How to Select Toys for a Pet Monkey

Monkeys are active, sociable animals who enjoy cavorting and playing during much of the day. After you create a suitable habitat for your monkey, you will need to select appropriate toys. Read on to find out what those are.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden children's toys
  • Garden hose
  • Bolts
  • Plastic dumbbells
  • Heavy rope
  • Log
  • Feeder tube
  • Tires
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Instructions

  1. Select Sturdy and Safe Toys

    • 1

      Opt for children's toys made from wood. The soft plastic used in many kid's toys can be easily chewed apart by strong monkey teeth.

    • 2

      Use non-toxic trees as toys for your pet monkey. Tall palm trees allow your monkey to swing around and play without fears of poisoning.

    • 3

      Avoid toys small enough for your pet monkey to swallow.

    • 4

      Check each toy for sharp metal edges that can cut your monkey as it plays.

    • 5

      Look at children's outdoor play houses and slides. Often these are made from heavy gauge plastic, have rounded edges and can be easily cleaned with a hose.

    • 6

      Try tires. Monkeys love to swing around on tires hung from ropes. Be sure to get tire made for use by animals. Regular tires may have protruding metal threads that can injure you and your monkey.

    Choose Toys That Mimic Natural Behaviors

    • 7

      Visit a zoo supply store such as Sanctuary Supplies to find toys that stimulate your monkey's instincts (see Resources below). These toys have also been approved by zoo professionals for safety.

    • 8

      Get a feeder tube. A feeder tube is a cylindrical feeder that you put monkey food into and then screw the cap on the ends. They have holed spaced along the tube that the monkey must stick his fingers in to get his treats. This mimics natural monkey food probing behaviors.

    • 9

      Pick out plastic dumbbells for your primate to play around with. Look for brands that have been approved by the American Kennel Club. Approved dumbbells are made of sturdy non-toxic plastic.

    • 10

      Try a false log toy. These large tubes simulate the hollow logs that monkeys play with in the wild. Monkeys love to hide out in these toys and scare each other.

    Create Your Own Toys

    • 11

      String large sections of garden hose high in your pet monkey's cage. Secure the ends to the outside of the cage with bolts, so that your monkey cannot remove the hose.

    • 12

      Hang sections of heavy rope from the roof of your monkey's cage. This simulates the vines and branches your monkey would swing from in the wild.