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Capybaras are known as giant guinea pigs, the largest rodent globally, and a semi-aquatic mammal. However, capybara as pet requires more complex care compared to other rodents. These giant animals can even weigh up to 170 pounds, which requires them a vast space of land and an accessible water pool.
Their name capybara refers to “Master of the Grasses,” while their scientific name Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, which came from a Greek word, means “Water Hog.” Capybaras are also excellent swimmers with the help of their pig-shaped bodies. These are built to assist them in seasonally flooded places such as savannas and wetlands. Another distinctive characteristic of a capybara is their webbed skin between their toes, which helps them swim.
In the quest of owning an unusual pet, learn why you should consider having a pet capybara and how you can develop a good relationship with them. Read on to discover if this friendly pet can suit your lifestyle and persona.
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Anatomy and Physical Characteristics
Capybara is twice bigger than a beaver. A full-grown capybara can weigh between 60 to 170 pounds, and they are usually under two feet tall and four feet long. Together with their hoof-like claws, their short and sturdy limbs enable capybara pets to walk on slippery banks. Moreover, these features prevent them from sinking into muddy places. They also have bristly and short fur pale, pale to dark brown color with diversified tinges of grey, yellow, and grey. These are perfectly constructed to assist them with drying out once they are back on land. However, thin hair makes sunburn one of their problems. Additionally, they get thermal stress because of the low number of sweat glands in their body.
One of the distinctive features of a pet capybara is their small eyes, noses, and ears, strategically located high on their heads. Although they are submerged underwater, their faces remain exposed to help them focus and have excellent sight and smell around them.
Behavior and Personality Traits of Pet Capybaras
Capybaras are socially inclined animals. They live in groups with 10 to 30 members. A hand-reared pet capybara is gentle and easy to tame. On the other hand, grown-up capybara requires patience before they become warm with you. When they feel terrorized or threatened, they utilize their teeth as a defense mechanism. You can let your capybara chew on this plushie toy to exercise their oral muscles.
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To get close with them, you must learn how to cuddle and groom them. But be cautious since some dislike excessive handling. By providing capybaras with food and gentle care, you can have a good experience together. Capybaras are not only friendly; they are also smart and eminently trainable. Aside from that, they are also tame and gentle with people and other pets; however, training them under a stressful and pressuring environment can trigger them to act aggressively.
According to Adrienne Kruzer, RVT, LVT, “Capybaras must be kept in at least pairs. They do not fare well if kept alone. However, male capybaras should not exclusively live together (even if neutered). Territorial fights will break out if there are too many males in a small enclosure.”
So, if you are considering getting a capybara, get a pair instead to ensure prolonged survival in captivity.
Vocal Repertoire
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Capybaras are companionable and can communicate with others using innumerable sounds. They often make use of purrs, grunts, whistles, and coughs to convey their message. Some Capybaras can be seen and heard, creating chuckling sounds when they are ecstatic. They use these sounds to radiate their emotions to their fellow capybaras. Sometimes, they even sing together in unison.
Their interactions through vocalization suggest that they use communication as an essential mechanism to alert other members of the group. So when a pet capybara is alone, they tend to feel stressed out since they do not have someone to communicate with. You can keep capybaras happy by giving them a friend to bond with or by communicating with them by imitating their sounds.
Facts about Capybaras Diet
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Capybaras are herbivorous animals that only consume plants to obtain necessary nutrients for their body. Their diet includes grasses, aquatic plants, and some fruits and berries. Capybaras would normally ingest about three to six types of plants in the wild. You can feed your capybaras with high-quality grass hay, which is readily available in some pet stores. This Gray Hay is our favorite. You can find the customer reviews and ratings on Amazon here. On some occasions, you can give them a soft tree bark.
The capybaras also grow their teeth continuously like other rodents. Eating hay provides sufficient nutrients and keeps their teeth at the ideal length since it helps file down their teeth. Inappropriate teeth length can lead to problems such as mouth disfigurement and extreme pain.
Owners should also incorporate guinea pig pellets with vitamin C in their meals to avoid vitamin C deficiency. Here are Oxbow Essentials you can try to supplement for your pet. Meanwhile, give them apples and carrots in moderation because sugars can be addicting for them.
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To recreate natural grazing, spread their food around their living space. Ensure to feed capybara pets chemical-free and toxic-free goods. Capybaras are also autocoprophagy, wherein they tend to eat their feces in the morning. Because their waste is rich in protein, it enables them to break down the cellulose of their previous food.
Mating and Reproduction for Pet Capybaras
Capybaras are known as polygonous. They can breed throughout the year, but their peak season usually begins between April and May. When a female capybara comes into estrus, male capybaras will follow her for an extended period. The dominant male capybaras have the breeding rights to a female capybara upon driving off other capybaras.
During courtship, female capybaras whistle to lure the males. Then, male capybaras will saliently look after them and snuffle her frequently. The pair will go into the water, while females often submerge for brief copulation. However, when female capybaras do not want to mate, they tend to dive deeper to get rid of the males. Additionally, the pairs are often obstructed by another male capybara.
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The female estrus cycle happens every 7.5 days, remaining receptive for only 8 hours. One dominant male can mate with several females. Note that the male sperm of capybaras have a longer lifespan compared to other rodents.
The gestation period of capybara takes 150 days. Most commonly, they give birth to 4 to 5 pups. These pups can weigh about 3.3 pounds, with noticeable cheek teeth upon birth.
Training a Pet Capybaras
Owning an animal can bring joy and alleviate your stress. These animals do not only provide company but immeasurable love as well. In return, we must provide them with adequate space, training, and health care. Here are some valuable factors you should consider before purchasing a pet capybara.
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Living Space and Social Requirements
In owning capybaras, you should remember that they cannot be kept solitary, which means you need to have a plethora of space to accommodate your rodent family. Capybaras require a vast and enclosed area, abruptly 12 feet by 20 feet per pair and at least 4 feet high.
To know the space requirement of capybara, Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC, discussed, “Since capybaras are semi-aquatic species, they need to be able to swim regularly. This means providing them with a pool large enough for them to swim in. Capybaras also need to roam and will not do well confined in a small space.” The pool area can have a shaded cover that can be accessible for them at all times.
For natural grazing, scatter treats and toys that they can pick up around their living space. It would be beneficial for them if their space mimics their natural habitat. Plus, they like mud wallows to keep them cool when the climate is hot. This mud also protects them from sunburn and insects.
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Capybaras can be active during the day, which exposes them to ultraviolet rays of the sun. They can manage temperatures from 45 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. On cold days, they need a warm space, so you must provide UVB lighting indoors. Check out this highly rated and recommended UVB lighting on Amazon.
House Training A Capybara Pet
These animals are brilliant, which makes them amenable to training. They can determine the difference between acceptable and destructive behaviors. When they are not appropriately trained, they can damage and chew some of your furniture and household items.
Capybaras are trainable while they are young. You can do this at the comfort of your home by giving them rewards. Take note that repetition is an essential key for training them, so you need a lot of patience. Many people do not consider capybaras as pets. However, capybara owners have shown the progress of their well-mannered pets.
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As young capybaras, they are likely to eat their feces as part of their regular diet. But during potty training, you can provide it with a dry and wet litter container to reduce liquid bowel movements.
Capybara Dental Care
Just like other rodents, capybaras should frequently chew grass or soft bark of trees to maintain their teeth health and length. Capybaras find it challenging to eat with too long teeth. You can provide them a daily ration of hay to avoid starvation.
Since Capybaras teeth continuously grow, let them have an open space where they are allowed to chew anything they want. Restrict their access to electrical cords and other household items.
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Exercise for Capybaras
One of the regular exercises of a pet capybara is swimming since they are semi-aquatic animals. It is in their nature to live and roam on almost 500 acres. Make sure to consider their exercise since they can get sunburned quickly.
Common Health Problems
Since capybaras cannot naturally produce vitamin C, they are prone to vitamin C deficiency. Other than that, they are also susceptible to other diseases such as:
- Respiratory diseases
- Infestations of mites or lice in their fur
- Digestive problems
You can avoid these health problems by keeping the pen clean and organized. It would also help to research for exotic specialists within your location, whom you can consult.
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The Legality of Possessing a Pet Capybara
Possession of capybaras depends on where you live. It is illegal to own a pet capybara in particular places such as California and Georgia. Meanwhile, owning capybaras are legal in Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York. Although some states allow capybara possession, some cities banned the procurement and owning of these animals as pets.
To be safe, secure a copy of the legal documents of your pets to avoid conflicts.
Expenses of Owning a Capybara
If you have decided to own a pet capybara, it is ideal to buy from a reputable breeder. The cost of this smart animal creature ranges from about $1,000 to $3,000. You will also need to spend getting a license, permits, and health certificates. Aside from that, setting up the mimic environment of capybara pets and regular check-up of these animals can be quite expensive.
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Key Takeaways
Capybaras are incredibly exotic animals with outstanding quality, behavior, and features. Although they can sometimes be aggressive, this mechanism is their method of protecting themselves when threatened.
While owning a capybara can be expensive due to their needs, they are undoubtedly lovely creatures that can lighten and uplift your mood with their personality.
If you want to learn more about animals you can take care of as pets, you can check out some insightful blogs from The Furry Companion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is capybara a good pet?
Capybaras are socially inclined and intelligent animals, but they require a vast space and a swimming area. Additionally, some states prohibit owning capybaras. Although capybaras are good pets, it takes significant effort to acquire state permits to procure and own a capybara pet.
How do capybaras defend themselves from predators?
Capybaras utilize water to escape from danger. Unlike other animals who fight back, they tend to dive into the water and hide. Amazingly, they can last underwater for up to five minutes.
Can capybaras be house trained?
Since capybaras are smart, they are highly trainable. They can learn quickly and can determine acceptable behaviors. Patience and repetition are the primary keys in training a capybara pet.
Are capybaras smart?
They are social and intelligent animals, just like dogs. They can learn acceptable behavior and manners by training them.
What is the average lifespan of a capybara?
The life expectancy of a capybara is around 8 to 10 years. However, if they are out in nature, they tend to survive only up to four years because of predators. Their lifespan can be extended if they are under captivity or custody of a pet owner.
Where do capybaras sleep?
Capybaras are known as water hogs because they sleep along a water area to protect themselves from natural predators. They also love to take a nap in mud or shallow water to keep them cool.
Do capybaras eat fruits?
Yes, other than grasses and aquatic plants, they also consume fruits. But you have to take note to give them a sparing amount because intake of excessive sugar can be addicting.
What countries have capybaras?
Capybaras are commonly found in Panama, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and other South American countries. These animals are semi-aquatic and spend their time around water areas.
Will a capybara pet attack a human?
An attack from a capybara is unusual because this animal is docile and friendly. However, if capybaras are put in a stressful environment, they can bite humans using their incisive teeth.
Do capybaras like to cuddle?
They do! They respond really well to human contact, and would cuddle despite how big they grow (they can reach up to 4 feet in length!). They are some of the more affectionate wild animals known to man, and even to their fellow animals. They would cuddle even with the unlikeliest of buddies, just like when one capybara stepped in to mother foster puppies.
