The Capybara is a semiaquatic mammal native to Central and South America. The Capybaras are the largest living rodents and love to live in scrublands, swamps, marshes, and Savannas. Their scientific name is Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris, which means ” Water Hog” in Latin.
They have a heavy barrel-shaped body with a short head, small ears, short legs, and vestigial tail.
These adorable animals have a distinctive look with their large bodies, webbed feet, and a coat that ranges from dark brown to reddish fur on the upper part of their body and yellowish-brown underneath.
All capybaras have the same light brown color, however, they can look ginger red or dark brown because of the mud in the water sticking to their fur, that is beneficial to the capybaras because the mud helps against sunlight and keeps insects away, however, some capybaras have white fur around their eyes and mouth, some people believe that is the result of selective breeding by humans in colder climates
Their webbed feet help them to swim. The capybaras have sweat glands which is an unusual trait of rodents.
They are highly social creatures, known for their gentle and docile nature. They prefer to live in a group of 10-20 capybaras.
Size Information and Life Expectancy
These massive creatures are 106 to 134 cm (3.48 to 4.4 ft) in length and 50 to 62 cm in height. The weight of capybaras is in the range of 35 to 66 kg. The female capybaras are larger and heavier than their male counterparts.
The capybaras can survive for only 4 to 5 years in the wild but their life expectancy improves in captivity as these are not under threat of predators like jaguars and pumas. Due to their large size, they require ample space to roam and a water source for swimming.
Male Vs Female Capybara
Both male and female capybaras are typically larger than males. The male capybaras possess a prominent scent gland on their noses, known as a morrillo, which they use for marking territory. This dark, raised, and naked area secretes a white sticky fluid used for signaling. Males also use urine for scent marking.
On the other hand, females tend to do less scent marking, and that too without urine. Females are more nurturing and are often the primary caregivers in social groups.
Behavior and Temperament of Capybaras
The Capybaras are very calm and docile with immense ability to tolerate. Capybaras are social animals that thrive in groups. They are gentle and rarely aggressive, making them suitable for families with children. As social creatures, they require companionship from other capybaras for contentment. Therefore you should always keep more than one.
They congregate in groups along the edges of rivers and lakes and are shy individuals. They typically feed in the morning and evening and rest beneath cover along the banks for the majority of the day. They are vegetarians who can occasionally turn into pests in agricultural regions by consuming grain, squash, and melons.
How to Care for a Capybara as a Pet?
Capybaras are fascinating and unique pets that require a significant commitment to their care and well-being. By providing a suitable environment, a balanced diet, regular health check-ups, and ample social interaction, you can ensure your capybara lives a happy and healthy life.
Housing
Capybaras need plenty of space in their enclosure with a secure fence of nearly 4 feet in height. Capybaras are good climbers and diggers, so bury the fence at least a foot underground.
A minimum of 12 x 20 feet per capybara is recommended with a mix of grass, soil, and hay as its base. You should avoid hard surfaces like concrete, which can be harmful to their feet.
The enclosure should include a swimming area since capybaras spend a lot of time in water.
An ideal setup would mimic their natural habitat with plenty of grass for grazing and water for swimming. In their natural environment, they spend most of their time near water in shady areas.
- Access to water helps them to regulate their body temperature.
- It helps them to receive mental and physical stimulation.
- It helps them to escape from predators.
- Due to dry skin, they prefer to live in swamp areas.
- They get an ample supply of food over there.
While setting up the enclosure with access to the pool, you should ensure that the water gets filtered from time to time as the capybaras urinate and defecate in water.
What Does a Capybara Eat and Drink?
Capybaras are herbivores and primarily graze on grasses and aquatic plants.
Though maize, melons, and squash are occasionally consumed, their primary diet consists of water plants and grasses. Just five distinct types of grasses account for 80% of their diet.
The Capybaras have a slow metabolism and grasses take time to digest. Therefore, capybaras are auto-coprophagous, which means that they ingest their poop. It helps them to absorb nutrients properly.
One can consume roughly 2.7 to 3.6 kilograms of fresh grass in a typical eating day. Like other rodents, their front teeth kept on growing and there is a need to file them. By providing gnawing materials, you can keep a check on its growth.
You can supplement their diet with hay, fresh vegetables, and specially formulated guinea pig or rabbit pellets. Moreover, their diet should be supplemented with vitamin C. These pellets prevent capybaras from scurvy.
Handling
They are known to be sociable with other animals, such as dogs and cats, and they don’t act aggressively toward people or other animals. Capybaras are generally calm and can be handled gently.
They enjoy being petted but may not like being picked up due to their size. Capybaras are intelligent creatures and may be taught tricks and how to follow instructions.Give them time to acclimate with you, approach them calmly, and let them come to you.
Exercise
Capybaras need ample space to keep themselves physically and mentally active. You should provide them with a large enclosure where they can roam, swim, and play. Provide chew toys and enrichment activities to keep them mentally stimulated.
Grooming
Capybaras are low on grooming and love to lie in the swamp and muddy areas. You can ensure that their swimming area is clean to prevent skin infections. Occasional brushing of their coat can help to manage shedding and other skin issues.
Health Issues and Signs of Ill Health
The capybara may develop dental issues due to a deficiency of vitamin C in their diet such as scurvy. Overgrown teeth can cause issues and need regular checking. They can suffer from skin infections or mites, especially if their living conditions are not clean.
Signs of ill health include lethargy, loss of appetite, abnormal stool, and changes in behavior. Regular veterinary checkups are essential to keep your capybara healthy.
Reproduction and Breeding
Breeding capybaras in captivity requires careful consideration. They have a gestation period of about 150 days and typically give birth to 4 to 5 pups. Breeding should only be attempted by experienced individuals who can ensure the well-being of both the mother and pups. While adopting a Capybara, you should check for some good health signs such as healthy fur, no bald patches, and activity levels.
Where to Buy?
You should try to get a Capybara from a reputed breeder or an authentic source. You can get a Capybara for around $2500- $ 3000 with females slightly more expensive. You can also check out some websites such as Exotic Animals for Sale, where you can get a capybara with full details about it.
As Capybaras are social creatures and feel happy when residing in a group, you should always take more than one.
Upkeep Cost
Keeping a Capybara as a pet is quite expensive. The initial setup of the enclosure can be around $1,000 -$2,500.Capybaras are voracious eaters and need a continuous supply of food which adds around $50- $100 per month. It may also need emergency veterinary care which can cost around $100 – $300. It requires some legalities while keeping it as a pet and permits and Licensing also adds up the expense.
Related Species
Capybaras belong to the Caviidae family, which includes guinea pigs and rock cavies. While they share some characteristics, capybaras are significantly larger and more complex in their care needs.
- Guinea Pigs
- Rock Cavies
- Chinchilla
- Patagonian Cavy
Pros and Cons of Keeping a Capybara as a Pet
It is essential to understand and evaluate all upsides and downsides before deciding to keep a capybara as a pet, as they require a significant commitment to meet their complex needs.
Pros:
- Gentle and friendly nature: Capybaras are known for their friendly and social behavior. They enjoy the company of humans and other animals, making them affectionate companions.
- Non-Aggressive: Generally, capybaras are docile and non-aggressive, which can make them safer around children and other pets compared to some other exotic animals.
- Unique and interesting pet: Having a capybara as a pet can be a unique and interesting experience, often attracting curiosity and interest from friends and family.
- Intelligent Animals: Capybaras are intelligent animals, capable of responding to commands, which can make interactions with them engaging and rewarding. They can be trained for a walk with a leash or harness.
Cons:
- Large Enclosure: Capybaras require a lot of space to roam and a large water source for swimming, which can be difficult to provide in a typical household setting.
- Need Companions: Capybaras need a company to live with so you should take more than one capybaras of the same sex.
- High Upkeep Cost: Their diet needs to be carefully managed to include a variety of grasses and vegetables, and they require a significant amount of food, which can be costly and time-consuming. The Capybaras needs an access to clean water source. This can add to an extra expense. They require specialized veterinary care, which can be expensive and difficult to find since not all vets have experience with exotic pets like capybaras.
- Temperature Regulation is required in winter: Capybaras love to stay outside, but if there is an acute drop in the temperature, their enclosures should be kept warm with high-quality UVB lighting.
- Legal Restrictions: In some areas, owning a capybara is illegal or requires special permits due to their exotic status, which can complicate pet ownership.
- Destructive nature: Capybaras can be quite destructive if not properly supervised or provided with adequate environmental enrichment. They may chew on furniture, wires, and other household items.
Ethics and Legality for Keeping a Capybara as a Pet
It’s crucial to understand the ethical implications and legal restrictions, before getting a capybara. Capybaras are not legal to own in all states.
They are allowed to be kept as pets in Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, North Carolina, Arizona, and Arkansas. You may require special permits for keeping a Capybara as a pet.
You will have to provide a suitable environment such as a big pool with filter systems to mimic their natural habitat in captivity. If you’re prepared for the long-term commitment and ready to bear huge expenses, then only you should proceed in bringing them home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question1. Are capybaras good pets for children?
Answer: Capybaras are friendly, cute, and playful creatures but they do better in the wild or in a zoo.
Question2. Are Capybara rodents or rats?
Answer: The capybaras are the largest rodents, known as water pigs.
Question 3: Should we domesticate Capybaras?
Answer: No. The best place to see these cute rodents is probably your neighborhood zoo.
Question 4: Are capybaras legal pets in the USA?
Answer: It is legal to keep a capybara as a pet in parts such as Texas, Washington, and North Carolina but is illegal in California and Georgia.
Question 5: Are capybaras hard to take care of?
Answer: Capybaras are high maintenance as they need a custom pond and voluminous diet.
Question 6: Are capybaras prone to any health problems?
Answer: Capybara can be prone to dental problems and skin infections.
Question 7: What is the lifespan of Capybara?
Answer: In captivity, the lifespan of a capybara is around 8 to 10 years.
Question 8: What sound does a Capybara make?
Answer: Capybaras are incredibly vocal animals and communicate using barks, chirps, whistles, huffs, and purrs.
Question 9: How big does a Capybara get?
Answer: A capybara is the largest rodent and takes size in the range of 3.4 ft to 4.4 ft. They can weigh between 77 to 146 pounds
Question 10: What do capybaras eat?
Answer: They primarily eat grass, vegetables, and specially formulated pellets.
Interesting Facts About Capybara
- Capybara (Kaapii) means one who eats slender leaves or grass eater.
- Capybaras are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes.
- Capybaras mate only in water. They urinate and defecate in water too.
- They have webbed feet to aid in swimming.
- Alloparenting is observed in Capybaras in which pups are nursed by any female in the group.
- They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.
- Capybaras communicate through a variety of sounds, including purrs, barks, and whistles.
- Capybaras are closely related to guinea pigs.
- They have a special , flexible digestive system that allows them to digest tough plant materials.
- In the wild, capybaras can form groups of up to 100 individuals.
- They are known for their symbiotic relationship with birds, which often perch on them to eat insects.
- Capybaras’ teeth continuously grow, which is why they need to gnaw on things to keep them trimmed.
- They have a lifespan of 8-10 years in captivity.
Conclusion:
Capybaras can make wonderful pets for the right owners, offering a unique and rewarding experience. However, the care requirements for capybaras are substantial, therefore potential owners must be fully prepared for the commitment. By understanding their needs and ensuring a suitable environment, you can provide a loving home for these fascinating animals.
