Guinea Pig Information

Generally guinea pig information is available from many places, like book stores, pet stores, your local vet, and of course online. It seems that the furry little creature so many people call their pet, is still growing in popularity. From the young to the older, and male or female, the interest of having a cute, affectionate, relatively care free guinea pig as a pet is a warming idea.

Guinea pigs originated in the mountains high up in South America and in the early 16th century were brought to European countries by traders. Natives of Bolivia, Peru and Equator, initially domesticated the guinea pig for use as a food source, and this is still the case in many places today. To this day certain South American areas, consider the cute little Cavy, as a main part of their diet. Okay enough of the morbidity and onto some more Cavy friendly guinea pig information.

Spanish sailors were the first to adopt the little creatures as pets, and brought them into Europe. Since then, guinea pigs have been bred to produce as many as 13 different varieties, of all shapes and colours, and they have travelled all around the world to find homes in almost any environment imaginable. Known as “pigs” because of the squeaky noises they make, they are not actually related to pigs at all. They are in fact rodents. The name “guinea” is thought to have come from the sea route that the sailors took to get to Europe from South America. The actual scientific name for the guinea pig is “Cavia porcellus” meaning “little pig” in Latin.

They are nosey, inquisitive little creatures, with a very friendly but shy personality. They are very easily frightened and will almost certainly run and hide from any threat of danger. They generally weigh between 1 and 3 pounds, and live for up to 7 years on average. Unlike other rodents though, the guinea pig will find a mating partner and remain with the partner for the remainder of their life.

Not as agile as other rodents, most guinea pig information would have us believe that they will avoid a lot of jumping, and climbing, preferring to stay grounded and eating or snoozing. They will however travel up and down stairs when necessary and they are known for their excited little jumps when they are pumped about something.

Without having visible tails, they do have tail vertebrae, and they are born with their eyes open, with fur. First hand guinea pig information demonstrates that unlike rabbits and mice, the cute little guinea pig is not born helpless at all. Prepared by fur for the cold, and able to see immediately, they have teeth and toenails that continually grow, and they nurse immediately on mum! At birth they are so small they would fit in the palm of your hand and their feet seem extremely oversized, but after just a day or two they are already nibbling on mum’s food.

As far as all the guinea pig information will tell you is concerned, they make fantastic pets, although require a little ongoing maintenance and care. They are loving, affectionate, and great with children. If angry or provoked they will bite, but not too hard and very rarely. Overall a gained pig of any variety would have to fit into the “ideal pet” category for all ages.