Aren’t baby capybara the cutest? I mean, seriously, just look at that little face. With their big eyes and furry bodies, it’s no wonder that people all over the world are falling in love with these adorable creatures. If you’re thinking about getting a pet capybara, or if you just want to learn more about these fascinating animals, then read on for everything you need to know about baby capybaras!
The Basics: What is a Capybara?
First things first, let’s talk about what exactly a capybara is. Capybaras are large rodents that are native to South America. They’re semi-aquatic creatures, which means that they spend a lot of time in or near water. In the wild, capybaras can grow to be almost four feet long and weigh up to 150 pounds. But don’t worry, your pet capybara will only grow to be as big as you allow them to – more on that later.
Capybara Gestation and Birth
Capybaras have a gestation period of around 120 days, which is about four months. During this time, the female capybara will gain weight and her belly will grow larger as the baby capybaras develop inside of her.
Near the end of the gestation period, the mother capybara will build a nest out of grass and leaves in which to give birth. She will usually have one to three babies at a time, but it’s not uncommon for her to have up to seven pups.
When the baby capybaras are born, they are fully furred and able to see. They’re also able to swim, although they won’t be able to do so as well as their parents. For the first few weeks of their lives, the baby capybaras will stay close to their mother and will drink her milk. After a few weeks, they’ll start eating solid food and will become more independent.
Baby Capybara Growth and Development
Capybaras grow quickly – they can double their weight in just two months growing to nearly 90 pounds by 18 weeks. They’ll continue to grow until they’re around two years old, at which point they’ll reach their full adult size.
During their first year of life, baby capybaras will go through a lot of changes. They’ll lose their baby teeth and grow their adult teeth. Their fur will also change color as they get older – baby capybaras are born with brown fur, but it will gradually turn reddish-brown or yellowish-brown as they age.
Capybaras are social animals, which means that they do best when they live in groups. In the wild, capybaras live in herds of 10-20 individuals, but your pet capybara will be just fine living with one or two other capybaras (or even some other type of pet). Just make sure that you provide enough space for your capybaras to roam and explore. Baby capybaras are especially playful and active, so they’ll need plenty of room to run around.
Caring for Your Baby Capybara
Now that you know a little bit about what baby capybaras are, it’s time to talk about how to take care of them. The good news is that caring for a baby capybara is not much different than caring for any other kind of pet. They’ll need food, water, shelter, and love – just like any other animal.
When it comes to food, baby capybaras are not picky eaters. They’re herbivores, which means that they eat plants – no meat is required. In the wild, capybaras eat a variety of grasses and leaves. But your pet capybara will be just fine eating pellets made specifically for capybaras (you can find these at your local pet store). Just make sure to supplement their diet with some fresh fruits and vegetables so that they get the nutrients they need.
As far as water goes, baby capybaras will need plenty of fresh water to drink every day. They’re semi-aquatic animals, remember? In the wild, they would spend most of their time near rivers or lakes where they could swim and cool off whenever they wanted. But since your pet capybara probably won’t have access to a body of water, you’ll need to provide them with a kiddie pool (or something similar) where they can splash around and stay cool. Make sure to change the water every day so that it stays clean and fresh.
Providing your baby capybara with food, water, shelter, and love is really all you need to do in order to keep them happy and healthy. Just remember that these are social animals, so they do best when they live in groups. If you have the space (and the patience), consider getting two or three baby capys so that they can keep each other company. Trust me – you won’t regret it!
