What’s it like owning a lemur as a pet? What are the pros and cons?

General
1

I’m curious about owning a lemur as a pet. Are they noisy? Are they aggressive? How do they compare to regular pets? How similar are they to monkeys?

2

I have a ring-tailed lemur. If I had known then what I know now, I probably wouldn’t have gotten her. But I’m still taking responsibility for her care. I probably should’ve gotten a male since they are calmer. The females are the leaders and can be more aggressive. She once bit my husband on the ear pretty badly. She used to love him most, but now she prefers me. She has calmed down as she’s gotten older. They’re similar to monkeys because they get into everything. You’ll need to baby-proof everything like drawers and cabinets. They’re usually not noisy, but they do have a few specific calls they make. Let me know if you have more questions!

3

@Hartley
When do they usually make calls?

4

Oli said:
@Hartley
When do they usually make calls?

I forgot to mention, you’ll need to be ready to change a diaper. Also, they’re only legal in a few states. Texas, where I live, is one of them. It’s also illegal to transport them across state lines.

5

@Hartley
One of the largest private collections of lemurs in the world is in Aransas Pass, TX. I was working there once and got to see them—so many lemurs.

6

Oli said:
@Hartley
When do they usually make calls?

They don’t make calls often. Usually, I’ll mimic her sounds, and she’ll ‘talk’ back.

7

Hartley said:

Oli said:
@Hartley
When do they usually make calls?

They don’t make calls often. Usually, I’ll mimic her sounds, and she’ll ‘talk’ back.

But if you don’t mimic them, will they make loud random noises?

8

@Oli
No, but that’s honestly one of the least concerning things you should worry about.

9

Hartley said:
@Oli
No, but that’s honestly one of the least concerning things you should worry about.

Do they get along with different species of lemur?

10

Oli said:

Hartley said:
@Oli
No, but that’s honestly one of the least concerning things you should worry about.

Do they get along with different species of lemur?

I know they get along with black-and-white ruffed and red ruffed lemurs.

11

Make sure they are legal in your area before getting one.

12

Layne said:
[deleted]

Everything you said is true, except that they can definitely be cuddly. We keep Lola in a large macaw cage in the living room, and she also has an outdoor enclosure.

13

@Hartley
It really depends on the type of exotic pet. Some are cuddly, others might try to bite you.

14

Wes said:
@Hartley
It really depends on the type of exotic pet. Some are cuddly, others might try to bite you.

That’s true.

15

Layne said:
[deleted]

I don’t wanna bash you, but then proceeds to do exactly that.

16

Luca said:

Layne said:
[deleted]

I don’t wanna bash you, but then proceeds to do exactly that.

Classic forum behavior.

17

Layne said:
[deleted]

I searched everywhere for info on keeping them as pets but couldn’t find much. That’s why I’m asking here.

18

Oli said:
@Hartley
Do they have a lot of health issues?

Not that I’m aware of.

19

@Hartley
Do they have a lot of health issues?

20

Hartley said:

Oli said:
@Hartley
Do they have a lot of health issues?

Not that I’m aware of.

So they’re pretty hardy?