The young cling to the mother for the first week or so, and then are taken over by the father, being transferred back to the mother for nursing. Infants from previous births also provide assistance carrying for the young. The experience gained by the juveniles assisting in the care of the infants is essential in developing the skills necessary in rearing their own young when they mature. Adults of the same sex are extremely aggressive toward one another. The adult male and female of a group form permanent pair bonds.
Tamarins tend to be monogamous and remain with the same mate.
This breeding pair forms the base for a family group of two to eight family members, with temporary associations of 15-16. Tamarins have a wide variety of vocalizations which they use in communicating in the dense forest. Reproduction by subordinate females is suppressed behaviorally by the dominant female in a group. Day Exhibit Golden lion tamarins are on exhibit in the Day Exhibit building. Also clustered at the Day and Night Exhibits are the majority of the zoo's amphibians and reptiles.