As you might be knowing that guinea pigs are a kind of rodent, also called Cavia porcellus. or Caviidae But Did you know that Guinea pigs are the world’s oldest pets? Well, that’s true.
In this article, you will get to know some interesting guinea pig facts and information, so let’s take a look.
Fun Facts and Information about Guinea Pigs:
Cavies are one of the most charming animals on the planet. Guinea pigs habitat and history is very interesting and you would be surprised to know that they were popular as Elizabethan Pets back then. Domestic guinea pigs make a great pet and you will be surprised to hear their voices when they try to communicate, its just beyond adorable. They are very social animals and like to chat with their companion by making different types of sounds.
Let’s take a look at some more amazing Guinea pigs facts about these little fuzzbutts.
Guinea Pig Facts: Characteristics
- Guinea Pigs are short-legged.
2. Cavies are mostly silent and obedient, meaning that they are easy to handle.
3. They have poor eyesight but great sense of smell and hearing.
4. Cavies can do better in groups than alone.
5. Their teeth are constantly growing so they need to grind materials like hay, grass and wooden nibblers.
6. Guinea pigs can stay active up to 20 hours a day and sleep for short periods at a time.
7. They don’t bite in a defense mechanism and if they do, it probably means they thought there was food on your hand.
Guinea Pig Facts: Traits and environment
8. Guinea pigs are rodents that originated from the Andes.
9. They are not related to pigs or guinea.
10. Guinea Pigs do not exist in wild, instead, they are domesticated animals related to species called Cavia.
11. They are commonly known as “cavies”.
12. They were wild animals originally but were domesticated by the local people many centuries ago.
13. Cavies are not found in wild now.
14. Cavies are very social and live in small herds or groups.
15. They can grow up to 30 cm in size and 2.5 lbs in weight.
16. Cavies can live up to 8 years.
Guinea Pig Fact: The world’s oldest guinea pig was 14 years and 10.5 months old named snowball. The average life of a cavy is 4-7 years.
Guinea Pig Facts: Behavior
17. Guinea pigs purr when they are happy.
18. Cavies make a whistling noise when they are excited to see their owner or when it’s feeding time.
19. Guinea pigs communicate by talking and chattering away to one another.
20. They regularly do self-grooming.
21. Cavies can jump small obstacles as they cannot climb. The longest jump record of a Guinea pig is 18.9 inches.
22. Cavies can get frightened easily and will run for cover when they sense the danger.
23. They show their dominance through biting, aggressive noises, head thrust, and leaping attacks.
Guinea Pig Facts: Food & Diet
24. Cavies are herbivores.
25. Guinea Pig diet is mainly grass, fresh vegetables, and fruits.
26. Alfalfa is also a food choice among them.
27. They need vitamin C in their diet as they can’t produce it naturally.
Related FAQs
Q. Are guinea pigs good starter pets for kids?
A. First thing first, we highly recommend getting a guinea pig as a pet because they are just so adorable. But don’t take them as practice tests for your kids because why an animal suffers in order for a child to learn responsibility. Caring for Guinea pig require more time, commitment, and money. Guinea pigs can become sick, get injured or even die if not taken care of properly.
Q. Do guinea pigs like to be held?
A. Although they are very social in nature but they won’t like it if you hold them too often or too long specially when you are new to them. You should start with introducing yourself, making them comfortable by offering some food and then slowly try to hold them in a right way.
Q. Why are guinea pigs called that?
A. The ports in either Guiana in South America or Guinea in Africa may have inspired the “Guinea” portion of the name. There are some beliefs that they made sound like baby piglets so the later portion comes from there.
Q. How many guinea pig should I get?
A. You should always get them in a pair i.e. minimum 2. They need a companion in their life to have some fun and chats. Remember not to keep male with female. Always go for same-gender when keeping them together.
Wrapping up
So these were all the fun Guinea pigs facts which you just learned. Remember guinea pigs are prey animals so you should ensure their safety first no matter what. They like to play and run wild n free so try to give them ample amount of space or floor time.
Also i would like to add that you should only get a guinea pig if you are ready for some extra duty. And once you get guinea pigs, I am sure you will be all hearts for it!
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