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Behavior and Temperament: Brazil

Capybaras are social animals native to Central and South America. They live in large groups near bodies of water and eat grasses. Capybaras are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to five minutes. They need to be housed in pairs or groups and given access to a pool or area for swimming, as well as space to graze on grass or hay. Housing should also include shelter from the sun since capybaras are prone to sunburn.
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64 views2 pages

Behavior and Temperament: Brazil

Capybaras are social animals native to Central and South America. They live in large groups near bodies of water and eat grasses. Capybaras are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to five minutes. They need to be housed in pairs or groups and given access to a pool or area for swimming, as well as space to graze on grass or hay. Housing should also include shelter from the sun since capybaras are prone to sunburn.
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Behavior and Temperament

The capybara is native to Panama and Brazil, as well as other areas in Central
and South America. In the wild, they are found in large groups anywhere there
is standing water since they have dry skin that needs constant hydration.
Capybaras like areas with plenty of grasses, which they eat and use to hide
from predators.

Capybaras are excellent swimmers, with webbed feet. They can hold their
breath for about five minutes underwater and are highly intelligent. Capybaras
need to be kept in pairs; they are highly social animals who fare poorly if
housed alone.

Male capybaras may become problematic if they are housed together (even if
they are neutered). Fights may break out if you have multiple males attempting
to live together and your enclosure is too small. Scent glands in males are
visible and located on the top of their snouts that are used to mark their
territory. The females also have these glands but they are not as developed.
Both sexes also use their anal glands for marking.

Capybaras may cover themselves in mud to help regulate their body


temperature since they don't have many sweat glands, and to protect
themselves from getting sunburned.

Hand reared capybaras are typically quite tame but if you are getting an adult
capybara as a pet you will have to be patient and move slowly until it warms up
to you. Capybaras can be nervous and shy and are very vocal with each other.
Grooming each other lessens tensions, so by offering your new capybara some
food and by combing them, you can help relax your pet.

Housing

Since capybaras should not be kept individually you will need to make sure you
have plenty of space for your rodent family. A pool of water that allows for
swimming and wading (over 3 feet deep) should be accessible at all times in
addition to a shaded area (capybaras are prone to sunburn due to their thin fur),
piles of hay, and a bowl full of fresh guinea pig pellets.

An enclosure that will allow your capybaras to move around and exercise out of
the water is also important in addition to a swimming pool. Spreading out hay
around the enclosure will help recreate natural grazing.

Items that are safe for your capybara to chew on should also be provided, such
as untreated wood, and large dog toys that can be picked up and floated.

A large fenced-in area, roughly 12 feet by 20 feet per pair, should be provided
for your capybaras in addition to a safe enclosure indoors or covered at night.
Make sure the outside fence is at least 4 feet high and that there are no gaps
that your pet can squeeze through.

Capybaras are diurnal so they need sunlight (not through a window) but if
where you live gets too cold for your capybara to be outside during the day you
will need to provide a UVB light (like reptiles need) for about 12 hours a day to
mimic the sun. Heat lights may also be necessary if their enclosure gets too
cold.

Capybaras are fairly resilient so unless it gets extremely hot or below 45


degrees Fahrenheit, they should be able to live outdoors.

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