The capybara or capybara is a large and strong pet, which requires specific care to make it feel comfortable and happy with you. The most important caring for a capybara is its habitat.
Capybaras are the largest rodents on the planet and their natural habitat is lacustrine areas of the South American continent. Obviously, to recreate such an environment, a garden with its own pool for the animal is required. Human pools with highly chlorinated water are not good for the capybara. Keep reading this article on our site and discover the basic capybara care
Preparing a pool
In your garden you can set up a swimming pool suitable for your capybara using a medium/large rigid plastic paddling pool. Do not use inflatable pools, the capybaras would pierce them with their hooves.
You will install the pool in a hole made in your garden, in this way the capybara will be able to access it naturally and safely. On the other hand, it is essential that there is a device that regenerates and purifies the water If the water stagnates it could cause diseases in your pet and be a danger to yourself, in addition to a permanent focus of mosquitoes.
The right environment for the capybara
Apart from the swimming pool mentioned in the previous section, your capybara needs a garden area where it can graze grass and has aprotected redoubt and with straw for your rest. The capybara will feed on the surrounding grass, but will not gouge it. The animal itself regulates its intake so that the grass grows again.
Therefore, your diet should be supplemented with corn, sugar cane, watermelon or other fleshy fruits. It also likes freshwater algae.
The he alth of the capybara
The capybara is strong and not prone to disease. Only it is essential that they can bathe daily. Otherwise, the capybara can suffer skin disorders that can even lead to death.
They are also prone to sunstroke because despite their long hair, it is sparse. So they wallow in the mud to create a protective layer for their dermis.
They should not consume foods of animal origin, only vegetables, to maintain their he alth in perfect condition.
The size of the capybara
The capybara grows a lot and requires space according to its size. Females can weigh about 60 Kg. Males are a little smaller.
Domestic capybaras can grow very large, as they live much longer than wild capybaras. The size available will be a definitive factor in choosing a single capybara or more.
Differences between males and females
Capybaras live in herds in their natural habitats. Only some males live alone. Therefore, if the available space is reduced it will be better to adopt a male.
Male dogs must imperatively be spayed between 6 and 9 months. If this is not done, the animal will become aggressive and territorial.
If there is enough space, a pair of females can be adopted, or a female and a spayed male. Females need the company of other capybaras to be fully happy.
The character of capybaras
Capybaras are affectionate, intelligent and clean pets if cared for properly. The only trick to achieve this is to take care of them responsibly, attending to their basic needs and knowing their natural habits.
One of them is the coprophagy of its own faeces, as other rodents such as guinea pigs do. They do this when their droppings are soft in texture and they need to process the cellulose contained. The final stool is oval and dry.
Capybaras are unable to produce vitamin C by themselves. That is why they must be fed foods that contain this vitamin to prevent the appearance of scurvy while they live with us.
The domestic capybara
Capybaras enjoy a rich range of sounds to express their mood They produce purrs to express submission, or a kind of bark to show alert. With a few peculiar clicks they show their satisfaction and happiness. They also produce hissing and growling sounds.
They can be taught certain tricks, such as ordering food and sitting down. They are docile and gentle animals that like company.
All of which leads us to value as positive that you adopt a capybara as a pet. To do this, use the advice of professionals with stores that meet all legal requirements and can provide you with the relevant documentation and guarantee on the he alth and origin of your future pets.
