Capybaras are herbivores. They mostly eat grasses and aquatic plants, along with some fruit and tree bark, according to Wikipedia. The San Diego Zoo says an adult eats 2.7 to 3.6 kg (6 to 8 pounds) of grass a day, and that three-quarters of its diet comes from just three to six kinds of plants. They also eat some of their own droppings, which sounds odd but helps them digest all that grass.
What do wild capybaras eat? #
Grass is the staple. Capybaras live in savannas, wetlands and forest edges near rivers, lakes and marshes, and they graze on grasses that grow along the water. Water plants make up a large share too. Fruit and bark round things out.
| Food | Role in the diet |
|---|---|
| Grasses | The main food, eaten in large amounts every day |
| Aquatic plants | A big part of the diet, easy to reach from the water |
| Fruit | An occasional extra |
| Tree bark | An occasional extra |
| Their own droppings | Helps them digest grass (more below) |
They’re picky in one sense. Even though plenty of plants grow around them, most of what a capybara eats comes from a small handful of species.
How much does a capybara eat in a day? #
About 2.7 to 3.6 kg (6 to 8 pounds) of grass a day, per the San Diego Zoo. For an animal that usually weighs 35 to 66 kg, that’s a lot of chewing, which is why they spend so much of their waking time grazing. For more on their size, see how big do capybaras get.
When do capybaras eat? #
Mostly later in the day and through the night. Wikipedia describes a typical daily routine: capybaras rest on dry land in the morning, spend the hot early afternoon in the water to stay cool, then graze from late afternoon through the night until sunrise. National Geographic adds that they’re often active at dawn and dusk, and that their timing shifts with the season and with how many predators are around.
Why do capybaras eat their own poop? #
Grass is hard to digest. It’s full of cellulose, which the animal’s own body can’t break down well. Capybaras eat some of their own droppings to take in the gut bacteria that do that work, a habit called coprophagy.
National Geographic notes they do this in the morning, because those droppings are rich in protein from the huge number of microbes in them. It’s a second pass at the same meal, and it gets them far more nutrition from grass than a single trip through the gut would. Rabbits and many other rodents do something similar.
How do capybaras chew? #
Side to side, the way a camel does, according to the San Diego Zoo. That grinding motion wears their teeth down constantly, and it’s balanced out by teeth that never stop growing. Wikipedia notes that both a capybara’s front teeth and its cheek teeth grow continuously, which is how they keep up with a lifetime of tough grass.
It also explains why a steady grazing diet matters for capybaras in zoos and in human care. Without enough rough plant material to chew, their teeth can overgrow.
Do capybaras eat meat? #
No. Capybaras are strict herbivores. They don’t hunt, and they don’t eat fish or insects. The bacteria they get from their own droppings are the closest thing to an “animal” part of their diet.
What about capybaras in hot springs with oranges? #
Famous videos from Japan show capybaras soaking in hot baths with citrus floating around them. That’s a bath, not a meal. The Izu Shaboten Zoo has run winter baths for its capybaras since 1982, often with yuzu, a Japanese citrus, floating in the water. The yuzu bath comes from an older Japanese custom of floating yuzu in baths on the winter solstice. Wild capybaras aren’t known for eating citrus, and the fruit in their natural diet is only a small extra.
Feeding a capybara you can’t overfeed #
In Chill Capy, a virtual pet game about a capybara who lives in a hot spring, the snack shelf takes its cue from real capybaras. Fresh Grass is the cheap everyday meal (“He is a large rodent,” the game notes), with Crunchy Lettuce, Corn Cob, Watermelon Wedge and a big Grass Roll for bigger appetites. He won’t eat once he’s full. Our capybara virtual pet game guide explains the rest of his care. For how long real capybaras live on that grassy diet, see how long do capybaras live.
Frequently asked questions #
Are capybaras herbivores? #
Yes. They eat only plants, mainly grasses and aquatic plants, plus some fruit and tree bark. They don’t eat meat, fish or insects.
How much grass does a capybara eat? #
About 2.7 to 3.6 kg (6 to 8 pounds) a day, according to the San Diego Zoo. Most of it comes from just three to six plant species.
Why do capybaras eat their own droppings? #
To take in gut bacteria that help them break down the cellulose in grass. Their morning droppings are especially rich in protein from all those microbes, so eating them gives them a second pass at their food.
Do capybara teeth keep growing? #
Yes. Like other rodents, their front teeth grow continuously, and so do their cheek teeth. Constant grazing and side-to-side chewing wear them down at about the same rate.
When do capybaras eat? #
Mostly from late afternoon through the night. They usually rest in the morning and cool off in the water during the hottest part of the day.