Exotic pets like monkeys are a huge draw for some people, but it can be a hassle trying to find a place where you can get them without being scammed.
As one of the biggest pet-focused retailers in the country, Petco is several people’s go-to for pets. If you’re thinking of getting a monkey, and are wondering if Petco sells them, read on!
Does Petco Sell Monkeys In [currentyear]?
Unfortunately, Petco does not sell monkeys in [currentyear]. This is likely because they are considered more exotic, so they’re expensive both to buy and care for. Having a monkey as a pet is also considered unethical, and is actually illegal in many states. You can buy a monkey from an exotic pet dealer for between $4,000 and $8,000.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about pet monkeys and Petco, including why the company doesn’t sell them, where you can get one, and how much it would cost!
Why Doesn’t Petco Sell Monkeys?
Petco likely doesn’t sell monkeys because they are too exotic, so they wouldn’t find buyers fast enough.
Aside from a steep price of purchase, they would also be expensive to care for before they even get bought.
Owning a monkey as a pet is also considered unethical by several animal rights groups because they need to live in groups and in open spaces.
Petco has taken several steps to ensure that people see it as ethical, making it unlikely that the company will ever sell monkeys.
Even if the company did decide to sell monkeys, they’re illegal to own in several states, so that would present even more challenges.
Where Do You Purchase Monkeys?
You can purchase pet monkeys from exotic pet dealers.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many national or well-known businesses that sell monkeys, so you’ll have to find a small one in your area.
Due to the nature of these businesses, and the amounts of money involved, we recommend you find one near you so you can inspect them beforehand.
Use your preferred search engine to find a pet dealer or breeder in your area that sells monkeys then set up a meeting.
This way, you can be sure that they have the monkeys, and you can also observe how they are before committing to owning one.
This will be easier in states where you can keep monkeys or the ones that have some restrictions, but no outright bans, as we’ll look at later in this article.
How Much Is a Real Monkey?
A real monkey could cost you anywhere between $4,000 and $8,000 just to buy it. This price varies depending on the monkey’s age, temperament, and breed.
Like most pets, a young monkey will cost more than an older one. A monkey that is calmer and more friendly around people will also cost more money because it makes a better pet.
Rare breeds of monkeys will also cost you more money than more common ones.
Aside from the initial cost of purchasing the monkey, you will also need to consider the cost of taking care of it.
You will need to buy a cage that’s either indoor or outdoor, food, diapers, toys, branches, vet bills, and more, all of which could set you back more than $10,000 in total.
Can You Have a Monkey as a Pet?
You can have a monkey as a pet, but it would be very difficult to maintain. Monkeys are not domesticated, so they will be hard to keep as a regular pet.
They also get very aggressive due to several different reasons, one of which is not having access to a group of similar monkeys and a wide-open space.
As for legality, it’s legal to have a monkey as a pet in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Indiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
These states don’t expressly allow you to have a monkey as a pet, instead, they just have no laws against it at the moment.
If you’re interested in owning a monkey, you can conduct a search as described above from these areas for a better chance of remaining in compliance with the law and avoiding scams.
It’s illegal to have a pet monkey in the following states:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Wyoming
These states have completely banned owning monkeys as pets.
As for the states not mentioned, they likely have partial bans on monkey ownership, such as limiting it to certain species and prohibiting apes, requiring a background check, saying you can only have one if you owned it before a certain date, etc.
To know more, you can also read our posts on where does Petco get animals, if Petco take in animals, and if Petco sells hedgehogs.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, Petco does not sell monkeys, probably because they’re considered more exotic than most pets so they would be expensive both for the company and the customers.
Pet monkeys are also illegal or heavily regulated in most states so Petco simply doesn’t bother. However, you can buy a monkey from a local exotic pet dealer.
