Weight: 9 to 16 ounces
Head & Body: 9" to 12"
Tail: 11" to 16", non-prehensile
Lifespan: 10 to 18 years in captivity
The gestation period for marmosets and tamarins is around 145 to 150 days. They usually give birth to twins, but they can have between 1 and 3 babies, each weighing in at around an ounce. The father and older brothers sisters help take care of the infants by giving the mother a rest and carrying them around for a while. By 4 to 6 weeks, the babies take interest in solid foods and start sampling their parents meals. By 2 1/2 to 3 months they are pretty self-sufficient and at about 4 months they stop riding around on their parents backs. Males reach sexual maturity between 9 and 13 months, but females take a bit longer, between 18 and 24 months.
Marmosets and tamarins communicate through a vocabulary of high pitched squeaks and chatters. They sound much like a bird chirping. They sent mark as a way of defining their territory. They have a variety of facial expressions which are much like humans and when upset or threatened, their hair stands on end.
In the wild, they live in extended family groups of up to 15 individuals. The group usually consist of one adult male and female and their offspring. Offspring that reach sexual maturity will stay with the group for a while, but generally do not breed. Marmosets and tamarins are very territorial and will chase off any neighboring groups. They spend most of their day grooming each other and foraging for food.
According to Heather of Heathers Wild World she says, "Even though they are tiny creatures, they are very active and need a large cage. I house my tamarins in large walk-in indoor enclosures, measuring 7 ft. tall, 6 ft. wide, and 8 ft. deep. In the warm seasons, they also have access (via a tunnel) to an outdoor 12ft. wide x 8ft. deep x 15ft. tall enclosure.
Shelves, branches, and ropes provide needed diversity in their
environment. It is important to us many widths and lengths so the learn to
adapt to the variety in the stability of the different items. I have found that
many ferret toys, such as hammocks, hanging houses, and tunnels, are
great for marmosets and tamarins and are just the right size."
The humidity needs to remain around 50-75% and the temperature should be kept at around 80 degrees if they are kept by themselves. If they are housed indoors a full spectrum bulb, like a VITALIGHT, needs to be in place to help replace the much needed vitamin D3 from the sunlight that they are missing.
Make sure not to sterilize their entire cage at once. Leave some perches or commonly scented areas so they still feel at home. Then just rotate cleaning these spots when you wash the cage. If you keep them in an outdoor enclosure, make sure to provide plenty of foliage and hiding spots. In the wild, marmosets and tamarins are prey for birds and if they are too exposed, they may suffer from stress related problems.
A varied and correct diet is very important. A basic structure to follow when selecting a balanced diet is 70% commercial marmoset diet, 20% 5 fresh fruits and vegetables, 5% high protein (eggs, yogurt, ect..), and 5% insects. A vitamin supplement can also be given.
When obtained very young and with much attention, they become loving and tame pets. But even the most tame specimen HATES to be grabbed for any reason, and therefore they may not get along with small children. Even though they are small, a bite can still hurt miserably, and if threatened or grabbed they may retaliate with a painful bite. They can easily become stressed to their limits when being chased with the intent to be caught, so be calm and take your time.
The resource for this document is THE PRIMATE CARE HANDBOOK and can be ordered from the publisher, the Simian Society of America.
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