The ring-tailed lemur is the perfect pet. Lemur at home. Is it possible? Lemurs love

Lori belong to the order of primates, the suborder of wet-nosed monkeys, they are usually called lemurs, which is incorrect from a zoological point of view, because. lorises do not belong to the lemur family, but to the lorians, but since everyone is already accustomed to their name, we will also sometimes make a reservation in this article.

IN last years lorises are gaining more and more popularity as pets, with people often not knowing much about them and falling prey to the momentary impulse that comes when they see expressive eyes and clever expression muzzle of this animal.

In captivity, it is common to keep a thick (Nycticebus coucang) and a small loris (Loris tardigradus), which differ in size and color, but are similar in content, so we will talk about them.

It is necessary to locate the dwelling so that the animal is not exposed to drafts, sudden changes in temperature and humidity (these heat-loving animals are very easy to catch a cold). It is also necessary to take into account that lorises can reach objects located near the cage, while they can be poisoned by indoor plants, get tangled in wires or ropes, injure limbs or become a victim of other pets.

Lori- nocturnal and rather secretive animals, so there must be a shelter in the cage in which the lemur will sleep or hide from "ill-wishers". The house should be placed in the upper part of the cage, because. Lori is an arboreal animal and feels cozier when climbing higher.

The cage should also have all sorts of climbing aids, well-secured tree branches and wooden perches, which can be found in pet stores or made by yourself, are suitable for this purpose. Wood absorbs urine, and lorises will leave marks on such perches, the presence of which is very important for the animal, for this reason, odorous marks cannot be washed off, because. the animal will experience because of this stress.

Loris do not have a long tail with which to cling to vertical branches, so horizontal crossbars and shelves are also needed in an environment to save energy during sleep or movement.

Vertical trunks and branches large diameter do not allow the animal to firmly cling to them, this can lead to falls and injuries, including fractures.

If you are going to start more than one individual, then you should consider that conflicts may arise between lemurs. Although couples or a male with several females usually get along well, situations can always arise when one resident of the enclosure wants privacy. When keeping several animals in one enclosure, a hierarchy always arises, weaker animals try to avoid the possible aggression of dominant individuals and go to the bottom of the enclosure when they feel threatened, trying to remain unnoticed. Therefore, it is important that the enclosure be large for several individuals and have shelters in the lower tiers; also, when arranging, it is necessary to avoid “dead ends” and such places where two lorises could not give way to each other, which can provoke a conflict.

Loris are quite curious and smart, for this reason the doors of their dwellings must be equipped with a locking mechanism that the lemur cannot open. An escaped lory is sure to get into trouble.

IN natural environment loris feed on insects and other small prey - small reptiles and birds, as well as various foods of plant origin. Some studies have shown that lorises of the resident Malaysian population specialize in a high-calorie diet consisting of flower nectar and tree sap, which they extract by gnawing the bark of trees. It is possible that for this reason some individuals in captivity actively gnaw on branches in their enclosure.

In captivity, the diet of loris is based on plant foods: they love grapes very much, they eat bananas, kiwi, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc., they like vegetables less, but at the same time, each loris is individual in its food preferences. Every day it is necessary to give live insects (crickets, zoophobas, locusts), sometimes you can give boiled chicken meat, raw eggs(preferably quail) and dairy products (fat-free cottage cheese, baby milk porridge).

Your lory's favorite food can be used to bond with him by trying to feed him by hand. For the sake of zoophobia, even the most grouchy loris will be ready to leave their shelter. At the same time, people who want to have this animal at home should know that lorises are not so easily tamed, they have rather sharp teeth and bite painfully.

When the lory first came to you, it should be shown, because. often these animals get to new owners already sick and weakened by transportation from their homeland, often they have to be treated and nursed for a long time.

Despite all these difficulties, in the presence adequate conditions maintenance, caring for a loris is not difficult, and communication with this smart little forest man brings a lot of emotions.

In the entire family of primates, lemurs are considered to be the most exotic, attracting the attention of all animal lovers with their bright and mixed colors, unusually long and full, compared with the body, tail and cute fox muzzle. Lemurs live on the island of Madagascar, almost all known species lemurs are listed in the Red Book. The mouse microcebus is the smallest representative, 13 centimeters long with a tail length of seventeen centimeters. The length of the largest lemur is 50 centimeters, and the tail is sixty centimeters.

Primate species commonly kept in captivity are the Mongoz lemur, the black lemur, the cat-like lemur, the red-bellied lemur, or the ring-tailed lemur, which are divided into subspecies based on the color of their coat. Under natural conditions, animals live in small flocks. The largest number of lemur species are nocturnal inhabitants, during the day they sleep or are almost inactive.

For keeping lemurs at home, a cage for small monkeys will do, where it is necessary to place tree branches. In addition, you should organize a "crib" for your pet. To do this, put together a box, and use ordinary cotton wool or dried hay for bedding. The place where the cage with your pet is located should be located away from drafts, because lemurs are highly susceptible to all kinds of colds. However, these tropical animals tolerate climatic conditions middle lane Russia. In addition, it is very important to keep the cage clean: a tamed lemur will not take care of the perfect cleanliness of his house on his own, thus, he will start to smell very unpleasant. A quick cleaning should be done daily, and once a month you need to wipe the floor with a damp cloth and sprinkle it with fresh sawdust.

As for the nutrition for the lemur, everything will depend on the type and individual preferences of your pet. Some species feed on animal food, so meat and all kinds of insects must certainly be present in their diet, some lemurs catch them themselves, walking around the house. You can also feed lemurs with bread, milk, cooked rice, some vegetables and fruits, bird eggs.

feed the lemur better at night, however, you can teach him to eat in daytime. There is no need to force the lemur to eat, it is better to wait until he himself wants it. Usually the lemur starts awake from eight o'clock in the evening, it is best to feed him just at this time.

Living in captivity, lemurs can behave quite calmly and do not break anything. They are a unique species of primates, which can sometimes be released from the cell and left unattended by people. Lemurs quite easily become attached to the owner and sometimes get bored in his absence. It is great if lemurs live in pairs, it is even possible to place same-sex individuals together. They quickly get used to their neighbor. Contacting each other, these primates will not be closed. Lemurs breed well in captivity, but in a domestic environment, the appearance of offspring is quite rare.

Ring-tailed lemurs mostly move on four legs, but can also easily stand on their hind legs. These lemurs live in nature in small flocks, which number from ten to twenty individuals. Their food is the leaves, fruits and flowers of plants. They quickly get used to home conditions. They are neat, extremely quickly attached to their owner, get along well with other pets, not exceeding the size of a lemur. If the pet is left at home alone, it must be tied. Ring-tailed lemurs love to "watch" TV, diligently watching everything that happens on the screen. It is better to feed the ring-tailed lemur with boiled rice, turnips, potatoes cooked in their uniforms, carrots, bird eggs, fruits. In addition to their diet, animals can catch for themselves a few passing flies or running cockroaches.

Exotic feline or ring-tailed lemurs enjoy great love among admirers. This species lives in the arid jungle on the trees of the island of Madagascar. Outwardly, it looks a lot like a cat, it also loves to purr and meow, and sometimes squeals loudly. Such a lemur may have a brown-red or light gray back and a long tail, on which black and white rings are visible. The black circle is around the eyes, the neck, the edges of the ears and the muzzle are white. This lemur leads only a diurnal lifestyle, therefore in captivity there are much fewer problems with them than with other species.

In captivity, in addition to ring-tailed lemur, other species of such primates can be purchased. Many people like undemanding little lemurs, or lemurs a little bigger size. Animals can be similar to each other. Very rare of the lemurs is house poppies and aye-aye. At first glance, both of these species can be attributed to lemurs, but the aye-aye look more like squirrels or jerboas, and house poppies look like frogs. All of them feel good at home, they can be easily tamed, they are very obedient and affectionate. However, it is almost impossible to meet lemurs in the free sale.

And a very specific representative of the animal world - the lemur. Gradually, they fill the hearts of people more and more and become their friends.

Description and photo

Cute exotic representative of the animal world with big expressive eyes under interesting name the lemur came to us from the Comoros, located in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and Africa. He is a native of the infraorder of lemurs, the order of primates, the class of mammals.

Did you know? IN ancient Greek mythology lemurs were called night spirits. Subsequently, the inhabitants of Madagascar began to call so peculiar animals with unusual eyes, which, due to superstition, were alarming. The word "lemures" is of Latin origin and means "ghost of the night".

Today, this species is most common in the forest areas of Madagascar, in Africa, India and the Sunda Islands. South-East Asia. The family of lemurs includes the most diverse in their own way. appearance and weight, habits and way of life of representatives. The color varies in various shades: from ash-gray to white and brownish-brown.

A peculiar frame of eyes on the muzzle and a long fluffy tail in most of them - features these strepsirrhine primates. By weight, they can be both very small (30 g) and reach large sizes (about 10 kg).

Important! Lemurs are very afraid daylight, therefore they conduct their vital activity at night. Depending on the a certain kind, to which they belong, notify of their activity with terrible loud cries, reminiscent of the roar of a lion, or, on the contrary, they purr or are silent.

Features of life in nature

These creatures spend most of their lives in motion: they jump from branch to branch, thus covering a long distance. A long tail, which sometimes exceeds the length of the entire body, acts as a kind of means of balance and coordination during movement.
Most species of lemurs live in packs with a certain hierarchy. They communicate with each other using sounds resembling purring or grunting, and sometimes even a piercing cry.

Did you know? Almost all species of these primates have matriarchy. The female has advantages in food and chooses the male during the mating season.

In their natural habitat, where they live wild representatives, the vast majority of lemurs are active only at night, sleeping during the day in the darkest corners of the forest area, taking strange poses (they cling to a branch with their paws and wrap their tail around their heads; sometimes they sleep in pairs, forming a fur ball). They feed on fruits, grass, leaves, flowers, insects, they practically do not need water.

Today, these interesting animals thrive in zoos, as they are very friendly and show aggression only in case of great stress.

Lemur at home: pros and cons

Among the representatives of this species of animals, the most popular lemurs that take root at home are the following species: black, red-bellied, mongots, cat (ring-tailed) lemur, lory.

There are some nuances in caring for each of them, but in general they are very easy to care for, so they will not cause you much trouble, but good mood and the affection of a new friend is guaranteed to you. The smallest lemur that can be kept at home is the lory lemur.

Did you know?The sworn enemies of these representatives of the animal world are fosses - predatory mammals from a genus of cats that live only in Madagascar.

• calm;
• non-aggressive (if you do not show anger towards him);
• careful;
• easily adaptable;
• attached to the owners;
• does not break or scatter things.

• inability to teach to the toilet;
• touchy;
• unruly against his will.

A tamed wild animal requires special conditions for normal development and growth, one of which is a climate appropriate to their natural habitat, as well as safe and quiet housing.

Climate in the apartment

Since the ancestors of this animal come from hot countries, the lemur is a heat-loving animal, which is very easy to catch a cold. He is very afraid of drafts, cold, sudden changes in temperature and humidity levels.

A small or large cage is perfect as a habitat for a lemur vertical structure with metal or wooden rods. In any case, the size of housing is selected according to the size of the animal.
This is a very active and freedom-loving animal that needs a lot of space. There should not be any indoor plants, otherwise your friend may reach out to them and try out of curiosity, and this can lead not only to the deterioration of the plant, but also to the poisoning of the animal. Wires and ropes nearby also need to be removed, because this animal is very inquisitive, and the cage must be locked.

The bottom is covered with soft natural cotton wool or dried hay, there must also be some kind of shelter and tree branches in the cage, because the lemur is a nocturnal tree animal. A small wooden house suspended from the top of the cage will make a good hiding place at night, where he can climb on special "branches", poles or crossbeams, built separately and attached to the dwelling.

Important! A tree animal will leave marks on the wooden parts of its habitat, it is not recommended to wash them off: the animal may get scared and experience stress.

Dishes for food and water should be made of ceramic, glass or porcelain.

Animal care

Order in the cage should be put in order every day, and general cleaning (wet wiping the bottom of the cage and house, as well as replacing sawdust or bedding) - once a month. With proper care of the lemur's housing, animals do not need to bathe, as they themselves take care of the cleanliness of their wool. If you want to get your friend out of the cage, it is better to catch him with a net to avoid being bitten by an animal due to his fear.

As we have already found out, these are nocturnal animals, and they begin their wakefulness in the late afternoon (it can be 8-9 hours), they need to be fed at this time. Now let's consider in more detail the question of what the lemur eats. Most of these animals are fed with soaked white bread, boiled rice, wheat porridge, milk, boiled eggs, fruits, and vegetables.
Some of the lemurs are carnivorous (they need to be fed boiled meat and insects). If the animal refuses to eat, it can be slightly deceived - anoint the product with honey or sprinkle with pollen or powdered sugar.

Important! It is better not to force animals to eat during the day. Lemurs are not trainable and do everything on their own.

Of the diseases that can affect lemurs, the following are called:

• allergic reactions to food or poisoning (you need to carefully monitor what they eat, do not give them leftovers from the table, and also check the food for freshness and safety);
• acute respiratory diseases;
• periodontal disease (condition oral cavity may worsen in an adult being; If necessary, you will even have to brush his teeth).

How much does it cost and where can you buy?

Removal of lemurs from natural conditions is prohibited, so when buying this type of animal, be sure to check the documents (the animal you have chosen must be born and raised in captivity - only then is it legal). In addition, lemurs are carriers of infectious diseases dangerous to humans: documents confirming that they have passed veterinary control when crossing the border will help protect your health and the health of your family.

Today, you can buy this animal in special pet stores or from private individuals who breed this species both in their own country and abroad. The price of a domestic lemur ranges from 60-100 thousand rubles or 25-55 thousand hryvnias.
It is also worth noting that if you want to start several lemurs for breeding, then at home this is very difficult to achieve. Well, if it’s just so that your friend doesn’t get bored in your absence, then keep in mind that conflicts can arise between these animals, as well as other primates. Make sure that housing for animals is built in several tiers or floors with the obligatory presence of separate shelters on each. This will help to avoid fights and feuds, as well as injuries inflicted on each other.

Category: Pets

Why lemur?

About 98 species of lemurs are known to science. The ring-tailed lemur is considered the most common subspecies for home keeping. domesticated ring-tailed lemurs, unlike other fellow primates, are quite calm and affectionate. The advantages of this animal include its small size.

An adult reaches a maximum of 45 cm in length and weighs up to 3.5 kg. A special feature of this species is a striped tail, the length of which reaches 60 cm. A long tail is not just an accessory, but a functional part of the body. It provides balance during movement and jumping. With the right content and the absence of diseases, ring-tailed lemurs can live in captivity for up to 20 years.

Behavioral features

The historical homeland of ring-tailed lemurs is sunny Madagascar. But this does not prevent them from adapting to other living conditions. IN natural environment these primates live in groups of up to 30 individuals, so they are best kept in pairs. This will make the pets feel more comfortable.

Ring-tailed lemurs do not tend to show aggression, they are mostly friendly and disposed to communication. As a pet, it is best to buy a young lemur. Thus, the animal will quickly get used to the owners, since by nature they are quite distrustful. Adapting to a new location young age, the animal will show affection and trust to the new family.

Ring-tailed lemur, unlike other species, is active during the daytime. This greatly simplifies its maintenance in the house. Lemurs are not picky eaters. The basis of the diet in the wild is fruits, insects, leaves and flowers. The food of domesticated lemurs can be varied with milk, rice porridge, eggs and nuts.

For communication, these animals use a variety of sounds - from whistling and purring to screeching and clicking. Lemurs are very sociable, so it is always interesting and fun to be with them.

Conditions for keeping lemurs

A spacious, durable aviary or cage is perfect for this pet. It is important to take into account the fact that lemurs can easily catch colds, so the cage should not be placed in a place under direct airflow from an air conditioner or in a draft. It is very good if the lemur has the opportunity to be under sunlight. They tend to sit for a long time, spreading their front legs, warming their chest and stomach.

For a comfortable stay in the home, be sure to place several branches, snags or stones. It will serve great entertainment For pet. Having a sociable nature, lemurs do not like to be bored, so they play a lot and can even watch TV.

Due to the fact that lemurs are quite mobile and love to frolic, they can walk around the apartment. Don't worry about damaged items. These animals do not damage furniture and, due to their cleanliness, behave very carefully. For the same reason, it is important to keep the enclosure clean by removing food debris and mopping the floor regularly. In the dwelling of a lemur, you can equip a sleeping place in the form of a box with natural filler.

To maintain the health of the pet, you must visit the veterinarian regularly and not self-medicate at home. At home, you can carry out deworming using drugs for cats.

To some extent, this is good, because this little cute animal is on the verge of extinction, people are pushing it out of its native habitats - the Comoros and Madagascar. But before buying it is worth knowing about a few very important points content that will greatly influence your choice of pet.

lemur lory

Important to know before buying

Before talking about the content of the lemur lory, the first thing to do is to highlight all the difficulties:

1. This is an extremely touchy and stupid animal. All attempts to train a lemur cause only anger and bites are inevitable;
2. It is useless to accustom to the toilet on the tray, he will still go where he wants;
3. Night life. During the day, lorises also run, play, but occasionally still sleep, but at night their activity can interfere;
4. The main meal should also be at night;
5. Difficulties in buying, but more on that below.

These are the most primitive of primates, even dumber than macaques, just a living, but very beautiful toy.

Characteristics of the lemur

But if you have enough patience and love to care for a lemur, but the animal will pay the same coin, they are easily and quickly tamed, very attached to the owner, and love to bask in his hands, as in the photo below.

Characteristics of the animal:

• Color - yellow;
• Size - with an average cat;
• Weight - up to 10 kg;
• Males are calmer and more accommodating than females;
• Life expectancy in captivity is up to 20 years, but there are cases up to 30.

Buying a lemur

It is very difficult to buy a lemur, in captivity they practically do not breed, and the ebb and export from their homeland is prohibited by local law, and there are few of them left in the wild.

When buying, study the documents very carefully to be sure that the lemur is domestic (born in a nursery or from breeders), and was not removed from wildlife and smuggled in. In addition to legal problems, you run the risk of being "rewarded" with tropical diseases, against which we have no immunity, and the animal will never become tame.

Given that the price reaches 100,000 rubles, there is something to think about. If you decide to get more than one loris, then they must be the same age, otherwise they will not get along.

For the first time, while the baby gets used to the new house, he will spend all the time in the cage, so choose a spacious cage with several shelters. Perfect option- aviary.

The material does not matter - the rods can be either metal or plastic or wood. The cage should have separate bowls for food and water, also from any material. Water should be changed regularly, a couple of times a day.

In the cell itself, it is desirable to recreate the landscape natural nature- branches, small trees, you can make a nest on a tree (for example, an old hat with earflaps), but a closed house is better, where the animal will hide. But you can’t clutter up, lemurs have energy emissions, they begin to run and jump very actively, and there should be enough spacious space.

Once a month, it is necessary to carry out general cleaning, wiping everything with a damp cloth. But the natural products of vital activity will have to flee every day, and more than once.

It is best to place the cage in a calm, quiet place where there are no drafts, heaters, direct sunlight. It is also recommended to purchase a weak UV lamp, which should be turned on for a couple of hours during the day.

Of course, when the baby gets used to it and ceases to be afraid, then you can let him go for a walk around the apartment, gradually accustoming him to his hands. Lori does not get along with other pets; children are also treated with caution.

diet

Lemurs eat and plant food, and animal:

• Insects;
• Chicken fillet;
• Kashi;
• Dairy products;
• Vegetables fruits;
• flour worms;
• Chicken eggs;
• Bread.

If the lemur refuses to eat, then grease the food with honey, they adore it.

For balance, you need to follow the rule - a third of the diet is insects, a third of porridge and sour milk, and a third of vegetables and fruits. If some products are few or many, then the lemur will get sick.

By the way, insects can be frozen in the summer in freezer, thereby accumulating for the future for the whole winter.

You should not offer them food from our table, an allergy or intestinal upset is possible.

Try to feed him from your hand, thereby establishing contact so that the animal does not see you as a threat.

And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!

Lory domestic lemur video