Where To Buy Capybara Pets In The U.S (Full Guide) (2024)

Where Can You Buy Capybara Pet?

You can purchase one in South or North America, preferably from a zoo. This is because you want to buy them from a breeder who takes adequate care of them. You don’t want to buy them only to discover a few weeks later that they have an infection, a disease, shortage of blood, or and other problems that might shorten the life span of your young friend.

FIND OUT MORE: Where Is It Legal To Own A Capybara Pet In US

Do your research and question your sellers about their routine. Make sure that your capybara is healthy and active at the time of purchase. Remember, they are not timid animals. If it is possible you might request a test result from a veterinarian just to make sure that your mind is clear on what you are dealing with.

Capybara can be a great host for parasites, there are some checks that should be conducted and your human eye will be of little or no help to you. Confirm legality first, then proceed to buy from a licensed zoo.

How To Get A Capybara Pet?

You can get one by purchasing it from a zoo around you or you might need to order them online if they are not popular in the area you live in.

How Much Does It Cost Buy A Capybara?

Purchasing a capybara should cost you anywhere from a thousand to three thousand dollars. And you should know that you cannot purchase only one at a time. You will need to buy at least two at once. Females cost more than males. With six thousand dollars in hand, you should get you two or three of them.

In This Video You Will Come To Know That Capybaras Can Be Domesticated

Can You Buy A Capybara In The US

Although it might be rare, you should get them in the United States depending on the legality of the location. In some states, they are illegal to own and breed as pets and in some, it is completely legal. In some other states, you will need to request a special permit from the polar authorities before you can domesticate one.

Once you have confirmed the legality status of the state, it is possible to purchase a capybara in the state or you can still order it if it is not available in your current state.

Capybara For Sale In Florida

The state of Florida lists capybara as class three wildlife and does not mandate its citizens to obtain any permit to be able to breed them as pets. But it requires a permit for any individual to be able to exhibit or sell them in the state. With these at the back of the mind, there are capybaras for sale in Florida.

ESSENTIAL: Complete Beginner’s Guide To Grooming A Capybara As Pet

But you have to make sure that you are purchasing one from a person or an organization that obtained a permit and has the necessary requirements to sell a capybara. This will ensure that you will not be caught up in an illegal mess. Any transaction with unauthorized personnel will surely bring the wrath of the law.

Capybara For Sale In Pennsylvania

Yes, there are capybaras for sale in the state of Pennsylvania. It is completely legal to adopt and breed a capybara in the state. And there are no permits required to sell them in the state of Pennsylvania. Although there are some restrictions to owning them in the state. For example, there are restrictions on the amount one can purchase when they are looking forward to breeding them as pets.

Is Buying And Selling A Capybara Illegal?

The legality depends on the location. In some states, it is illegal to buy, sell or own a capybara. While in others it is completely legal, in others you have to obtain a permit from the local authorities before you can own one. It all depends on the location. Before you engage in whatever business with capybaras, make sure that you check the local laws so as to avoid any trouble.

Is Buying Capybara In The United States Illegal?

While some states will welcome the idea of keeping a capybara as a pet with open arms. Some others repudiate the idea because capybaras are seen as wild animals in those states and as such, they should be left alone to roam and enjoy life in the wild. READ MORE: Where Is It Legal To Own A Capybara Pet In US

Although I will always advise checking the local laws wherever you find yourself because laws change over time. But I will list some of the locations where it has been confirmed illegal to own a capybara as of September 2021. As of the time of writing this article, Georgia and California have been confirmed to repudiate any form of buying, selling, or breeding capybaras.

Important Facts To Know Before Purchasing A Capybara

Health Issues

Just like every other animal out there, there are some potential health issues that you should watch out for. Paying special attention to these symptoms from the onset because they might indicate or metamorphose into something lethal in the future.

MUST KNOW: Can Capybaras Be Kept As Pets? (Domesticating Capybaras)

Below are some common health issues that plague capybara from time to time.

1. Blood Shortage:

As mammals with much fur, it is no surprise that ticks and other blood-suckinginsects love to use them for food. In the wild, their backs serve as a sitting stool for some birds. Who feed on those insects while resting.

But if you adopt one and take them far away to a place where those birds cannot reach. You have to check their bodies from time to time to make sure that there are no parasites in their fur. Failure to do this periodically might lead to a blood shortage.

2. Digestive Problems:

Capybaras can be described as bigger guinea pigs with a huge appetite. If your pet were to suddenly exhibit a loss of appetite. That might be an indication that there it might be facing digestive problems or something bigger. Why do they have digestive problems?

They do so because grass and some other plants they consume regularly are very hard to digest and in some cases if they don’t digest them twice it might turn out to be a bigger problem. This is why they eat their poop because it helps them digest their food twice. You might need to give them some drugs to help them digest their food with ease should they face this problem while in your care.

3. Tooth overgrowth.

Naturally continuous teeth growth is normal in rodents and capybaras as rodents have that trait that is why they chew on everything as it helps them keep their teeth sharpened.

LEARN NOW: How To House Train A Capybara (8 Mandatory Requirements)

Most capybaras have overgrown teeth that may even touch their gums and impair their eating pattern. Although the overgrown teeth can be trimmed to a reasonable healthy size.

4. Respiratory infections.

Capybaras are also affected by upper and lower infection respiratory infections. Some form of severe Obstructive respiratory disease can even lead to the death of your pet capybara if not well treated.

5. Vitamin C deficiency.

Lack of vitamin C in the meals of capybaras causes scurvy (Deficiency of ascorbic acid). So to ensure your capybaras are healthy you have to supply a good quantity of vitamin C in their diets.

Conclusion.

I hope you had an interesting read and you were able to find answers to all your bugging questions.
Before I end this let me go over some important points stated in this write-up.
• Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They are cousins to guinea pigs.
• They can weigh up to sixty-seven kilograms and grow up to four feet in length.
• They are pretty good swimmers and semi-aquatic in nature.
• They are herbivores.
• Their incisors never stop growing and it will turn into a length problem if it is not taken care of.
• They like to cuddle, they might be shy at first but if they get used to having you around they will warm up to you.
• It is not legal to own a capybara in all areas. In some places, it is illegal to buy, sell or breed them. In others, you will need a permit from the local authorities before you can domesticate them.
• Buying a capybara will cost you anywhere from one to three thousand dollars and the females are usually more expensive.
• They need a lot of space as well as a pond that should be about three feet deep because they need to stay dehydrated. With this, I have come to the end of this article. Thank you and good luck.

This video will show you the best fruits you should feed capybara with

Do you have any questions after reading this post? kindly ask using the comment section below and we will fastly attend to it. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to share this with someone.

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Where To Buy Capybara Pets In The U.S (Full Guide) (2024)

FAQs

How do you get a capybara as a pet? ›

California. California doesn't allow any non-native wild animal to be a pet unless otherwise instructed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Is owning a capybara easy? ›

A capybara is a large rodent native to Central and South America. Although people claim they are good pets, such a capybara pet will have significant, unique needs that are difficult to meet. They are social animals who must live with other capybaras for their physical and psychological health.

Are there capybaras in the United States? ›

Presently, there is a relatively small population of capybaras thriving in north-central Florida in the United States. There have been sightings of them as far south as Cape Coral, however.

How many capybaras are left? ›

Download Table Data
CountryCapybara Population
Brazil1,200,000
Colombia800,000
Venezuela600,000
Bolivia400,000
5 more rows

How old can a capybara be? ›

They can have a lifespan of 8–10 years, but tend to live less than four years in the wild due to predation from big cats like the jaguars and pumas and non-mammalian predators like eagles and the caimans. The capybara is also the preferred prey of the green anaconda.

Do you need 2 capybaras? ›

They are social creatures that do best in pairs, so you would need to purchase and house a pair of them, either two females or a male and a female; two males, even if they're neutered, may be aggressive toward each other. Unless you're able to carve out this kind of living situation, a capybara is not for you.

Can capybaras bark? ›

Capybaras are incredibly vocal animals and communicate using barks, chirps, whistles, huffs, and purrs. They chatter back and forth to keep track of one another. A warning bark is their first line of defense. If one animal feels threatened, the whole group barks until danger has passed.

Are capybaras aggressive? ›

Capybaras are generally not considered dangerous to humans. In fact, they are known for their gentle and social nature. Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world, and they have been kept as pets in some places.

What states can you buy a capybara? ›

Other than Texas, there are a few other states where owning a capybara pet is legal, most notably Washington, North Carolina, Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Florida, and Tennessee.

What problems are capybaras causing? ›

Local residents have reported that the robust rodents, which can reach over 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and weigh up to 174 pounds (79 kilograms), have been pooping in gardens, destroying flower beds, causing traffic accidents and allegedly biting pet dogs, although capybaras are not known to be aggressive toward humans ...

Are capybaras friendly? ›

These furry creatures are native to South America and can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. Despite their size, they're actually very docile and are often kept as pets. In fact, they're known for being one of the most friendly and social animals in the rodent family.

What is the longest lifespan of a capybara? ›

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

The oldest females found in the same study were 6 years of age and the oldest males were 7 years of age [0747]. Other estimates and anecdotal reports suggest these animals may live up to 10 years in the wild [0434]. One captive specimen lived for 15.1 years [0671].

What is the nickname of the capybara? ›

Quick Facts. Capybaras are excellent swimmers, hence their nickname, water pig. They have partially webbed feet, their front legs have four toes and their hind legs have three.

Do capybaras lay eggs? ›

The capybara reproduces once a year when conditions are right. Females give birth to live pups, in litters of about two to eight.

How much does a pet capybara cost? ›

The cost of these creatures runs about $1,000 to $3,000. Females are usually more expensive. Keep in mind, you have to buy at least two. First, make sure there is an exotics veterinarian in your area who has experience treating large rodents like capybaras.

Is it OK to pet a capybara? ›

They would probably run away from you, but, in case it didn't, NO, do not attempt to “Pet It” as a wild animal could befriend humans, then they would be a easy prey for the not so ethical humans.

Are capybaras friendly pets? ›

These furry creatures are native to South America and can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. Despite their size, they're actually very docile and are often kept as pets. In fact, they're known for being one of the most friendly and social animals in the rodent family.

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