Capybaras, Have you ever seen this?

[Kathi]

MOM & ME

Meet Caplin Rous, a large, domesticated rodent known as a capybara. "He's very needy but I love him to death," says owner Melanie Typaldos, who adopted the pet from a breeder two and a half years ago when he was just 11 days old. "He loves to lick my face and forehead and just follow me around everywhere."

Next Photo

 

With the seat down — giving him extra room to sit — Caplin enjoys a car ride, complete with a cozy blanket and hay! Typaldos says the critter loves going to public places, and can "tolerate anything."

These semi-aquatic creature usually live in forested areas near water, so they're able to take regular dips. While Caplin may not be out in the wild, he certainly appears to enjoy his supervised swims!

Coming through! The 100-lb. capybara munches on grass most of the day (the creatures are herbivores) to maintain his figure. Thankfully, Typaldos and her husband live in rural Texas, where they're surrounded by clean grass.

Typaldos has an outdoor pool and an oversized tub to satisfy her pet's need to swim. She says he loves the water, where he dunks his toys and sticks his head through an inner tube.

Caplin dwarfs guinea pig Neptune, who belongs to Typaldos's daughter, Coral. Capybaras can grow up to 4 ft. in length — basically the size of a child!

Typaldos often takes Caplin to schools to teach children about wildlife. "People hear the word rodent and they think it's some kind of a dirty word," she says. "But many of them are very smart, clean, loving animals."

OK so capybaras can't read, but this picture is pretty cute! "He's so smart and I absolutely just love him," Typaldos says. "Being with him is just a lot of fun."

 

[Brianna Henson]

iv heard of this animal. I think they are slightly cute, but would not want one as a pet.

[Wanda P]

I never thought a rodent would get so huge.  we really don;t know the story behind why she kep him, but i imagine if we learn from typaldos story, its a good thing. I mean we have men who have pet buffalo that ride in Cadillacs and allow people to get near them to experience them. As long as the animal is cared for, i don;t judge.

[Wanda P]

This site is a positive one lisbeth you have rights to your opinion, but so do we. Why do you always get on everyones case, and who is she hurting after all it doesn;t effect you. this is a positive site that Kathi enjoyed this story and she has a right to post it and others have their opinion and the right to enjoy it. Its called create dialoge for the site. U seem to have a negative comment on alot of blogs.. why??? is it necessary to be mean to everyone and be a bully. I am sick of it, if you can;t have a sense of humor about a post then don;t comment. After all its not endangered as you said, and every experience with a "captive" animal is a learning one. i highly doubt that the knowledge gained would be gained in the wild.

Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen said:

This is not a case of judgement but people keeping wild animals as pets should not be allowed to do that. They are called wild for a reason. Capivaras are not endangered they are rodents who live in the Amazon basin and river. They look endearing like huge guinea pigs unfortunatly some people can´t se an animal any animal without wanting to keep it as a pet which I find very sad and agrevating because it is unfair to the animals to keep them in conditions such as depicted above. I saw this on animal planet the same woman saying she fell for them and then she goes on to tell the rest of us they make wonderful pets without any respect for wild animals conservation and preservation of species what is going to be left for the future?. I love animals of all kinds. I grew up In Kenya East Africa so I have a profound love and understanding for animals and natural resources and habbitats.So am I being judgemental? I don´t think so. I have an opinion and I stand by it right or wrong in the eyes of others I do not think private citizens should keep any kind of exotic ( wild animals) in captivity ever. 

Wanda P said:

I never thought a rodent would get so huge.  we really don;t know the story behind why she kep him, but i imagine if we learn from typaldos story, its a good thing. I mean we have men who have pet buffalo that ride in Cadillacs and allow people to get near them to experience them. As long as the animal is cared for, i don;t judge.

[Wanda P]

No i am not dead wrong and i am not the only one that feels your mean and negative.. I read the comments clearly dear. and i have every right to mine. Is that why you lashed out at mandy about her opinion of what works for her. Really your an adult act like it, as i said many times before keep it positive, light you want to bring this site down with everything negative, can;t you laugh at something that is cute.. Just because ifs not your opinion or mine doesn;t mean you be negative. I except your desire to protect animals and love for it, but i will not pick on people just for the sake of doing it.. so i agree lets disagree, but i will always protect my friends back. always.

Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen said:

You are dead wrong. Kathi is a friend of mine and before jumping the gun as you have just done read the comments throughly It is all too easy to misunderstand written sentences if they are not read in full much of the context will be lost. You acuse me of being negative give it a rest because you are so very wrong about this and you do not know me well enough to pass that kind of judgement.So give it a rest.I am not unkind negative or unfriendly I certainly respect the rules of this site so please wrap your bad mood into a ball and throw it away. Besides I respect Kathi more than you know and I have known a lot longer than you realise. I hope this clarifies your acusations in a way that you understand.Please read all the comments from beginning to end before being judgemental yourself Thank you. If you do not agree so be it. Then we will just have to agree to disagree.    

Wanda P said:

This site is a positive one lisbeth you have rights to your opinion, but so do we. Why do you always get on everyones case, and who is she hurting after all it doesn;t effect you. this is a positive site that Kathi enjoyed this story and she has a right to post it and others have their opinion and the right to enjoy it. Its called create dialoge for the site. U seem to have a negative comment on alot of blogs.. why??? is it necessary to be mean to everyone and be a bully. I am sick of it, if you can;t have a sense of humor about a post then don;t comment. After all its not endangered as you said, and every experience with a "captive" animal is a learning one. i highly doubt that the knowledge gained would be gained in the wild.

Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen said:

This is not a case of judgement but people keeping wild animals as pets should not be allowed to do that. They are called wild for a reason. Capivaras are not endangered they are rodents who live in the Amazon basin and river. They look endearing like huge guinea pigs unfortunatly some people can´t se an animal any animal without wanting to keep it as a pet which I find very sad and agrevating because it is unfair to the animals to keep them in conditions such as depicted above. I saw this on animal planet the same woman saying she fell for them and then she goes on to tell the rest of us they make wonderful pets without any respect for wild animals conservation and preservation of species what is going to be left for the future?. I love animals of all kinds. I grew up In Kenya East Africa so I have a profound love and understanding for animals and natural resources and habbitats.So am I being judgemental? I don´t think so. I have an opinion and I stand by it right or wrong in the eyes of others I do not think private citizens should keep any kind of exotic ( wild animals) in captivity ever. 

Wanda P said:

I never thought a rodent would get so huge.  we really don;t know the story behind why she kep him, but i imagine if we learn from typaldos story, its a good thing. I mean we have men who have pet buffalo that ride in Cadillacs and allow people to get near them to experience them. As long as the animal is cared for, i don;t judge.

[Diane]

CUTE.  HE SEEMS WELL CARED FOR AND HAPPY.  I HAD HEARD OF THESE BUT DID NOT KNOW PEOPLE KEPT THEM AS HOUSE PETS TOO.  MY SISTER HAS A POT BELLIED PIG THAT USES A LITTER BOX AND SLEEPS IN THE HOUSE, SO I GUESS NO DIFFERENT.  PROBABLY A QUIET PET, NO LOUD BARKING AND EATS YOUR GRASS, AND GOOD COMPANION AND SEEMS FROM I READ TO BE INTELLIGENT. 

 

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS STORY.  I ENJOYED IT. 

[Kathi]

I had never heard of them and it totally fascinated me, I can't get over how big he is.  Potbellied pigs are supposed to be really wonderful pets, I think they are adorable.

Diane said:

CUTE.  HE SEEMS WELL CARED FOR AND HAPPY.  I HAD HEARD OF THESE BUT DID NOT KNOW PEOPLE KEPT THEM AS HOUSE PETS TOO.  MY SISTER HAS A POT BELLIED PIG THAT USES A LITTER BOX AND SLEEPS IN THE HOUSE, SO I GUESS NO DIFFERENT.  PROBABLY A QUIET PET, NO LOUD BARKING AND EATS YOUR GRASS, AND GOOD COMPANION AND SEEMS FROM I READ TO BE INTELLIGENT. 

 

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS STORY.  I ENJOYED IT. 

[Wanda P]

i think we learn so much about animals that are taken as pets as long as there loved, i think its a learning experience.. i loved the story.. love wanda

Kathi said:

I had never heard of them and it totally fascinated me, I can't get over how big he is.  Potbellied pigs are supposed to be really wonderful pets, I think they are adorable.

Diane said:

CUTE.  HE SEEMS WELL CARED FOR AND HAPPY.  I HAD HEARD OF THESE BUT DID NOT KNOW PEOPLE KEPT THEM AS HOUSE PETS TOO.  MY SISTER HAS A POT BELLIED PIG THAT USES A LITTER BOX AND SLEEPS IN THE HOUSE, SO I GUESS NO DIFFERENT.  PROBABLY A QUIET PET, NO LOUD BARKING AND EATS YOUR GRASS, AND GOOD COMPANION AND SEEMS FROM I READ TO BE INTELLIGENT. 

 

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS STORY.  I ENJOYED IT. 

[Christina Pontius]

I have seen capybara at a couple of zoos, but never as a house pet. I think they are really neat.

[Kathi]

I think he is really adorable!!!

Christina Pontius said:

I have seen capybara at a couple of zoos, but never as a house pet. I think they are really neat.

[Bullies2Love]

Whoa, I have never heard of this animal. Looks like a giant guinea pig. Not sure I care to have this for a pet. I wonder if it eats the same kind of food a guinea pig eats.

[Kathi]

I think they just eat grass, not sure though.  Still think he's cute!!!!

Bullies2Love said:

Whoa, I have never heard of this animal. Looks like a giant guinea pig. Not sure I care to have this for a pet. I wonder if it eats the same kind of food a guinea pig eats.

[Marina Trofin]

Gosh, they are really cute!