How to Buy a Pet Lemur

Can You Have a Lemur as a Pet?

Many people dream of having a pet monkey, so it’s no surprise that lemurs, which are also primates, are quite popular exotic pets. These charming animals have beautiful coloring and striking eyes, and they are charismatic enough to have a presence in popular media and wildlife campaigns. This can lead people to wonder how you can have a pet lemur and where they are legal.

It may be obvious that lemurs are not commonly owned pets for specific reasons. If one searches for “pet lemur,” he will discover that many people are against owning them, although many of these reasons are misguided. People interested in pet lemurs should seek answers to the following questions:

• Are lemurs legal where I live?
• How much do lemurs cost?
• What kind of housing do they need?
• Do I have a vet willing to treat primates?
• What are the challenges of primate ownership?

Are Lemurs Legally Owned?

Owning a lemur or any pet monkey requires a thorough knowledge of the legal conflicts one will inevitably face. Primates are illegal in most US states, as well as in many cities and counties. This seems to be the case in other countries such as Canada and the UK as well.

• These legal complications will also affect which states a person can legally drive with their lemur. It is important to note that endangered lemur species cannot be legally sold across state lines.
• Some states where lemurs are legal are North Carolina, Nevada, Florida (with permit), Texas, and Ohio (with registration). These states unfortunately have more cities and counties enforcing strange animal restrictions and they continue to increase every year.
• Before you get a pet lemur, ask yourself if you’re willing to accept these potential legal burdens. Your state, city, or county may decide to enact bans on primates at any time and you should attend meetings to advocate for your right to own exotic pets.

How to Place a Lemur

Before you buy a pet lemur, it’s a good idea to set up your enclosure in advance. Baby lemurs can be housed in smaller, store-bought cages, but the final cage for the adult should be a large, walk-in enclosure that may take time to build or be delivered. It cannot be emphasized enough that the right enclosure will greatly enhance your lemur ownership experience. The larger the enclosure, the more room for exercise and essential enrichment.

Buying Your Pet Lemur

There are a surprisingly large number of places where lemurs can be obtained by private owners. While lemurs as a whole are disturbed in the wild, some species breed readily in captivity. Ring-tailed lemurs are the most popular and common prosimians kept as pets.

With this highly social species, it is highly recommended to have at least two animals. With ringtails, in particular, there is ample anecdotal evidence that they are the most prone to aggression of all available lemur species.

How Much Do Lemurs Cost?

Price: $1000 to $9000

Expect to pay several thousand dollars for a lemur, regardless of age or species. On average, the price of a baby ring-tailed lemur is around $2500, although this can vary. Less common species, such as ruffed lemurs, cost more, starting around $4500, but the price can exceed $6000. For a primate, lemurs are a bit cheaper. However, the enclosure, veterinary bills, and the constant need for enrichment will make the total cost of a lemur much higher.

• Some ring-tailed lemurs can cost as little as $1000, which is low for an exotic pet, especially a primate.
• Sometimes lemurs are even sold in specialty pet stores. However, it is more important, as a first-time owner, to find a very reputable breeder who is willing to answer your questions and talk to you, honestly, about what it’s like to adopted one of their babies.
• You can find lemurs for sale all over the web in Classifieds and many will be older animals that need to be re-homed to experienced owners. Don’t try to shop for the “cheapest” animal, and expect, as a primate owner, that high costs are part of owning them.

Ruffed Lemurs

Ruffed lemurs of the genus Varecia are anecdotally said to have lower levels of aggression than ring-tailed lemurs. However, they are less commonly available and therefore more expensive. As with other primates, owning more than one of these species is preferred, regardless of their lower likelihood of suffering from invasion associated with human imprinting.

Before Buying, Secure a Veterinarian

Most veterinarians only see dogs and cats. In addition, even veterinarians who claim to see “exotic” animals will refuse to see primates because they are concerned about zoonotic diseases and the biting capacity of certain species and individuals.

If possible, also find a practice that can see primates after hours, because that’s when emergencies tend to happen. You don’t want to put yourself in the position of having an injured or sick animal and not having access to medical care for it.

Are Lemurs Right for You?

Again, please consider all the negatives of owning a lemur. Lemur owners often get a bad rap because people unprepared for what primate ownership entails often re-home their animals uncared for to rescues who then drive the it’s public no one should keep them at all. This is why there is so much resistance to the idea of ​​keeping lemurs and exotic pets. Consider the following:

• Lemurs need enough space to exercise, preferably in an outdoor enclosure.
• Veterinary care is often more expensive than traditional pets and may require sedation for a general health exam.
• Lemurs must always remain in the state in which they live, and it is not advised for them to interact with the public.
• They can be prone to aggression, self-harm, and “neurotic” behaviors when their mental well-being is compromised.
• They can live to be around 20 years old.

Sources

1. AZA Prosimian Taxon Advisory Group (2013). Eulemur Care Manual. Silver Spring, MD: Association of
2. Dragonstone Ranch. Baby Lemur for sale.
3. Lemur Husbandry. Facebook group. Various Testimonies.
   Zoos and Aquariums
4. Taylor, K. “Ring-tailed Lemur Husbandry Manual.” Australia: Taronga Western Plains Zoo (2009).

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. The content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for personal advice or professional advice on business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2022 Melissa A Smith

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