All about guinea pigs diet health housing fun facts. Learn what you need to know to help your guinea pig live a long life, and care for it from the baby stage through old. The guinea pig or cavy is a member of the rodent family with an average life span of 4 to 7 years. If you are looking for some fun and interesting facts about guinea pigs to help with a homework project or maybe you are just really interested in them, then here are 50 fun facts about guinea pigs for kids to get you started. The life span of a guinea pig is between 4 7 years the better a. If conditioned correctly, guinea pigs can be adorable pets. All you need to know about guinea pigs the spruce pets. Pdf anzccart fact sheet on the basic biology, husbandry, health, welfare and scientific use of the guinea pig cavia porcellus. It discusses why guinea pig is an excellent subject in this area of endeavor, and provides examples of the many types of otologic research applications of the guinea pig. In the 20th century, they were the most commonly used lab animal, giving rise to the popular phrase guinea pig for anyone subjected to an experiment. Some guinea pigs will freeze for a few seconds then run away quickly to hide under or behind some type of structure. Each guinea pig has five different types of hair that makes up their coat. Never leave a guinea pig unattended in the presence of a dog, cat, ferret or any other predatory animal size. There are about 9 different species of guinea pig 6.
Guinea pigs are generally hardy animals, but they are susceptible to many health problems if they are not cared for properly. Pup a young guinea pig is born fully developed with a full coat of hair and eyes open. No one seems to know why they are called guinea pigs. The world record for longest guinea pig jump was by truffles, who cleared a gap of 48cm in 2012. For more detailed information, please consult other professional resources such as your veterinarian or one of the many books available about guinea pig care. If available, pigs, who are excellent swimmers, prefer water. The book gives clear simple and pertinent information. Boar adult male reach sexual maturity at 35 weeks sow adult female can reach sexual maturity as early as 4 weeks and can carry litters before they are adults. By alina bradford live science contributor 29 april 2015. The worlds fastest 10m by a guinea pig was achieved by flash, who ran the distance in 8. Guinea pigs have 4 toes on the forefoot and 3 on the hind foot.
Know a little more about these cuddly and clever animals in the following interesting facts about guinea pigs. Raise a healthy and happy guinea pig with the help of wikihow s guinea pigs articles. It belongs to the rabbit family and is a native of south america. The first part of the name may have been derived from the price of the animal in 16th and 17thcentury englandthat is, possibly one guineaor it may have arisen from the animals being carried to european markets after first being transferred to ships in ports in guinea. When a guinea pig is about to give birth, any male guinea pigs near her will gather around and try to become the dominant male in order to both protect the female. How to have a happy guinea pig first of all rescue one, please do not go to a breeder or a pet shop there are many sanctuaries out there, including ours that have many rescued guineas waiting for a new home and if you think a guinea pig is for you read on to make sure that you know what they require in order for them to be a happy rescued guinea. Housing you need to be well prepared for the arrival of your new guinea pig. Guinea pigs are rather vocal pets that quickly become conditioned to the sound of veggies being chopped, the refrigerator door being opened and the sound of a. Guinea pigs are diurnal and most active during the day. A healthy weight of a guinea pig is between 700 and 1200g 1. The origin of the colloquial name guinea pig is a subject of much debate. If you are looking for some fun and interesting facts about guinea pigs to help with a homework project or maybe you are just really interested in them, then here are 10 fun facts about guinea pigs to get you started.
The guinea pig is a native of peru, brazil, and argentina that was domesticated by the inca indians. Guinea pigs guinea pigs welfare tips, advice, health. How to have a happy guinea pig forgetmenot animal rescue. Pig fact sheet despite their reputation, pigs have many positive attributes including cleanliness, intelligence, and a social nature. The scientific name of guinea pig is cavia porcellus and are usually called cavy. Breeding guinea pigs are not recommended as the rate of pregnancy complications are very high. Each additional guinea pig needs and extra two to four square feet.
The second way to respond to fear is to flee the scene. A guinea pig that uses this approach will stay very, very still and sometimes the animal will even hold its breath for a stretch of time. Powerpoint presentation about guinea pig tips and facts 1. Guinea pig is also slang for a person who is the first to try. The life span of a guinea pig is between 4 7 years the better a guinea pig is looked after, the longer they will live. Guinea pigs, or cavies, are social animals with a compact, rounded body shape, short legs and no tail. Spanish explorers brought guinea pigs back from the new world to europe, where they were kept as exotic pets. Fun guinea pig facts for kids interesting information about. Guinea pigs are some of the cutest and best pets that you could have. The article is fine although facts can be added like, the complete meaning of guinea pigs not only why is pig included in the name. Mar 17, 2014 powerpoint presentation about guinea pig tips and facts 1. They originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the andes mountains in south america 1. The complete beginners guide to guinea pig care and facts.
Guinea pigs continue to be an important source of meat in south america 2, have been a laboratory subject for over. Guinea pig factfile guinea pigs, or cavies, are social animals with a compact, rounded body shape, short legs and no tail. Why not view our full guinea pig factfile pdf 44kb. They will start wandering around an hour after birth and can take solid food within a day or. Powerpoint presentation about guinea pig tips and facts. Guinea pig farming is lucrative, entertaining and very rewarding at the same time. My daughter did her presentation on the care of a guinea pig. Top 10 facts about guinea pigs a guinea pig named hilary plays a major part in phoebe wallerbridges very funny and very rude onewoman play. If you are ever bitten by a guinea pig it probably means they thought there was food on your hand. Arugula is a food that can be fed to piggies every other day. In the 20th century, they were the most commonly used lab animal, giving rise to the popular phrase guinea pig for anyone subjected to.
You will find everything about those little lovely creatures here as well as rather interesting facts about them. Learn what you need to know to help your guinea pig live a long life, and care for it from the baby stage through old age. My documentszoe fileseducationguinea pig info helpful hint guinea pigs need at least two square feet of cage space including space for their hiding places and food bowls. Given that they are prey animals, guinea pigs require time, patience and a.
Guinea pig is actually a species of rodent which belongs to the family caviidae and the genus cavia. Use these fun worksheets to research and write about how to take care of a pet guinea pig. How to take care of a guinea pig fact file teacher made. My documentszoe fileseducation guinea pig info helpful hint guinea pigs need at least two square feet of cage space including space for their hiding places and food bowls. Guinea pigs life span is generally between 45 years, but may live as long as 79 years. Guinea pig classification and evolutionthe guinea pig also known as a cavy is a small species of rodent that is found inhabiting the central andes mountains in south america. Guinea pig pellets are the basis of your pets diet.
The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. Guinea pig, picture 6 of 10 az animals animal facts. This web page contains basic information for the care of guinea pigs. If you already have guinea pig or just thinking about buying one, please read about their care tips, their common health problems and so on. Aug 21, 20 guinea pigs are some of the cutest and best pets that you could have. These little creatures are also known as cavy or cuy as livestock. Guinea pigs cannot store or manufacture their own vitamin c. The oldest recorded guinea pig, snowball, lived to the ripe old age of 15, which earned a place in the guinness book of records. The guinea pig has been an extremely important animal model in physiological acoustics over the past 50 years. The guinea pig or cavy pronounced kayvee is a member of the rodent family, closely related to the chinchilla and the porcupine. Slightly smaller than oregon, the country consists of a coastal plain, a mountainous region, a savanna interior, and a forest area in the guinea highlands. They originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the andes mountains in south america. Also, clean food and water containers dailyand change their bedding once a month. Guinea pigs are active up to 20 hours per day and sleep only for short periods.
See more ideas about pig facts, guinea pigs and guinea pig care. Named after guyana where they are found in the wild and pig resembling. Poop eating although this behavior is somewhat unattractive, it is in fact. Guinea pigs have a great sense of smell, hearing and even sound however their eyesight is weak in. Your veterinarian will check your guinea pigs overall health, trim overgrown. The highest peak is mount nimba at 5,748 ft 1,752 m. A good idea for guinea pig owners is to cut some holes in a cardboard box and leave that in the cage. Breeding and reproduction of guinea pigs all other pets.
Guinea pigs are popular as pets, due to their cuddly appearance and temperate, affectionate behavior. Africa guinea the world factbook central intelligence. They should always have a friend as guinea pigs are social animals. From cage setup to a healthy guinea pig diet, create a happy home for your small pet. Guinea pigs are not really pigs, and they do not come from guinea.
The texel guinea pig originated in england in the 1980s when a silkie guinea pig was crossed with a rex guinea pig. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200 grams, and measure between 20 and 25 cm in length. Your guinea pig will love all the food you offer, but if sits in their bowl for more than four hours, its time to take it away. Some basic facts by kathy january 26, 2011 comments 1 so youve thought about what pet will work in your house, what pet your kids will enjoy, and its come down to getting a guinea pig or two. See if separation from other household pets is not an issue, an opentopped enclosure will allow you to pet and interact with your cavy more easily. Although guinea pigs are small creatures, they need plenty of space to run. Youll be asked several questions about guinea pigs, including what they eat, how long they live and what type of animal they are. Besides keeping your pets stress levels low by providing a nutritional diet, a healthy environment and proper handling, you should take your guinea pig for annual veterinary exams. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Guinea pigs feel a little shy at times, so they like having places to hide.
772 1290 1394 372 76 393 400 1254 949 1375 544 763 1130 875 896 1104 752 1027 1284 1377 613 273 1336 1032 70 181 513 1238 1132 1025 47 1061 136 861 821 927 750 850 1216 273