9 Guinea pig facts you should know
14th Feb 2024 Animals & Pets
3 min read
Guinea pigs are popular pets and many of us have them in our
homes and gardens, but how much do we know about these cuddly herbivores?
1. Domestic guinea pigs don’t live in the wild
The pet guinea pigs we know and love are descendants of wild guinea pig species
that live in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes in South America. These wild "cavies" were originally domesticated as an easy supply of meat and used for
religious ceremonies, which archaeological records suggest began as far back as
500AD, possibly even earlier.
They live in grassy areas and travel through the
vegetation in a tunnel network, seeking shelter in hiding places such as rocky
crevices and other animals’ empty burrows.
2. Their teeth never stop growing
Guinea pigs are always eating, helping their teeth to stop overgrowing. Credit: Pete F
Guinea pigs are grazing animals and need a constant supply of hay as the tough
fibres prevent their teeth from overgrowing. Overgrown teeth are not only
painful but can result in them not being able to eat. When guinea pigs stop
eating properly, they are at risk of gut stasis, where their digestive system
stops working.
"Guinea pigs always need to have food moving through them, and any interruption to this is very serious"
Guinea pigs always need to have food moving through them, and
any interruption to this is very serious. Without vet treatment it can be fatal,
so a constant supply of fresh hay is essential.
3. They don’t come from Guinea and they’re not pigs
There are several theories about where they got their name from. Some believe it
comes from the cost of a pet guinea pig when the sailors came home from their
travels, one guinea. The name "pig" may have come from their other use as
livestock for food.
They have similar names in several other languages, with cochon
d’Inde in French and conejillo de indias in Spanish both referring
to pigs, and the charming German translation of Meerschweinchen as "sea
piggy", possibly referring to these little animals being originally brought to
Europe over sea.
4. Not only cats purr
Guinea pigs purr, squeak, cluck and bounce! Credit: Pete F
Guinea pigs use a range of vocalisations and behaviours to communicate, one of
which is purring. They purr when they’re happy, rumble when they’re annoyed,
and "wheek" in excitement at the prospect of food.
A bright clucking noise can
often be heard when pet guinea pigs explore a nice clean home, and they bounce
when they’re excited, known as popcorning.
5. Their babies are fluffballs
Unlike baby hamsters, guinea pig babies come out completely
covered in fur! Guinea pigs are a "precocial" species, one which is well
developed at birth, which gives them a head start compared to other rodents
such as hamsters, who enter the world with no fur.
Guinea pig mums usually give
birth to between one and six pups at a time, and they arrive already mobile and
ready to get going.
6. They have more bones in their bodies than we do
Even though they are far smaller than us, guinea pigs have around
258 bones in their bodies, compared with the 206 found in adult humans.
"Guinea pigs have around 258 bones in their bodies, compared with the 206 found in adult humans"
Although
most guinea pigs have reached their adult weight by their first birthday, it
can take even longer for their bones to be fully developed.
7. They usually sleep with their eyes open
When guinea pigs aren't eating they're often snoozing... but with their eyes open! Credit: Kittie MU
Although it’s disconcerting to see a guinea pig sprawled out
with their eyes wide open, it makes a lot of sense for some prey animals to look
alert even when napping.
Being ready to dash off in an instant is a useful skill,
as the last thing a guinea pig wants is to become a tasty snack for a predator
while snoozing, so they often look less than relaxed when having forty winks.
8. It’s illegal to keep them on their own in some countries
Guinea pigs are sociable animals, whose wild counterparts
live in herds, often consisting of one boar (male) and a harem of five to ten
sows (females). They suffer from loneliness when kept alone so it’s kindest to
keep them with other guinea pig companions.
"In 2008, animal welfare legislation in Switzerland made it illegal to keep a guinea pig on their own"
This is so important that in 2008,
new animal welfare legislation in Switzerland made it illegal to keep a guinea
pig on their own. As a result, matchmaking services have sprung up to help
owners of bereaved guinea pigs find another single cavy looking for a friend.
9. Guinea pig food only goes one way…
Although a guinea pig’s stomach is always full of food, it’s
impossible for them to vomit due to the muscles associated with digestion, so
what goes in one end must come out the other!
Guinea pigs are very good at
hiding illnesses, not wanting to advertise any weakness to potential predators,
so it’s important to be familiar with their behaviours to pick up anything that
doesn’t seem right as early as possible. A good habit to get into is regularly
weighing your guinea pigs, as rapid weight loss can indicate health problems
that need to be checked by a vet.
Banner photo: Jaroslaw Slodkiewicz
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