Zoo database

Frugivorous marmosets and tamarins

Callitrichidae spp.

Natural diet Frugivorous marmosets and tamarins

Fruits
Gum
Insects
Nectar

Frugivorous marmosets and tamarins are a collection of omnivorous primates that mainly consume fruits, plants, insects and small vertebrates. Opportunistically, gum may also be consumed, but it is not their primary food source.

Feeding advice Frugivorous marmosets and tamarins

Feed quantity per day

30% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.5 kg and eats 30% of its body weight, it will get

0.5 x 0.3 = 0.15 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

20% Insects and other invertebrates
10% Concentrates
65% Other vegetables
5% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.2 x 0.15 kg = 30 g insects and other invertebrates
0.1 x 0.15 kg = 15 g concentrates
0.65 x 0.15 kg = 97.5 g other vegetables
0.05 x 0.15 kg = 7.5 g other

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Gum
Tamarin cake

Not recommended

Fruits
Seeds and nuts

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
Although present in their natural diets, feeding fruits might lead to gastro-intestinal disturbances because of the high sugar level and low fiber level in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
Supplement the diet with sufficient vitamin D and folic acid. When feeding appropriate concentrates, this is not necessary.
Supplement a diverse selection of vegetables (read more about differences between vegetables).
Provide less palatable food in the morning, when hunger is greatest.
Feeding in bowls is not recommended.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed. Examples can be feeding puzzles, tubes, hanging boxes and/ or scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Obesity
Marmoset Wasting Syndrome
Periodontal disease
Gastrointestinal problems

Species within this group

Golden lion tamarin

Black lion tamarin

Black-faced lion tamarin

Golden-headed lion tamarin

Red-handed tamarin

Black-handed tamarin

Black and white tassel-ear marmoset

Black-mantled tamarin

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Sprinkhanen

DK Gum Arabic Powder

DK Tamarin & Marmoset Diet

Krekels

Wasmotlarven

DK New World Primate

Martijn den Blijker

Director Kiezebrink Rodents