The gestation period is about 102 days, which is short for such a large animal. Unlike other lemurs, ruffed lemur females can have up to six young at a time. The average, however, is about three young per litter. The young are born covered with fur and with their eyes open at birth, but they are still quite helpless. They are born in a nest where they stay, unless the mother moves them some where else.
Lemurs are very clean animals and spend a lot of time grooming themselves and each other.
The lower insisors grow forward in line with each other and are slightly spaced. The claw is also used for grooming. At present, there are over 200 ruffed lemurs in 42 different zoos worldwide. Several of these zoos work with each other in breeding and caring for the captive population. To prevent inbreeding, wild caught animals have been introduced to the captive breeding program.