Guinea pig: sizes, description with photo and care instructions

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The size of a guinea pig depends not only on the age, breed and gender of the pet. The conditions of detention also affect the height and weight of the animal. Lack of nutrients in the diet leads to growth retardation. Overfeeding and excess weight also cause serious harm to the body. How big can a pet grow at home? And how to properly care for the pig so that it develops and grows normally? We will consider these issues in the article.

Differences between wild and domestic individuals

How big do guinea pigs get in the wild? The largest individuals can grow up to 35 cm. Wild pigs differ in appearance from domesticated pets. Animals living in natural conditions have to get their own food and hide from predators. Therefore, they have a more muscular body and less weight than domestic ones. Wild animals are very hardy and capable of longrun.

For a long time there was a crossbreeding of different types of guinea pigs. This helped the animals to maintain their population in natural conditions. At the same time, large breeds of animals interbred with small ones. Therefore, in domestic guinea pigs, sizes can vary from 15 to 30 cm. This largely depends on the dimensions of their wild ancestors. In the process of selection, domestic pigs have lost their tail. They have a more rounded body than their natural counterparts.

What the size of the animal says

The following factors affect the size of a guinea pig:

• age;
• gender;
• breed;
• pet care.

Why does the owner need to know the normal size of the pet? First of all, height and weight indicate the state of he alth of the animal. Knowing the normal dimensions of the pig also helps to correctly navigate when buying a pet. By this indicator, one can judge the estimated age and purity of the breed of the animal.

Next, we will take a closer look at the factors that affect the height and weight of guinea pigs.

Gender

How big does a male guinea pig grow? Adult males can reach a body length of up to 35 cm. They weigh up to 1.5 kg. Sexually mature females are usually much smaller, their height is no more than 25 cm, and their weight rarely exceeds 1 kg.

Breed

The size of guinea pigs largely depends on the breed. In the process of selection, individuals of different heights and weights were crossed, so there are both miniature and large animals. The largest dimensions arethe following breeds of domestic guinea pigs:

• Abyssinian;
• Coronet;
• tortoiseshell;
• English Rex;
• ridgeback;
• teddy;
• kui;
• Himalayan;
• Peruvian.

These animals often weigh over 1-1.5kg.

Newborns

It is also interesting to know what size a guinea pig should be at birth. The cubs that were born have a height of 5 to 10 cm. In small breeds, the weight usually does not exceed 45–50 g, while in large breeds it reaches 100–120 g.

Much depends on the number of newborns in the litter. The more cubs a female bears, the smaller the size of each of them. Birth order also plays a role. The individuals that are born first are usually larger than the others.

The size of babies is also affected by the course of pregnancy in the female. If a guinea pig is he althy, then it can carry three large cubs, which at birth will weigh at least 100-120 g.

Babies are considered newborns under the age of 7 days. During this period, they practically do not grow.

Under 1 year old

At the age of 8 days to 1 month, the size of the guinea pig increases rapidly. The cubs are actively growing and daily gaining 4–5 g in weight. By 30 days from birth, their height reaches 14–19 cm, and their body weight is 200–400 g.

By three months, the size of the guinea pig increases by another 5-6 cm, and the weight becomes 10 times more than at birth.

Kat the age of six months, gender differences in size become noticeable. Males look larger and more well-fed. At 6 months, guinea pigs grow to a size of 20-25 cm. However, during this period, the increase in height and weight slows down somewhat.

The period from 6 to 12 months is not characterized by active growth. At this time, the animal is already considered sexually mature. It reaches full physical development and is capable of producing offspring. However, it is not worth rushing to breed pets. You should wait until the age of 10-12 months, when the body of young animals is stronger.

In guinea pigs at 6-12 months, the production of growth hormone is significantly reduced. However, the length of the pet's body can still increase by several centimeters.

When growth stops

At the age of 1.5 years, the guinea pig stops growing. The animal is considered an adult and reaches its maximum dimensions. If the pet is older than 15 months, then you can no longer expect an increase in growth.

With proper nutrition, adult gilts do not show significant fluctuations in body weight. Normally, the weight of the male is from 1 to 1.8 kg, and the female - from 0.7 to 1 kg. If the pet's body weight exceeds these figures, then the diet should be urgently reviewed. Obesity is very dangerous for these mobile and active animals.

At the age of 4, the pig begins to age. In an animal, the reproductive function gradually fades away, the previous activity disappears, and the metabolism changes. In old ageanimals often lose weight. This is a natural phenomenon. However, if you lose weight too quickly, you should pay attention to the he alth of the animal.

With good care, the life expectancy of animals at home is 6 to 8 years. Short-haired rodents generally live longer than long-haired and hairless (hypoallergenic) breeds.

Care

The size of an adult guinea pig largely depends on its conditions in childhood. The main role here is played by the diet of the animal. After all, the pet receives the substances necessary for growth from food.

In order for the pig to reach its maximum size, you must adhere to the following care recommendations:

1. Until the age of 20 days, cubs feed on mother's milk. The period of breastfeeding should not be artificially shortened. Babies who are separated from their mothers early develop and grow worse.
2. A lactating guinea pig should be given full-fat cow or goat milk and cream on a regular basis. This is especially necessary for multiple litters. Such nutrition will improve the production and quality of milk, and in the future will ensure the good growth of the cubs.
3. In the diet of growing guinea pigs, you need to regularly include vegetables and fruits, as well as dry hay. Root crops and branches of shrubs should always be in the cage. Such food will enrich the body of the cubs with useful substances necessary for growth.
4. It is useful to give young guinea pigs special supplements with vitamin C. This trace element is practically not produced in their body. Ascorbic acid deficiency leads to growth retardationanimals.

It is very important to ensure that the animal does not overeat. After all, guinea pigs are quite voracious. From the age of six months, the pet must be periodically released from the cage. Walking around the house and playing outdoor games will help prevent excessive weight gain.

The largest guinea pigs

Kui guinea pigs reach the largest dimensions. Previously, they were bred as farm animals. Currently, huge rodents are kept at home.

Kui guinea pigs can measure up to 50 cm and weigh up to 4 kg. They reach such dimensions by the age of six months. However, the content of these animals is quite complex. Rodents have a nervous character and react sharply to any stress. In addition, they are inactive and inactive. Kui is in poor he alth and has a life expectancy of only 3-4 years.

It can be concluded that it is not always necessary to strive for the pet to reach large dimensions. It must be remembered that overly large animals often have he alth problems.