Many people have guinea pigs. It is sad because the majority of them are not well taken care of; often considered a throw away pet. Or kids tire of them and the guinea pig will sit in a dirty cage until they die. Maybe worst, they are a social animal and they will die of loneliness. Or, because they're rodents their teeth continually grow. Without proper care, providing proper objects to chew on, the teeth will overgrow and the guinea pig will starve to death.
I am off my soapbox for now. If you want a pet capybara make sure you know everything there is about them, their care, their social needs, and their dispositions/personalities.
Some people find the word rodent repulsive. I find rodents lovely pets some of the sweetest and friendliest animals I have had the privilege of having in my family.
To bond with your capybara make sure you acquire/purchase him or her young. Or, perhaps someone has raised a capybara and could no longer keep them. Try locating a rescue or small animal rescue and adopt a already human bonded capybara.
It may be difficult to obtain licensing for the pet capybara check federal, state and local laws. Be sure to learn all you can about proper legal requirements. Don't forget to check local requirements as well.
Find a exotic pet veterinarian that is familiar with these beautiful animals.
The Capybara is a semi-aquatic animal and you need to provide a pool. It would be cruel to not provide for such an important and basic need. Keep it clean! If you cage a capybara they must have a minimum of 100 square feet for a single animal, double that for each additional animal.
Capybara's can be raised in a home. In fact, since it is hard for the young capybara to maintain body temperature a safe heated area will be necessary.
They are a herbivore (both land and water plants) with some seriously strange habits. They chew a cud much like a cow, will regurgitate it and eat it again. In addition, they will eat their own feces. Trying to get protein and other nutrients from a plant is no easy matter so the process is repeated with eating the cud and feces. The bacterial gut flora in the feces helps with obtain the nutrients they need from plant matter.
They can be leash trained, trained to potty in a certain area but you should use cat litter because of the fact they may eat their own feces.
Learn all you can about the pet capybara before acquiring your new pet. Perhaps volunteer and gain some experience with capybaras and other exotic animals before considering the purchase.
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Capybara Images
Capybara Pictures
Baby Capybara, Capybara video, YouTube video
ExoticPets
Four baby capybaras are in hot spa
Caplin the Baby Capybara licks the camera
Capyboppy
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