My pet is a Guinea Pig (guinea pigs)!

The guinea pig is a rodent native to South America (Peru, Colombia, Venezuela) that was already bred more than 500 years ago as a pet by different aboriginal tribes. He was taken to Europe by the conquerors where his upbringing was intensified and from there he returned to America.

General Characteristics
Females weigh between 700 and 1000gr. and the males between 900 gr. and 1,300 kg., the latter presenting an area of ​​dark skin above the anus that corresponds to the presence of a territory marking gland. It lacks a tail and its teeth grow continuously throughout life, so they should be monitored if a tooth breaks or deviates to establish a treatment as soon as possible and avoid a serious health problem. They live for approximately 5 to 7 years.

There are 3 common varieties: the short-haired guinea pig (English or American), the Abyssinian guinea pig (with short, rough hair that grows in rosettes), and the Peruvian guinea pig (with very long, smooth hair). The color of the coat is very varied, with specimens of a single color and others with combinations of 2 or 3 colors. It is a very vocal animal, it makes itself heard through high-pitched screeches to demand food, water or when it feels uncomfortable due to the dirt in its house.

Behavior
It is characterized by being meek although it is always very alert. It is very rare for it to bite when faced with a strange situation or manipulation, in general the response can be immobility or, on the contrary, escape at high speed. It is very social, being able to live in a group with females, calves and other males, in which case they carry out different activities together such as eating and resting, touching each other. It does not have the habit of climbing or jumping which facilitates the design of its enclosure. If food or water is supplied in tray-type containers, most of the time, it will get inside spilling the content in addition to urinating and defecating, so it is advisable to put the food on the floor and the water in bottle-type waterers. specially designed for guinea pigs and rabbits.

A habit that it shares with other rodents is the need to eat part of the fecal matter it produces. This practice is normal and should not be prevented because that would lead to a deterioration in your health.

Accommodation
It can be housed in a cage or fish tank type enclosure (glass or plastic). The size should allow you to comfortably move both in length and width to exercise. In case of being a cage, it must be made of stainless steel, unpainted and at least part of the floor must be covered with a piece of carpet or another whole and soft element. In fish tank enclosures the bottom should be covered with a tall layer (bed) of white wood chip or as an alternative newspaper. The bed should be changed frequently to avoid excess moisture and dirt that accumulate quickly due to the habit of urinating and especially defecating many times a day. As stated in a previous paragraph, the water is supplied through a bottle trough that is hung upside down from the wall and the food is placed directly on the floor or bed.

The enclosure must be located in a quiet area, protected from cold drafts, excess humidity or direct strong sun. It is simply cleaned with water and a cloth, if a strong cleaning product is used it must be rinsed very well.

As an alternative it is possible to use a cage with the door open, allowing it to enter and exit voluntarily. When this system is used, many guinea pigs get used to urinating and defecating almost exclusively inside the cage.

Food
The guinea pig is a herbivorous animal that in the wild eats the grasses and plants that surround it and has a characteristic that is the impossibility of producing vitamin C in its body, so it needs to receive it in the diet and every day because it cannot keep it to use it in the following days.

Vitamin C is needed for many processes that occur in the body and the lack of it produces a disease called Scurvy that causes swelling and pain in the joints, bleeding and low defenses.

Vitamin C is found in green vegetables (spinach, radish, chard, lettuce, cucumber peel, etc.) and in citrus fruits. The mixes of seeds and balanced that are sold for guinea pigs and other rodents are not a guarantee of a correct supply of vitamin C since this vitamin is easily destroyed by the sun, humidity, heat and lasts for a short time.

The correct feeding of the guinea pig includes the supply of raw green vegetables several times a day, in abundant quantity, being able to eat 40 to 50% of the body weight in vegetables without causing any type of problems. Contrary to the most widespread belief, vegetables do not cause diarrhea and it is precisely indicated when diarrhea occurs, feeding fresh vegetables including freshly cut grass. Citrus fruits can induce diarrhea and are therefore not recommended as a primary source of vitamin C. Balanced guinea pig mixes can be used as a supplement but never as the sole food.

Newcomer
A characteristic of the guinea pig is its precociousness. At birth he already has all his hair grown, he has teeth, his eyes are open and after a few days he moves independently and begins to taste the mother's food. That is why it is common for him to be separated from the mother at 15 - 20 days of age to go to his new owners, being fully qualified for an independent life and receiving the aforementioned food.

It is not uncommon for the first days to be very restless and make sudden movements and small jumps that can be mistaken for a nervous disorder. This happens in a short time, aided by frequent fondling and stroking.

It is not necessary to bathe it nor does it require vaccines or preventive deworming.

Reproductive Characteristics
Sexual maturity comes between 2 and 3 months of age. It is important if you have a female and you want her to have a young, that the first pregnancy is at 7 to 9 months of age to avoid the possibility of difficulties during childbirth. Pregnancy lasts between 65 and 73 days and they do not need a nest to give birth.

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