Capybaras are affectionately known as giant guinea pigs, yet their care requires more effort than that of smaller counterparts. Smart, social animals that weigh up to 170 pounds, capybaras make for pleasant household pets when kept in pairs or groups; since their large bodies require ample space and access to fresh water sources.
Before You Adopt a Capybara
There is much to consider before bringing a pet capybara into your home, including legality and ethical considerations. Here is what you should consider prior to owning one as a pet.
Legality
Depending on where you reside, possessing a capybara could be illegal. Some municipalities require a permit or health certificate in order to own one as pets; California and Georgia ban capybaras as pets while Texas, Pennsylvania and New York allow their possession. Although legal in states like New York but illegal within cities; capybaras are considered illegal pets within New York City itself while they can also be owned legally in Texas Washington North Carolina Arizona Arkansas Indiana Florida Tennessee states among many more.
Owning capybaras can be both expensive and time-consuming, requiring both time and commitment from their new owners. At around 170 pounds each, these giant animals require the kind of environment provided by professional zoos in order to thrive.
Things to Consider
Capybaras are large and costly pets that require ample living space – including aquatic space – in which to live. Social animals by nature, capybaras thrive in pairs and should therefore be purchased and housed as such – either two females or one male and one female; two males, even if neutered, may become aggressive against one another if housed together; therefore unless this kind of environment can be created then perhaps a capybara may not be ideal.
Hand-raised capybaras tend to be quite friendly; if you plan on adopting an adult capybara as a pet, however, be patient until it warms up to you. While capybaras don’t typically bite people directly, if threatened or provoked they may use their formidable teeth as defense mechanism and bite in self-defence; otherwise they tend to be nervous and timid creatures.
Central and South American wilds, where water bodies abound. Because their skin needs constant hydration, Capybaras can often be found congregated together wherever there is standing water. They have webbed feet which make them excellent swimmers; in fact, some species can hold their breath underwater for five minutes!
Capybaras enjoy areas with ample grasses for eating and hiding from predators. Like pigs, these large rodents may cover themselves in mud to regulate their body temperature and protect themselves from sunburn due to thin fur and limited sweat glands.
Just like their cousins the guinea pigs, capybaras are highly social animals who communicate among themselves using various sounds such as purrs, barks, grunts, whistles, squeals and coughs. When left alone for too long they can become stressed out and depressed if left unable to communicate with anyone; you can imitate these sounds to soothe them but the best way to ensure your capybara’s happiness is having at least one friend with whom they can chatter, groom or swim alongside.