The guinea pig is a native of peru, brazil, and argentina that was domesticated by the inca indians. Guinea pigs, or cavies, are social animals with a compact, rounded body shape, short legs and no tail. The litter size ranges from 1 to 8 pups, but a litter of 2 to 4 is more common. The oldest recorded guinea pig, snowball, lived to the ripe old age of 15, which earned a place in the guinness book of records. These little creatures are also known as cavy or cuy as livestock. No one seems to know why they are called guinea pigs. 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 belong to the rodent family and not the pig. 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 pigs are generally hardy animals, but they are susceptible to many health problems if they are not cared for properly. From cage setup to a healthy guinea pig diet, create a happy home for your small pet.
Guinea pigs are diurnal and most active during the day. Guinea pig farming is lucrative, entertaining and very rewarding at the same time. Guinea pig is actually a species of rodent which belongs to the family caviidae and the genus cavia. 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 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. It belongs to the rabbit family and is a native of south america. For more detailed information, please consult other professional resources such as your veterinarian or one of the many books available about guinea pig care. The guinea pig has been an extremely important animal model in physiological acoustics over the past 50 years. How to take care of a guinea pig fact file teacher made. My daughter did her presentation on the care of a guinea pig. A female can give birth to up to 5 litters per year. Given that they are prey animals, guinea pigs require time, patience and a.
Fun guinea pig facts for kids interesting information about. The highest peak is mount nimba at 5,748 ft 1,752 m. There are about 9 different species of guinea pig 6. 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. Guinea pigs guinea pigs welfare tips, advice, health. How to have a happy guinea pig forgetmenot animal rescue. Guinea pigs cannot store or manufacture their own vitamin c. 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.
The second way to respond to fear is to flee the scene. 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. 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. 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. Your veterinarian will check your guinea pigs overall health, trim overgrown. The life span of a guinea pig is between 4 7 years the better a. Guinea pigs have a great sense of smell, hearing and even sound however their eyesight is weak in. Pup a young guinea pig is born fully developed with a full coat of hair and eyes open. 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. Yes, they do roll in mud, but only because they cant sweat like people do. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200 grams, and measure between 20 and 25 cm in length.
Know a little more about these cuddly and clever animals in the following interesting facts about guinea pigs. The world record for longest guinea pig jump was by truffles, who cleared a gap of 48cm in 2012. The worlds fastest 10m by a guinea pig was achieved by flash, who ran the distance in 8. In the 20th century, they were the most commonly used lab animal, giving rise to the popular phrase guinea pig for anyone subjected to. 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. Aug 21, 20 guinea pigs are some of the cutest and best pets that you could have. 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. You will find everything about those little lovely creatures here as well as rather interesting facts about them. 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. All about guinea pigs diet health housing fun facts. Incredibly stunning facts about guinea pigs pet ponder. Guinea pigs are not really pigs, and they do not come from guinea. Guinea pigs have 4 toes on the forefoot and 3 on the hind foot. If available, pigs, who are excellent swimmers, prefer water.
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. 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. A healthy weight of a guinea pig is between 700 and 1200g 1. Guinea pigs feel a little shy at times, so they like having places to hide. Each guinea pig has five different types of hair that makes up their coat. Guinea pigs life span is generally between 45 years, but may live as long as 79 years. The scientific name of guinea pig is cavia porcellus and are usually called cavy. If you are ever bitten by a guinea pig it probably means they thought there was food on your hand. Raise a healthy and happy guinea pig with the help of wikihow s guinea pigs articles. Pdf anzccart fact sheet on the basic biology, husbandry, health, welfare and scientific use of the guinea pig cavia porcellus.
Breeding and reproduction of guinea pigs all other pets. Pig fact sheet despite their reputation, pigs have many positive attributes including cleanliness, intelligence, and a social nature. Guinea pig, picture 6 of 10 az animals animal facts. Youll be asked several questions about guinea pigs, including what they eat, how long they live and what type of animal they are. Guinea pig factfile guinea pigs, or cavies, are social animals with a compact, rounded body shape, short legs and no tail. 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. A good idea for guinea pig owners is to cut some holes in a cardboard box and leave that in the cage. 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. Poop eating although this behavior is somewhat unattractive, it is in fact. Mar 17, 2014 powerpoint presentation about guinea pig tips and facts 1. 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. Powerpoint presentation about guinea pig tips and facts 1. Housing you need to be well prepared for the arrival of your new guinea pig. Breeding guinea pigs are not recommended as the rate of pregnancy complications are very high.
Africa guinea the world factbook central intelligence. How to have a happy guinea pig forgetmenot animal rescue uk 1 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. Guinea pig is also slang for a person who is the first to try. In addition, guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several west african rivers, including the senegal, niger, and. 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. The texel guinea pig originated in england in the 1980s when a silkie guinea pig was crossed with a rex guinea pig. Use these fun worksheets to research and write about how to take care of a pet guinea pig. Guinea pigs are some of the cutest and best pets that you could have. This web page contains basic information for the care of guinea pigs.
Named after guyana where they are found in the wild and pig resembling. Arugula is a food that can be fed to piggies every other day. If conditioned correctly, guinea pigs can be adorable pets. 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. All you need to know about guinea pigs the spruce pets. The guinea pig or cavy is a member of the rodent family with an average life span of 4 to 7 years.
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. See more ideas about pig facts, guinea pigs and guinea pig care. The american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. They should always have a friend as guinea pigs are social animals. Each additional guinea pig needs and extra two to four square feet. 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. They will start wandering around an hour after birth and can take solid food within a day or. Some guinea pigs will freeze for a few seconds then run away quickly to hide under or behind some type of structure. 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. Spanish explorers brought guinea pigs back from the new world to europe, where they were kept as exotic pets. 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. They originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the andes mountains in south america. Powerpoint presentation about guinea pig tips and facts. The complete beginners guide to guinea pig care and facts.
Guinea pigs are popular as pets, due to their cuddly appearance and temperate, affectionate behavior. Why not view our full guinea pig factfile pdf 44kb. Although guinea pigs are small creatures, they need plenty of space to run. Guinea pigs continue to be an important source of meat in south america 2, have been a laboratory subject for over. Never leave a guinea pig unattended in the presence of a dog, cat, ferret or any other predatory animal size. They originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the andes mountains in south america 1. 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. Guinea pig pellets are the basis of your pets diet. The origin of the colloquial name guinea pig is a subject of much debate. The book gives clear simple and pertinent information. By alina bradford live science contributor 29 april 2015. The guinea pig or cavy pronounced kayvee is a member of the rodent family, closely related to the chinchilla and the porcupine.
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