Lemurs

Diabetes

SignsDrinks and urinates a lot; eats but loses weight; cloudy white eyes (cataracts); wounds heal slowly

PreventionKeep fruit under 10% of the diet; base it on leafy greens and primate pellets. Annual blood and urine tests

Obesity

SignsSagging belly; sluggish; reluctant to climb; body weight over 20% above standard

PreventionRecord every troop member's weight monthly. Scatter food at several spots to make them forage and ensure exercise

Periodontal disease / tartar

SignsBad breath; drooling; chewing on one side; dirty toothcomb and less grooming

PreventionDo not rely on soft fruit; offer branches, leaves and hard vegetables. Annual oral exam

Metabolic bone disease

SignsLimping; hunched back; failed jumps; jaw deformity

PreventionBase the diet on dedicated pellets with Ca and vitamin D3; daily outdoor sunbathing or UVB lamp

Parasites / diarrhea

SignsSoft stool; bloody stool; weight loss; soiled anal area; dull coat

PreventionFecal exams twice a year. Quarantine new arrivals 30+ days. Wash feeding spots daily

Hypothermia / abnormal torpor

SignsA mouse lemur that is cold and unresponsive even in daytime; rapid weight loss

PreventionAllow torpor only in animals with sufficient body weight. Never below 18°C; weigh weekly even during torpor

Bite wounds within the troop

PreventionFighting increases in breeding season (autumn–winter). Provide more hiding places and feeding spots than there are animals

First aidIsolate the animal being chased in a separate room. Press bleeding with clean gauze. Wounds easily abscess; see the vet the same day

Fractures from falls

PreventionSpace perches within jumping range. Add lower structures for elderly or obese animals

First aidDo not move; place in a box and keep dark. Do not splint. Limping or swelling: see the vet the same day

Tail injury

PreventionDesign doors and mesh so the tail cannot get caught. Never catch by the tail

First aidPress bleeding; leave any kink as is, do not fix it, and see the vet. Necrosis means amputation, so go the same day

Claw or finger lacerations from wire mesh

PreventionUse mesh fingers cannot enter, or solid walls. Check claws regularly

First aidPress to stop bleeding; if a finger is deformed or dislocated, see the vet the same day. If bleeding will not stop, go now

B virus / herpes

RouteHuman cold sores pass to them in reverse via bites or saliva

PreventionNo contact during a cold-sore outbreak. Mask and gloves; never feed mouth-to-mouth

Tuberculosis

RouteDroplet spread from humans to monkeys, and from infected animals to humans

PreventionKeepers get an annual chest exam. Isolate any animal with cough or weight loss and see the vet

Measles / influenza

RouteHuman droplets cause severe infection in monkeys

PreventionKeepers should be vaccinated. Stay off animal duties if feverish or coughing

Salmonella / shigella

RouteFeces, dirty hands, feeding equipment

PreventionThorough handwashing; separate and disinfect equipment per group. Handle diarrhea with gloves

Food

• Primate pellets as the staple, plus leafy greens and branches with leaves, twice a day
• Fruit under 10% of the total. Ring-tails: about 150 g per animal per day
• Mouse lemurs: insects, tree-sap gum and a little fruit in the evening

Water

• Fresh water at all times in several containers. Wash once a day
• A sudden rise in drinking suggests diabetes; record it and see the vet

Toys & play

• Food-hiding feeders and holes in logs to prolong foraging time
• Ropes and swaying branches to use jumping and balance
• Wide shelves the troop can share. Solitary housing is contraindicated due to stress

Nest, bed & hideout

• More nest boxes and hiding places than animals. Install them up high
• Mouse lemurs need several dark, tree-hollow-style nest boxes

Bedding & litter

• Washable flooring indoors; soil, grass and bark outdoors
• They rarely settle on a toilet spot. Clean and disinfect daily
• Leave scent-marked spots; avoid replacing everything at once

Cage / housing material

Stainless wire mesh or solid walls. Outdoors, a large enclosure with a double door

Size & space

A ring-tail troop needs tens of square meters indoors and outdoors combined. Height 3 m or more

Layout

• Create both a south-facing sunbathing spot and shade
• Perches and shelves at varied heights with several jumping routes
• Spread feeding spots to more than the number of animals to prevent fights

Placement notes

• Double doors and locks. An escape is a serious incident, on par with a Specified Animal (dangerous animal permit)
• Mouse lemurs are nocturnal. Keep it dark and quiet in the daytime

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• There is no concept of walks. Guarantee all-day exercise inside the enclosure
• Secure sunbathing time every morning for bone health and mood
• Change enrichment daily and prolong foraging time

Temperature & humidity

TemperatureRing-tails 15–28°C. Mouse lemurs 20–26°C

Humidity50–70%. Excessive dryness harms skin and airways

Summer & winter

• In summer above 30°C provide shade, water and mist. Watch for heatstroke
• Heat indoors in winter. Do not put them outdoors below 10°C

Nail trimming

Usually unnecessary. If overgrown in old age, the vet trims under sedation. Never force restraint

Brushing, skin & coat care

They groom each other with the toothcomb. Group housing is the best care. Check daily for hair loss and wounds

Other care

Tartar removal at the annual oral check-up. Scent-gland secretion is normal. Weigh monthly

Protection from predators

• Outdoors, a top net against raptors, crows, cats and raccoons
• Mosquitoes may carry disease. Screens and remove standing water
• Avoid places where dogs or other monkeys can be heard

Foreign-body ingestion

Dexterous hands; they put anything in the mouth. Keep screws, rubber bands, plastic and medicines away from inside and around the enclosure. Vomiting or loss of appetite: see the vet the same day

Being stepped on

Mouse lemurs hide in dark spots on the floor. Watch your feet and check where each animal is before opening or closing doors

Getting pinched

Tails and fingers easily get caught in doors and feeding hatches. Check where the animal is when opening or closing; for long-tailed species, close slowly

Falls

Infants, elderly and obese animals often break bones in falls. Put grass or padding below high points; avoid slippery shelves

Escape

Strict double doors and locks. If one escapes, do not chase; lure it with the troop's calls and favorite foods, and contact the municipal office and police right away

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving, lower your body and look away
2. Slide a cloth or board in front of its face to shift the bite target
3. Once it lets go, back away quietly and close the enclosure door
4. If several animals are present, leave before the others join in

After the release

Wash under running water for 5 minutes, disinfect, and always see a doctor the same day. If you have cold sores, tell the doctor it was a monkey bite

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, sex, age, weight, troop situation, recent diet and fruit amount, keeper's health (cold, herpes)

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Breathing is chest movement. About 30–50 per minute at rest
• Heartbeat: place a hand on the left side of the chest. Ring-tails 100–200
• Response: do ears and eyes move to its name or sounds? Check for unequal pupils

Stopping bleeding

• Press with clean gauze for 5 minutes or more. Do not lift it to check
• For the tail or limbs, lightly squeeze on the heart side; do not tie tightly
• If it will not stop, transport now while maintaining pressure

Transport

• Line a dark box with a towel and keep warm with a blanket while transporting
• Hearing troop members' calls calms them. Drive gently