Pygmy marmosets are the world's smallest monkeys and have highly specialized diets based on tree gum. Replicating their natural nutrition and behavior is challenging in captivity.
Pygmy marmoset welfare in captivity centers on meeting their extreme dietary specialization. Commercial primate diets without gum supplementation fail to meet their needs. Gum arabic, natural tree gum on branches, and specially formulated gum-based supplements must form a core part of the diet. Foraging enrichment — bark-gouging substrates, hidden food — is essential to occupy their natural behavioral time budget. Breeding pairs must be allowed to raise young together, as communal infant care is integral to adult behavioral health.