Feeding and providing basic care for a finger monkey is not difficult. It is identical to caring for any other pet. But the diet and feeding schedule of a finger monkey are significantly distinct. Below you will find a list of items that can be fed to your finger monkey, as well as those that should be avoided.
Marmoset Feeding Schedule
You can either feed your finger monkey twice per day or once per day. Before 9:00 am in the morning or before 6:00 pm in the evening. It is recommended to cut all meals into little pieces to facilitate chewing.
Some babies consume more food than others. It is essential to monitor if your infant consumes more or less food. When your infant is full, they will often turn their heads away when you attempt to feed them. When this occurs, forcing them will cause them to vomit, which will result in choking. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Marmoset Diet In Captivity
You can see a detailed feeding schedule example for your pet monkey HERE.
- Protein-Rich Choices
| ASPARAGUS | Broccoli | Brussels sprouts |
|---|---|---|
| *BUG BLEND (CRICKETS GRASSHOPPERS & MEALWORMS) | Cheeses | Chicken |
| COTTAGE CHEESE | Crabmeat | *Crickets |
| EGGS-BOILED /SCRAMBLED | Fish (deboned baked or broiled) | Grasshoppers |
| GREEK YOGURT | Green Peas | *Insectivore Fare |
| *MARMOSET CANNED DIET | *Marmoset Jelly | *Marmoset Protein Diet |
| *MONKEY BISCUITS | Monkey Chicken Crackers | *Monkey Chow |
| *NUTS AND SEEDS | Oats | *Pumpkin Seeds |
| SALMON | Shrimp (boiled) | Super Greens |
| TOFU | Turkey | *Wax, Super Worms & Mealworm |
Important Note: All meats and fish are not to be fried. You should boil them. Never feed your finger monkey with any Junk Food, Grapes, Chocolate, or Gum.
- Vegetables
| ASPARAGUS | Beets | Broccoli (Spears & Sprouts) |
|---|---|---|
| BRUSSELS SPROUTS | Carrots | Cauliflower |
| CELERY | Collard Greens | Corn (yellow) |
| CUCUMBER | Green Beans (Snap Beans) | Mushrooms |
| MUSTARD GREENS | Mustard Spinach | Okra Peas (Green) |
| PEPPERS (SWEET) | Potatoes (Sweet) Cooked | Pumpkin |
| SQUASH | Sweet Potato cooked (Yams) | Tomatoes (Green & Red) |
| WATERCRESS |
The list isn’t complete. You can feed them with the healthier fruits you purchase for your family. The more fruits and veggies you introduce to your babies at an earlier age the better. Be sure to chop them into bite-size pieces. Your baby will be healthier when you feed them a wide variety of fruits.
- Fruits
| APPLE | Apricots | Banana |
|---|---|---|
| BLACKBERRIES | Blueberries | Cantaloupe |
| CHERRIES (SWEET) | Coconut | Cranberries |
| FIGS | Grapes | Grapefruit (do not feed every day) |
| HONEYDEW MELON | Kiwifruit | Mango |
| MULBERRIES | Nectarine | Orange |
| PAPAYA | Passion Fruit (Purple) | Peach |
| PEAR | Pineapple | Plum |
| PRUNES | Raisins | Raspberries |
| STRAWBERRIES | Tangerine | Watermelon |
- Treats
You shouldn’t make treats part of their daily diet and you shouldn’t give them too many so they’ll still eat their regular diet. Below is a list of treats.
| BANANA CHIPS | Berry Good Mix | Blueberries |
|---|---|---|
| CANTALOUPE | Carob Drops | Carrots |
| CHERRIES | Coconut | Cranberries |
| CRITTER CHARMS | Fruit Crunchies | Fruit Delight |
| GRAB -N- GO | Hugs N Kisses | Kiwi |
| LEMON DROPS | Love Bugs | Mango |
| MELLOW PUFFS | Monkey Balls | Monkey Feast |
| MONKEY MIX | Monkey Morsels | Monkey Munch |
| MONKEY VEGGIE GARDEN | Nutty Buddies | Nutty O’s |
| PAPAYA | Peanut Buggers | Peanut Butter Drops |
| PEANUTS IN A SHELL | Pineapple | Pumpkin Seeds |
| RAINBOW SOFTIES | Snack Attack | Soybean Supreme |
| STRAWBERRY YOGURT RAISINS | Sugar Cane Sticks | Sunflower Seeds |
| TRAIL MIX | Trix | Tropical Fruit Snack Pack |
| VEGGIE CHIPS | Veggie Crunchies | Veggie Vittles |
| YOGURT DROPS | Yogurt Raisins | Yogurt Snax |
| YOGURT VARIETY PACK | Yummies |
- General Foods
| *ACACIA GUM | Applesauce (unsweetened) | Baby cereal |
|---|---|---|
| BABY FOOD (NO ONION POWDER) | Baby puffs | Cheerios |
| CREAM OF WHEAT | *Nectar | Oats |
| PASTA | Rice | Shelled Sunflower seeds (in small amounts) |
| YOGURT (GREEK, ACTIVIA) | 100% Fruit Juice (diluted) |
- Things you should keep your monkey away from
| ONIONS (ONION POWDER) | Pitts (avocado, cherry, peach, etc.) |
|---|---|
| CATS (CAT SCRATCH FEVER) | Anyone sick or with a cold sore |
| AVOID KISSING YOUR MONKEY (HARDER THAN IT SOUNDS) | Anything that’s been in your mouth |
| CAFFEINE (SODA, TEA, ETC.) | Fried Foods |
| REFINED-ADDED SUGARS | Chocolate |
| SPICES AND SEASONING (SALT, PEPPER, ETC.) |
When allowing people to touch your baby, use caution. Consider the analogy of bringing a newborn home from the hospital. Allow only trustworthy family members and close friends to hold or touch your child. You believe them when they say, “I shouldn’t hold/touch your monkey today because I’m not feeling well” or “I believe I’m developing a cold sore, therefore I should keep away.” You may trust that they would understand if your monkey became playful and scratched or nipped them.
Monkey Diet: What Do Pygmy Marmosets Consume in the Wild?
Pygmy marmosets, when living in the wild, are almost entirely dependent on the gums and saps, also known as exudates, that they obtain from trees and vines. These exudates constitute a significant source of calcium, as well as protein, and carbohydrates. Wild Pygmy Marmosets are omnivores, meaning that in addition to fruits, other plant parts, and even small amounts of insects and other arthropods, they will consume these foods. It has been documented that wild Pygmy Marmosets will consume small reptiles on occasion.
The elongated, sharp incisors and claw-like nails of the pygmy marmoset are adaptations to the very specific diet of the pygmy marmoset, which consists of gums and other exudates. These adaptations allow the pygmy marmoset to survive in its natural environment. They will spend the majority of their time using their pointed lower teeth to bore holes into trees, and then they will gorge themselves on the gum, sap, resin, or latex that is exuded from the holes they have made.
The diet of a marmoset also includes a significant amount of insects; marmosets particularly enjoy eating grasshoppers. Pygmy Marmosets forage for food in the crown foliage of trees, which is located about 15 meters off the ground. They look for prey such as spiders, butterflies, moths, and beetles in vine tangles and vegetation. They will spend approximately sixty percent of their time chewing gum and other exudates, and approximately sixteen percent of their time searching for food in the form of insects.
😍 These are must-have items such as small animal cages, cage accessory and food for Finger Monkey pet owners, maybe you need them too? Click images & check them out! ✅
🥰 This large double unit cage has three ramps, ramp covers, and two resting shelves. It is easier to clean the cage interior with removable base pans and double doors. Click the link to see different story options for your pet.
🥰 For the finger monkey diet, you can feed them these fresh unsalted cashews. As much as I enjoy these good-quality cashews, my finger monkey pet does too. Check out if your pet will like it too.
🥰 These cage accessories go with the large double unit cage! They are shelf, pan and ramp covers that are easily removable and washable in the machine. Click the link to check their color options.
🥰 This dried sweet tamarind is convenient as it comes without the shell and seed. It is also natural and fresh! Check out the reviews to see if you want to feed your finger monkey this fruit rich in magnesium and calcium.
🥰 This small animal playpen is perfect for your finger monkey pet to be closer to nature. It has space to put treats, litter box and more. Click to see the video.
🥰 This Maize Flakes Cereal is organic and healthy with ingredients from sprouted oatmeal, which is high in protein. This is perfect for your finger monkey’s diet! Click the link to see other cereal options.