.

An accessory-less enclosure is never recommended as these monkey species like to jump and climb whenever they are active.

Accessories - Real plants are often recommended as they are your best chance of recreating their natural habitat in a cage environment. However, when you are buying such plants, make sure they are not carrying any sort of bacteria as they can be harmful to your finger monkey.

Artificial plants, on the other hand, are much more durable and are easier to clean and maintain. These plants will help in creating a more vibrant surrounding that your finger monkey will enjoy playing around in.

Since your finger monkey will most likely be an avid climber, it is recommended to install swings, platforms, or ladders in the enclosure to provide physical and mental stimulation.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for full grown finger monkey then why not take a look at how many hands does a monkey have, or finger monkey facts.