Penny auction site, BidsTick.com, recently had a very unusual auction:

A Marmoset

(Pygmy Monkey)

This is definitely the most unusual auction we've ever seen, and is possibly the first time a penny auction site has auctioned off a live mammal. While the Marmoset is indeed one of the cutest things alive (just look at that picture!), we are put off by the auction itself and of the description given in the auction:

Notice that the description states that "the best food for monkeys are exactly what you eat. Fruits, vegetables, pasta, breads, and rice."  This is not true, as monkeys, and Marmosets in particular generally eat insects, fruits, and leaves. BidsTick also gives out ridiculous "pointers", such as how to teach the Marmoset to "sit" or "stay".

The problem with this type of auction, aside from the obvious, is that BidsTick has put themselves in a very compromising situation. While acquiring an animal like this does not require a permit or license, a U.S.D.A. license is required to breed, exhibit or sell them. BidsTick made no mention of being properly licensed to sell/auction off this poor Marmoset. They also did not mention whether or not the Marmoset being auctioned off is a baby or an adult, which is important to know, as a baby Marmoset must be fed every couple of hours. They did not note that the future owner will need to be sure that there is a veterinarian in their immediate area that deals with exotic animals, primates in particular, that can help care for the Marmoset. They also did not note that Marmosets are social creatures, and do not do very well by themselves, and are not easy to keep, like a cat or dog. Marmosets, when they become adults, can be unpredictable and aggressive. All of this should have been addressed in the description, instead of telling the bidder that they need to "say his/her name often when feeding".

As tempting as it may be to bid on auctions like this, we urge bidders to stay away. Many exotic animals are purchased for their uniqueness, with little thought given to how to care for them. Please do not encourage these types of auctions to happen by bidding on them.

We watched as the above auction as it went on, eventually ending at $39.70. We emailed BidsTick and inquired after the auction, but as of this posting, we have not received a reply. They are currently auctioning off another Marmoset...