13 Small Monkey Breeds With Big Cute Eyes (Some Can Be Pets!)

Tiny monkeys are the cutest. In this article, we will look at all the small monkey breeds and some interesting facts about them.

Get ready for cuteness-overload!

Let’s start with a table of all the small monkey breeds:

Can I Keep Them As Pets?

In the list below, we have marked all the species that can be kept as pets. You will see it in little parentheses after the headline.

Even though you might be able to buy them as a pet (legally), there are several factors you need to think deeply about before getting one because it’s no easy task to care for a monkey!

Here are some of the things to think about:

• Some will never learn to pee outside (!)
• They can be aggressive.
• They are typically not very willing to cuddle
• They require lots of space
• They should never be kept in small cages
• They are strong

On top of these important considerations, you need to know that these creatures are expensive. Like really expensive. It costs a lot to acquire them in the first place, but it also takes a lot of equipment and special food to keep them long-term.

You should also be aware that some of them will live 20 to 30 years, so buying one of these cute little creatures is almost a lifelong commitment.

So just like you shouldn’t keep a chimpanzee at home, you shouldn’t keep these primates either. Primates are not good pets; they require much attention and space. You need to know exactly what you’re doing; it probably takes a lot of education, too.

You need to talk to a specialist before deciding this is something for you.

Tarsiers

The tarsiers are very famous for their huge yellow eyes. They have a very intense look because the eyeballs almost pop out of their little heads.

The eyes are wide open and seem really big in pictures because this tiny primate is really small.

They are only 4-6 inches long (10-15 cm) but when you add the tail to the equations their size triple.

Common Marmosets (pets)

There are 22 species of the Marmoset family. They belong to what we call the New World monkeys.

They are typically around 8 inches long (20 centimeters) and have little claws instead of nails.

Pygmy Marmosets (pets)

The Pygmy Marmosets look extremely cute when they are lined up like above. They look almost like baby birds; you could mistake this family for being small owls.

They have a very intense look, and their hairy faces tell how curious these little fellas are.

Together with the Tarsiers above, they are the tiniest monkey breed in the world and they are only around 5 to 6 inches tall (14- 16 centimeters).

They are also known as “finger monkeys” because they are tiny.

Are finger monkeys good pets?

Just as we mentioned at the top of the article, monkeys are very special animals and they require a lot of attention and time if you want to keep them as pets.

You should also know that the little finger monkeys typically get rather aggressive when growing up.

There’s also the issue with them being very social animals. You’re shouldn’t keep one of these creatures alone they should be kept in at least a pair of two. So, as you can see, it quickly becomes a big responsibility, and they do require a lot of money and attention.

Squirrel Monkeys (pets)

The squirrel monkeys also live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. There are five different species, and they all have short and close fur.

They are 10-14 inches tall (25-35 centimeters) and have long hairy tales.

Like all the other monkeys in this article, they are not easy to keep as pets. They will not learn to pee and poop in the same spot (like cats), and they will typically get bored and start throwing their poop all around the house. So, as cute as they look, they are almost impossible to keep as pets.

Spider Monkeys

That are 14 Spider monkey species and subspecies. Several of the species are critically endangered. Just like a long list of other animals from the rainforests are endangered.

Like most of the monkeys in this article, they live in Central and South America.

They will typically be around 33” (85 centimeters) tall so they are among the biggest monkeys in this article.

White-Faced Sakis

The Saki monkeys are typically between 12-20” (30-50 centimeters).

There are around 16 species of the Saki monkeys and the white-faced saki (above) is one of the most popular and well-known.

They also live in the rainforests of Central America, and they will sometimes go onto the land. Otherwise, they will stay in the trees and live most of their lives in the branches. They mostly eat fruits but also a small proportion of leaves, flowers, and insects.

Howler Monkeys

There are around 15 species and subspecies of the howler monkeys. They are around 22-36” tall (55-91 centimeters) and they also have round snout-like noses.

Their tails are amazing. They can pick fruits and nuts from trees and hold the body’s weight. They typically live in a pretty large group of up to 20 individuals. The males can get along as there will typically be free adult males and one group.

They are quite friendly to each other, but they eventually fight and cause harm to each other.

Gibbons

There are a lot of different gibbon species and subspecies (+40), and even a few have gone extinct.

They are around 31” (80 centimeters) tall and very social creatures.

They have incredibly loud voices and can scream much louder than humans.

Macaques (pets)

There are around 27 species and subspecies among the Macaque family of monkeys.

They are between 16-28 inches tall (40-71 centimeters) and have often been used for animal testing of human products.

They have also been cloned and used for other types of lab tests as well.

They belong to the family of old world monkeys and they often live quite close to humans. They are mainly vegetarians but they are also eating insects and other tiny animals. They are found in the tropical rain forests of southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India, and the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They will typically live around 20 to 30 years. So, as you can imagine, they do not make good pets for kids. If you want the Macaques as pets, you should get at least two, as they are social creatures. They require a long commitment; you should consult a professional before getting one.

Guenons (pets)

The Guenons are between 16-22 inches (42-55 centimeters), and there are 26 species.

They have a beautiful soft covering most of the body, typically reddish, brown, green, or yellow. So, as you can see, they are very colorful creatures, drawing the most attention to them.

They have cute little noses that are short and round.

They live in West Africa where they will eat leaves, fruit, and other vegetation. They will also eventually eat smaller animals and insects. They are long and slim creatures with long arms and legs. They live in groups, just like many of the other monkeys, and they will typically only have one male in the group.

The Guenons are also very high maintenance as pets. Like the other monkeys, they tend to live around 25 years in captivity, so you need to be ready to make a lifelong commitment here.

You should also remember to get at least two. These animals normally live in large groups and will not do well on their own.

Vervet Monkeys

There are five species of Vervet monkeys, all found in South Africa. They are primarily Herbivores, which means they eat plants and other vegetation.

They are around 16-20 inches (40-50 centimeters) and live in groups.

The mothers are only able to recognize their offspring by their specific screams. They all have specific screams and they use it frequently in order to catch the mother’s attention.

Capuchin Monkeys

The arm is all over 20 little monkeys of the Capuchin family. They are quite famous and have often been featured in movies and TV shows due to their cute look and willingness to cooperate.

They live in Central and South America and will be between 12 to 22 inches (30- 56 cm) tall.

Capuchins (pets)

Capuchins are also known in movies and on TV. They are very popular due to their very characteristic and almost serious look in their eye.

They are extremely intelligent, and they will live up to 40 years.

If you are still considering getting one as a pet (after reading that fact), you should also know that they will never learn to use a diaper. Like ever. So you should get ready to clean up poop and urine for the next 40 years or so.

Golden Lion Tamarin

Despite the funny name, the Golden Lion Tamarin is not a lion. It has a nice yellow fur, which makes people compare it to a lion. You’ll see why:

The tamarins are small monkeys that live in the trees of the rainforests of Central America. They are extremely fast compared to typically living groups of around 40 members. They are on the horse, meaning they live from fruit, other plants, and smaller insects.

There are several species fitted in this article we are just looking at the Golden lion tamarin, (pictured above) and the red-handed Tamarine (pictured below).

The tamarins will live up to 18 years and are between 5 and 12” tall (13 to 30 cm).

Red-handed Tamarin

The red-handed tamarind is special, as you can see. It has tiny hands that are brightly colored in strong contrast with the black hair that covers the rest of the body.

It has a very friendly and intense look and its eyes and ears are pointy and look like it inspired the Gremlins movies.

Night Monkeys

These monkeys are also often referred to as “Owl monkeys.”

Monkeys are around 25 inches tall (64 centimeters), and there are 2 species.

They have big brown eyes and are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are mainly active that night. They are one of the very few night animals that don’t have eyes that glow at night (due to a reflective layer behind the retina).

This is the true indication that these animals evolved to become night creatures. They haven’t always been active at night but developed this ability (probably) to survive. They are mainly found in Central and South America.

Titi Monkeys

The Titi monkeys are between 10-22 inches tall (25-56 centimeters) and there are 3 species as well as 3 extinct species.

They have a lot of different colors, very characteristic, and long furry tails.

The number of known Titi monkeys has actually doubled in recent years. Biologists and scientists have been able to find several new species in the Amazon forest since the year 2000. This is amazing as it opens up a whole new world of monkeys for us to experience.

Are Pet Monkeys Legal In My State?

The rspca.org is working on a total ban on keeping primates as pets in the U.K. But so far, it’s still legal to have a monkey as a pet in several states in the U.S.

So far, the RSPCA has collected more than 62,000 signatures, which makes it illegal to keep primates as pets in the U.K.

That being said, you are allowed to keep several monkeys as pets in most states in the United States, including these states:

• Nevada
• Idaho
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wyoming
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Missouri
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Florida
• Georgia
• Alabama
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island

But be aware that you might need that permit. This is something you have to check out locally.

How Expensive Are Pet Monkeys?

Depending on age and temperament, a pet monkey typically costs around $5-$8,000. If you want a young and well-behaved pet monkey, you must pay more than $10,000. Beware that you should get at least two because they are social creatures.

They are very expensive.

Not only are they expensive to buy, but they are also very expensive in the long run because they live a long life and require a lot of tools and equipment.

You should expect to pay around a couple of thousand dollars for a big outdoor cage, and you will also need a lot of toys and other items. They can quickly add up to around $1,000 as well. You need a lot of food and supplements to feed the monkey properly. They also take much veterinarian care, and the bills here can quickly increase.

But the real investment, when it comes to the pet monkey, is the amount of time you need to allocate to taking good care of this cute little creature.

They are very social creatures, so you will need at least two pet monkeys for most of the above expenses.