Lemurs as Pets

For all animal lovers who want to have distinguished types of pets, owning a pet lemur can be an option. Having said that, here is a warning: Lemurs are not suitable to be kept as pets. There are a few reasons for this, the main reason being that they are on the verge of extinction. This means that they have to be cared for on a professional level, and bred properly. Inbreeding can cause the already dwindling population of lemurs to be genetically deformed. They are by nature, wild animals, who are not comfortable being domesticated. That being put across very clearly, if you have already got a lemur as a pet, then go through the following paragraphs for some information about their behavior and other habits.

Keeping Lemurs as Pets
Lemurs are not very affordable pets, so even before you think of getting one, you have to make sure that you will be able to provide your pet lemur with whatever it needs. It's not for no reason that they are called exotic pets. Right from obtaining permission to keep a lemur as your pet, to finding a breeder who breeds these rare creatures, their food, training and maintenance - everything is going to be a challenge! Here are a few things that will require attention, when you think of getting a lemur as a pet...

Obtaining Permission
In Madagascar, it has been illegal to kill, keep and export lemurs as pets since 1964. Besides, the United States government has exhaustive and strict laws against importing of foreign animals, mainly due the threat of any diseases that they may carry. Besides importing, there are even stricter laws in place in all the states, regarding the possession of exotic animals as pets. Depending on the state that you are living in, you should check out the laws regarding the possession of exotic animals as pets, BEFORE thinking of getting a lemur as a pet. People who want to own an exotic animal as a pet, need a special license. Only after obtaining permission from the authorities, should you proceed to find a lemur breeder.

Finding a Pet Lemur
There are not too many options to find a pet lemur. What you can do, is keep an eye out for shows/sales which have exotic pets, where you may come across someone who breeds lemurs. Else, scour the internet to find lemur breeders. You also need to ascertain that the breeder is registered, so that your purchase is legal, and doesn't give rise to legal issues later on. If you do manage to find a breeder, then make sure that the Lemur that you are going to get from him, has been raised in captivity. This is because, the more the lemur has been exposed to human company, the more likely it is to be able to adapt and be comfortable with you. Wild lemurs are very difficult to train, and they can often be unpredictable and dangerous.

Temperament
Lemurs are by nature, wild, so they are not too comfortable in captivity. The behavior of Lemurs cannot be summarized in a paragraph. If you do have a Lemur as your pet, you must be prepared to keep him loose most of the time, instead of keeping them in a cage, or on a leash. If your house has a yard, I'd suggest building a big cage for him outdoors, around the trunk of a couple of tress for him to play in. Usually, the male is more docile than the female which makes training males easier than training females. This being said, it is best to remember that they are pretty aggressive creatures, so there can be no guarantees about even the most pleasant-tempered lemur. Lemurs are very playful creatures, so they can get carried away with the energy and the excitement. If you do not want your lemur to bite you, it is best to play with him by using toys instead of directly.

Lemurs are slightly jumpy, and so are easily startled by loud noises. If you are planning an activity that is going to make a lot of noise, (like renovating your home), it is best to do so before getting the lemur home. Else, make sure that your pet is in the cage, and feeling safe and secure when there are loud noises in or around the house. Agitated lemurs are difficult to handle, and will be all over your house, breaking things and causing damage. You will also have to be extremely careful about your fan. Lemurs tend to jump, so there is every possibility that they may hurt themselves if they misjudge a jump while the fan is whirring.

Lemurs are very intelligent, curious, inquisitive, possessive of the owner, and protective of their kids by nature. They also tend to get really jealous of other pets, if you have them. As regards their manners, you have to persevere in their training, because if lemurs like a particular treat, they will usually just snitch it. You will have to be very strict with your pet, to avoid such behavior. The females also have a tendency of bullying the males, so if you have a couple, you will have to keep an eye on the female. Lemurs are very social creatures, so if you have one, and you keep it isolated, it would be traumatic for your pet. If you cannot handle the socializing, you should opt for some other pet. The aggressive trait in a lemur may become prominent progressively, as he grows up and takes you for granted.

House/Potty Training a Lemur
House training a lemur requires a lot of patience and perseverance on your part. This is besides the professional help. Single-handedly training a lemur can be quite an uphill task. They have to be taught to be careful while moving/ jumping around the house, so that they do not break things. But it is best to be forewarned, that it is a very, very difficult task to house-train a lemur. The earlier you start, the better.

While it may be possible to house train lemurs with some difficulty, it is almost impossible to potty train them. If you want to let your pet lemur loose in the house, be prepared to clean up after him. Else, you can make him wear a napkin when he is not in his cage. If your lemur is loose for most of the time, you may require around 3 - 4 napkins in a day. These can be bought online, and are your safest bet, since potty training is pretty unsuccessful.

Diet, Neutering, Diseases and Other Concerns
Lemurs require special diets, which consist of as many fresh fruits as possible, fresh leaves, vegetables, and even flowers! They may also sometimes eat small insects. Meat is also a part of their diet, although it shouldn't be fed very frequently. They also need a lot of fresh and clean water.

When lemurs reach sexual maturity, they tend to become more aggressive. This is true with many animal species. So it is advisable that you get him neutered as early as possible (around 6 - 8 months). But neutering lemurs early is a complicated procedure, which also makes it pretty expensive and risky. On the other hand, if it is not done at the right time, then their aggressive behavior cannot be predicted or controlled.

Lemurs are primates, like humans. So they can contract and spread all the diseases that humans can suffer from, besides a whole new set of diseases specific to them. Since lemurs are rare and exotic, not many local vets will have the required expertise to deal with the various health issues of lemurs. So they may shy away from taking responsibility for the same. It is your job to find a good vet who will willingly treat your pet lemur, BEFORE you decide to get one.

Choosing the Right Lemur
There are about 30 species of lemurs, many of which are already extinct. Lemurs are classified based on their weight. The smallest one is the tiny pygmy mouse lemur, and the largest one today, is the Indri lemur, which weighs around 15 pounds. Let us take a look at the two most popular types of lemurs which are kept as pets:

Mouse Lemurs as Pets
Mouse lemurs are about 3 - 5 inches in length. There are different varieties of mouse lemurs too, like pygmy mouse lemur and gray mouse lemur. They have soft fur, long hind legs, long tails, large eyes and dorsal strips down the back. Mouse lemurs have the ability to store fat in their hind legs and tails, which they burn when they face a shortage of forage.

Ring-Tailed Lemurs as Pets
Ring-tailed lemurs are larger than mouse lemurs. Their front legs are shorter than the back legs and hence, they always stick up their butts in the air, which makes them funny in an adorable way! Ring-tailed lemurs, unlike the other lemur varieties, spend some considerable amount of time on the ground. An adult ring-tailed lemur can reach up to a length of 17 - 22 inches and weigh 5 - 8 pounds.

Lemur is a derivative of the Latin word Lemures, which means ghost. These fascinating creatures are on the verge of extinction, so it is in their best interest that we let them stay in controlled environment where they are looked after by professionals and bred properly, instead of being bred in our houses. This is our only hope, if we do not want these creatures to become extinct altogether.