News
World's largest pet rodent is an internet star
Copyright © Melanie Typaldos
A pet capybara, named Caplin Rous, has become an internet star with his own blog at gianthamster.com, a Facebook page and a Twitter stream with over 3,000 followers.
Caplin, who weighs around 100lb, lives with his owner Melanie Typaldos in her home town of Buda, Texas, where he goes for walks on a lead, swims in her pool and does tricks. He used to accompany her into work until someone complained there was a furry, pig-like animal in the building.
The two-and-a-half-year-old rodent was bred in captivity and has been with his owner since he was 11 days old. According to Melanie, captive-bred capybaras need to get used to their owners from a very young age.
But she warns anyone thinking of getting a pet capybara that, while they make good pets, they have a tendency to bite.
Caplin Rous's name is a reference to the movie The Princess Bride, which featured the fearsome Rodents Of Unusual Size in a key scene.
Published: Neil Pope Thursday 18 February 2010, 1:09 pm
Views: 733 times
Filed under: pets rodent Facebook Twitter
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