Capybara
Estimated Value: $1,100
Other Pet Expenses: veterinary bills ($1,000 per year), enclosure with pool ($2,000), food
Able to grow up to four feet and weigh in at over a hundred pounds, capybaras are the largest living rodents. They are also known as carpincho, water hogs, or giant hamsters. They eat six to ten pounds of food each day. You can obtain a license to buy one in Texas or Pennsylvania for $1,100, but it’s not legal to own a capybara in some states. The capybara is a gentle and friendly animal who loves to interact with humans. To keep a capybara happy and healthy, it will need a place to swim as often as possible.