Allows marmosets to remain above human head height
Large space and enclosure furnishings allow natural locomotory behaviours such as leaping
Small enclosures can have severe welfare consequences
BUT extra space is no use without complex architecture
Climate
Marmosets are tropical monkeys and require:
Surrounding temperature of 23-28 °C
Humidity level of 40-70%
Marmosets
will choose to go outside in cold weather, but it is critical they can return to the warmth if they wish
should not be allowed out when it is very cold as they have been known to get frostbite (guideline min. temp: 5 °C)
Cleaning
Clean, hygienic conditions are necessary
Stale food and excreta need to be removed regularly
A thorough clean of the enclosure should only be done once every 1-2 months
Scent marking is important to the marmosets and cleaning should not remove familiar scents completely
Features of a Good Enclosure
Hover your mouse over this image to reveal details of key components of the enclosure
Ceiling-Space Use
Structures attached to the ceiling by hooks and karabiner-type clips increase the amount of useful space
Allows marmosets to hang down and play
Marmosets are more active higher up
Mesh can even be used to cover the entire ceiling, dramatically increasing the effective space
Nest-box
Safe, high, dry, comfortable place to sleep/seek refuge/hide
In the wild, marmosets sleep on branch forks, or vine tangles
In captivity a nest-box provides a safe sleeping site in which to huddle
Should be well ventilated: reduces moisture from breathing; prevents risk of suffocation
Marmosets prefer a nest-box made of warmer softer materials such as wood and plastic rather than metal
Swing
Provides movement
Marmosets enjoy leaping onto and sitting, swinging and playing on it
Perspex Box
A perspex box with a layer of sawdust on the base creates ‘ground-like’ conditions without requiring the marmosets to spend any time on the ground
Food can be placed into the box, or mixed into the sawdust and so hidden – food that is not easily accessible requires the marmosets to work harder to reach it.
Marmosets may feel vulnerable to predators preferring to spend time higher up
A box fixed to a ledge like this gives them an elevated place in which to play and forage
Vertical Space Use
Vertical wooden poles and structures that make use of vertical space are essential
Allow marmosets to climb, cling and leap
In the wild marmosets live in the trees and rarely come down to the ground
Marmosets much prefer being higher up and are more active at higher levels (as shown in the main photo)
High Perches
Marmosets like to be able to flee above human head height
On high perches they can feel safe and have a good view of what is below
Wide Flat Perches
Allow several marmosets to occupy the space at once
Encourage positive grooming, full resting, huddling and other friendly social behaviours (flat surfaces can be kept dry and comfortable by making holes to drain away any urine)
Floor Covering
Encourages natural foraging behaviour as the monkeys have to work harder to find their food
Dropped food can later be searched out
Scatter feed can also be mixed into the sawdust before it is laid out after enclosure cleaning
Foraging on the floor encourages full use of the enclosure
A ‘biofloor’ can be used that requires less frequent cleaning, maintaining olfactory stability
Internal Window
Provides visual interest
Marmosets can sit on a ledge to view human activity and movement inside the building
Light
Light intensity level affects behaviour
High light intensity encourages activity and improves reproduction
Natural and artificial sources of light are both important
Marmosets love sunbathing, and providing choice of light and darker areas is important
External Window
Provides visual ‘entertainment’
Bird seed provided on the outside windowsill and a bird table attract birds and other wildlife
One-way mirrored glass allows the marmosets to watch whilst being themselves unobserved
The ramps shown in the video allow marmosets to approach the window closely, and maximises the use of space
External Windowsill
The window sill provides a wide ledge on which many marmosets can sit together and look out of the external window
Sliding Panels
This small sliding door allows animals to be temporarily separated (e.g. for veterinary care)
A hole cut into the panel, and covered with clear perspex, also provides visual enrichment
Larger sliding dividers or panels within the enclosure are even better: whilst the marmoset is separated, they can still remain in close contact with their group (auditory and or visual). It also allows them to stay in a place they know, with familiar smells, helping to lessen their stress
For more detailed information on the features of a good enclosure see EAZA Husbandry Guidelines – section 2.1
Important: Always assess safety of any enrichment before and after introduction.
Access to an Outdoor Enclosure
Providing access to an outdoor enclosure improves welfare in captivity.
Constantly changing environment: with changes in weather and season (provided that outside enclosures have some shelter for the marmosets)
Natural sunlight
Foraging for insects
Access to living plants (may need to be replaced; find species of foliage that are safe or toxic for use with marmosets listed in the EAZA Husbandry Guidelines – pages 77, 78)
Marmosets can watch birds from a distance
Space and climbing structures in the vertical dimension are critical
Ducting can be used to connect indoor and outdoor enclosures.
Important: marmosets with access to outdoor enclosures need to be immunised to protect them against infections that can be present in bird droppings, including Yersinia and Salmonella bacteria.
