What Do Capybaras Eat? A Look Into the Herbivore Lifestyle
Capybaras may look like potato-shaped Buddhas, but don’t let the chill fool you — their diet is serious business.
Grass Is Life
Capybaras are hardcore herbivores. About 75% of their diet is grass. Not fancy kale or microgreens — just plain, wild grass. They’ll munch on it for hours. It’s their comfort food, power fuel, and probably their love language.
Snack Rotation
When grass is scarce, capys pivot like champs. They’ll go for:
• Aquatic plants
• Fruits and berries
• Tree bark (yes, they’re that committed to fiber)
• Sugar cane if they’re feeling cheeky
The Secret Sauce: Poop
Yes, you read that right. Capybaras practice coprophagy — they eat their own poop. It’s not gross (for them), it’s just efficient. Their first digestion pass doesn’t extract all the nutrients, so round two gets the job done.
What They Don’t Eat
Despite being chill with basically every animal on Earth, capybaras don’t eat meat. They’ll vibe with a crocodile but won’t even nibble a bug.
TL;DR Capy Diet
• 🥬 Mostly grass
• 🪴 Aquatic plants
• 🍎 Fruits, sometimes
• 💩 Poop, proudly
• 🍗 Never meat
Capybaras: living proof that you can thrive on salad, sun, and strong community.