Capybaras in Captivity
"Little"
Ola', hello my name is Pouco. It means little in Portuguese. I am a Capybara. "Masters of the grass ."
"Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris" family
Hyrdochoeridae are the world’s largest living rodents. My ancestors are found in South America. When
the European Naturalist visited South America
they called the capybara" water hogs or Orinoca". The name Hydrochoerus means water pig, but we are not
pigs nor totally aquatic.
Raising capybara in captivity is having the opportunity of experiencing South America in your back yard. We
adapt easily in captivity. We require
similar habitats as in the wild. Capybaras are grassland and wet land creatures, therefore our needs for grass
and water are essential for survival. The
first and utmost concern is water and we adapt to any form of water holes, wading pools, ponds, wash tubs
or an old bath tub.
I am a four year old girl. I was born in Booneville, Arkansas. When I was born I had a full set of teeth, full
body of fur, and born with my eyes open. I
was able to walk and swim very well. I nibbled grass along my mom and dad.
I was chosen to be a special family pet. I was allowed to stay with my mom for a week. This provided the
essential first milk that I needed to survive.
The first few days I had a cozy warm pen with a heat lamp, warm water to go to the bath room, fresh
vegetables and fruit to eat and a dish of warm milk
to drink. As soon as I was eating well and the weather was warn I was allowed to play in the yard. My best
friend was a little puppy who is still my best
friend.
General info for capys in captivity:
Capybara babies need to stay with their mother for at least seven days.
They require a need a clean warm area for sleeping. A heat lamp works just fine.
They need replacement milk. They will suck a bottle or will drink from a dish. A good idea is to place a hand
full of a good puppy chow on top of the milk
to make sure they get the proper essential vitamins for growth. Chopped vegetables and fruit is a real treat.
They love corn on the cob,
Capybaras are docile animals. They prefer to initiate their affections. Yes, they can and will bite. Little is a
big fat little pig, weighing in at 250 pounds
plus. She loves being petted and rubbed down. She loves to be sprinkled with the water hose and would get
in your lap.
Being very family orientated, capys bond with other animals and people.
Little was raised with a dog and yes she thinks she is a dog. She barks in her native tongue. Capybaras have
a barking sound in the wild as a form of
communication of warning of dangers.
Males or females make good pets. Pets respond to their surroundings and care. Neither have an odor if kept
clean. Male pets do not get aggressive.
Questions often asked about capys:
Can they be litter box trained? We use only the water pan as a source for bath room use. We do not keep
them in the house. They have to have water
available for their skin. They tend to have a dry fungus looking condition if they are deprived of water. This
condition can be deadly. The skin will peel
off their bodies.
Capys as a house pet? Capys have large teeth that need to be grinded, chewing is a natural instinct for
them. Their teeth will grow into their jaws and
the roof of their mouth. They love to chew on rugs, paper and wood. That antique table leg might look
inviting to them. Stop and think. A pig in the
house for a short visit is nice and makes a nice conversation but not practical. They will learn to use a dog
door. Remember, capybaras are wild animals
that have been taken from their natural environment for our pleasure. They are water hogs and they can be
messy.
Lease training: They respond to the collars and harnesses. Collars work the best with the lease. They
respond well with treats. They also respond to
your whistles.
Bottle feeding: Capys will take a bottle of milk just like the other small animals. Remember the teeth that
they have when they are born. Capybaras do
not need to be bottle fed to be a pet or pest. Little was not a bottle baby.
Capys do not dig or root the ground like pigs. They will go under, over or through any opening they find.
They are natural fence walkers.
In families of capys there is always a dominate male. They will spar with each other and bite and run the
lesser away. The real aggression comes when
one steals the babies. Every capy in hearing distance will be to the rescue and they are very fast runners. The
babies can run and dart just like a little
pig and squeal as loud. Netting is the safer source in capturing the little ones. It is safer for you and the babies.
Capybara adapt to the climates and elements. In captivity care should be given to their need of heat, shade,
and areas for birthing. All ages spend most
of the day basting in the sun and sleeping. Night time is spent roaming the area and eating.
Capys are excellent swimmers. They are equipped with special nostrils to emerge in the water for long
periods.
Reproduction: capys are considered adults as early as eighteen months of age. Gestation period is one
hundred and fifty days. Normal is two to four
births.
The oldest producer on the farm is ten years old. Little is proud to announce a new arrival in her family. She
now has a brother or sister. Her parents
are the oldest producers.
It is impossible to look at a baby capy and determine the sex. They have to be vent sexed as babies. The
males will acquire a large scent gland on the
top of their noses as adults. It is called a "morrillo".
In South America the capybara is considered a source of food for many people. Before you gag remember
that they are called “water hogs� not rats.
The meat of the capybara is white and taste and looks like pork.
The size of the capybara (125 to 175 pounds) with the tasty meat, valuable leather, medicinal use of the fat
and their high reproduction rate makes the
capybara a candidate for ranching and intense husbandry.
For further info about capybara visit our site capybaras.org
Enjoy our favorite little pet, “Little� as she has her own special page.
Mary Lee Stropes
Shad ee Shack Farm
Booneville,Arkansas
contact us
Mary Lee Stropes
Shad EE Shack Farm
Booneville, Arkansas 72927
