• A guinea pig is also known as a Cavy
• A male guinea pig is called a Boar
• A female guinea pig is called a Sow
• Baby guinea pigs are generally called Pups - though I think Piglet is much better !
• The guinea pig is currently classified as a Rodent - though this is currently the subject of some debate ! They belong to the 'family' Caviidae and the 'genus' Cavia. My dictionary definition of rodent is:
  • 1. 'Mammal of the order Rodentia with strong incisors and no canine teeth eg rat, mouse, squirrel, beaver, porcupine' - what illustrious relations !
  • 2. 'Gnawing' - very appropriate !
• There are about 9 different species of guinea pig - including Cavia Aperia [the Brazilian guinea pig] - and the Cavia Magna [Greater guinea pig] - The one we are most familiar with - the domestic guinea pig - is known scientifically as Cavia Porcellus
• Porcellus is Latin for 'little pig'
• Guinea pigs originate from South America
• Guinea pigs grind their food in a front to back motion as opposed to the rabbit which grinds with a side to side motion
• In some cultures, guinea pigs are kept as a source of food
• Guinea pigs cannot make their own Vitamin C - so they must get this from their diet - hence the need for fortified pellets and fresh vegetables & fruit
• The longest living guinea pig was aged 15 years old and is listed in the Guiness Book of Records - I must look up his name !
• It is a sad fact but guinea pigs are still sometimes used as a 'test' subject in laboratories
• The guinea pig eats only plant matter - no meat or dairy etc - it is herbivorous
• Guinea pigs are herd animals - in the wild they live in large social groups led by a dominant boar - this boar is the only male in the herd who is allowed to breed with the female. It is due to this reason that problems arise when keeping more than 2 males together - especially if there are females nearby - they all want to be the dominant male
• Guinea pigs are naturally prey animals which means that in the wild they get hunted down by predators - from the ground, and the air - this accounts for their naturally cautious nature.
• They do not dig burrows or climb up trees - they generally scamper around on the ground - they can run very fast and have a low centre of gravity. They will, however, happily live in vacated burrows dug by someone else !
• Many famous people have kept guinea pigs as pets - including Princess Diana
• Guinea pigs have appeared in films & on TV ! Who remembers Rodney in Dr.Dolittle, Mr GP in Tales of the Riverbank [I still have a couple of these episodes on video - they're still great !] - and who has seen the 'Egg' adverts on TV [and in newspapers]featuring many different guinea pigs ?
• Beatrix Potter features several guinea pigs in her stories: The Head Gardener and his little helpers in 'Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes' and The Amiable Guinea Pig in 'Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes'.

• Guinea pigs have four toes on the forefoot and three on the hind foot. They have hairless soles and well-defined foot pads.

• The guinea pig increases in weight and length until about 15 months - after which, weight changes are secondary to loss or gain in stored body fat.
• The weights of mature males range from 800-1600gm and of mature females from 700-1300mm.
• The length, measured from nose tip to last vertebra, for mature males is 30-35cm and for mature females 28-32cm

• Each guinea pig has at least 5 different types of hair making up his coat, each type varying in thickness, style and distribution around the body.
• There is a small hairless area behind each ear. This area also has no sweat glands or sebaceous glands.

• Both males and females have a single pair of abdominal teats [nipples] surrounded by a hairless area. The teats in the female are longer than in the male.
• A mature guinea pig has between 256 and 261 bones.
• There are usually 13 pairs of ribs.

• An adult guinea pig has 20 permanent teeth.
  • 2 Upper (Superior) Incisors & 2 Lower (Inferior) Incisors (4)
  • Then gap called the 'diastema' - No Canines - the diastema allows the cavy to suck it's cheeks in, effectively closing off it's mouth
  • 2 Upper Premolars & 2 Lower Premolars (4)
  • 3 Upper Molars on both sides (6)
  • 3 Lower Molars on both sides (6)
• The teeth are rootless and continue growing [hence the need for hay etcfor constant gnawing].

• A female guinea pig comes into season [oestrus] approx every 14-18 days - guinea pigs are 'polyoestrus'. This is when she is receptive to a male.
• Ovulation occurs 10 hours after onset of oestrus
• A few minutes after mating a 'copulation plug' forms to prevent the sperm escaping. The plug is expelled a few days after mating - you may find this in the bedding if you have attempted to breed with 2 of your pigs - a sure sign that mating has taken place.
• Gestation is normally between 66-72 days - approx 2 and a half months.
• A litter can contain between 1-6 young. 3 is average.
• A female can continue to breed until they are 3-5 years old.
• The pubic symbiosis [the parting of the pubic bones] widen by at least 50 times it's normal width during the birthing process to allow the babies through.
• The young are born well-developed, fully haired and possess teeth.

• They can hear things that we can't.
• They quickly recognise sounds eg: rustling of the hay bag or the fridge door opening !
• They also communicate with each other (and us) using lots of different sounds which shows how important their hearing is to them.

• They use smell to communicate with each other - eg; recognising each other - they can even recognise their human companions smell ! Very much used in sexual contact and marking territory etc.
• Also, I can't get away with eating an apple in the same room, even if I eat it really quietly, they smell it straight away and off they go 'wheek wheek wheeeeeek' !

• The Guinea Pig's eyes are on the side of their head and because of this they can see in front of them and also to the side without moving their heads around.
• This large field of vision is invaluable in helping them to spot predators !
• The eyes have a combined visual field of 340 degrees !
• Can distinguish primary colours: blue, green, red and yellow

• With the aid of their whiskers they can 'sense' if they can fit through things or bump into things !

• Guinea Pigs can often taste if things are good or bad for them to eat.
• They do have definate 'tastes' in what their particular favourite foods are !

20-22 deg' C [Optimun]

Approx 550g

Approx 3-5 months

6g per 100g body weight of which 2-4g is dry food [8% of body weight]

85ml per day/adult

8ml/100g body weight

Guinea Pigs & Other Pets