Can a Capybara be kept as a pet? Would it make a good pet?

The capybara, Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris, is a semi-aquatic rodent of South America. It weighs about a hundred pounds, and is about 2 feet tall at the shoulder. Capybara Pet Capybaras are very family oriented creatures. They do not do as well alone, but with a friend… other animal to bond with it will be content. In the wild they travel in groups as a family, usually 15 to 20. Since my babies are taken from the mom at the age of 7 to 14 days it is very important for their well being that one needs for have a simple guideline for success in raising the capys. All babies must have milk- warmed up to 6 to 8 months of age. They will gradually wean themselves from the milk. Put a tablespoon of sugar in the warm milk per ½ gallon. (As soon as they are Drinking really well you can start decreasing the amount of sugar) Put Puppy Chow on top of the milk It will float and this gives them additional vitamins they need as well as fiber. Capys will suck a bottle. Only a little at first and will increase as they are used to the bottle. It is very important to wash the milk from their mouths and skin after they suck the bottle. Caution!!!!! The babies are taken from their group, placed in a pet carrier and they are scared to death, very nervous and confused. Be careful if you decide to reach in the carrier to get them out…. They will bite. Do not let the capys out unless it is within a pen. They will run…they are very fast. It’s best to put the carrier in the pen and open the door. You may have to dump it out because it will hide as far back in the carrier as it can get. Remember … this wild animal will go in all directions to get away. It will hit the fence several times, settle and start walking the fence to find a way out. If they have a source of water that will be the first place it will go. If there is a sign of danger in the wild capys escape to the water. They will hide under and around objects. Do not concern yourself if they do not eat for a day. Give them a corn on the cob and they will start eating. Any fruits/veggies are fine for them to eat. They need to be fed twice a day with treats around for them to snack on if they get hungry They rest a lot during the day and are more active in the evenings. They often have runny stools… do not worry as it is what they eat. Do not grab them by the hind legs as you might dislocate a leg. Hold them with your hand and arm under their belly and hand under their neck. Cuddle them and they will settle.

get a chupacabra instead. Lol

I don't think any wild animal should be kept as a pet.

Capybaras are gentle animals and will usually allow humans to pet and hand-feed them.

It's Cute But NO.

lol umm no as it is a wild animal...

NO. They are wild animals, 4 feet long, you don't know what to feed it, and its probably illegal.

What bugs me is that people are saying "NO DONT, ITS A WILD ANIMAL. WILD ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT AS PETS" Seriously, people? So, in the beginning of time, dogs and cats were born as house hold pets? I think not. EVERY animal is meant to be wild.That is why they call it "training" an animal.

they get pretty darned big