How can you tell if a guinea pig is a boy or girl?
Male guinea pigs do have nipples, so the presence of nipples alone is not enough to tell you whether you have a guinea pig boy or girl. According to GuineaPigCare.com, sows have larger nipples than boars, but the boar’s body size is somewhat larger than the females.
Why is it important to know the sex of a guinea pig?
Identifying the sex of your guinea pig can help you to prevent unplanned pregnancy if you introduce another guinea pig into the mix and let you know if you’ll need to separate a baby from its mother. Though many vets offer sexing services for guinea pigs, you can also determine the sex of your guinea pig on your own.
Can a male guinea pig change its gender?
Unlike many amphibians and reptiles, guinea pigs cannot change their gender. Male Guinea pigs can draw back their testicles, so people often think that it can change their gender but this is not true. If a guinea pig is born a male, it will die a male. The same goes for female guinea pigs.
How big does a male guinea pig get?
When they reach sexual maturity, male cavies can weigh up to around 700 grams, while adult female cavies can grow up to 450 grams. You will notice that the male’s scrotum pouches are visible just by looking at the bottom. 2. Nipples Do male guinea pigs have nipples?
How can you tell a male guinea pig from a female guinea pig?
To determine guinea pig gender this way takes a comparison, and maybe between a handful of animals. Both genitals have a Y-shape, but the male’s genitals are likely to look more like the vertical shaft of the letter i, and at the very top of that line is a speck that looks like the dot of an i.
Why do guinea pigs have to be sexed?
The procedure performed to determine the sex of cavies can also be a way to determine if they’re healthy and well. Like other small pet animals, Guinea pigs are susceptible to developing certain diseases like Wet Tail, diarrhea, and bumblefoot or pododermatitis.
What’s the best way to examine a guinea pig?
Place the guinea pig on the back or the rump, so the stomach and genital area are facing you and cradle the cavy’s back with one hand. This will make it easier for you to examine the cavy’s genitalia. Cavies dislike being on their backs for a long period of time. Try to do the examination quickly and efficiently.
When to take your guinea pig to the vet?
Go to a vet you trust and/or a vet who has examined your guinea pig before, as even knowledgeable vets can wrongly determine the sex of a guinea pig. You may also want to bring your guinea pig to the vet if your guinea pig appears distressed during the examination or reacts poorly to the exam.
Can a male guinea pig breed with a female guinea pig?
Sexing baby guinea pigs. When baby guinea pigs are first born, they are known as pups. The females are sows, and the males are boars. Like most rodents, guinea pigs are prolific breeders, and they become sexually mature and able to reproduce in a matter of weeks.
How old are guinea pigs when they are born?
The lifespan of a guinea pig is about nine years. When baby guinea pigs are first born, they are known as pups. The females are sows, and the males are boars. Like most rodents, guinea pigs are prolific breeders, and they become sexually mature and able to reproduce in a matter of weeks.
What do you call a baby guinea pig?
When baby guinea pigs are first born, they are known as pups. The females are sows, and the males are boars. Like most rodents, guinea pigs are prolific breeders, and they become sexually mature and able to reproduce in a matter of weeks.
How do I tell if my guinea pig is a boy or girl?
Swelling around a female’s genitalia can look similar to testicles, and males can be mistaken for females when they pull their testicles up into their body when they are nervous. A veterinarian experienced in small animals will be able to give you a positive identification of the gender of your guinea pig.
How do you tell the sex of a guinea pig?
Although male and female guinea fowls look very similar, it is possible to tell the sex by looking at the wattles. In adult male guinea fowls, the wattle is usually large, elongated, and folds upward toward the upper jaw.
How big do female guinea pigs get?
Full-grown females weigh between 1 1/2 to 2 pounds while adult males can weigh anywhere between 2 and 2 1/2 pounds. As for length, mature guinea pigs measure between 8 and 12 inches long.
How can you tell guinea pigs age?
With proper care, guinea pigs can live to be 5 to 7 years old. Young pigs are usually sold in pet stores, but their ages are not usually documented. While there are no ways to determine an exact age of a guinea pig short of a medical exam, a few factors that come into play can give you a rough idea.
What to do if you have a male guinea pig?
If you check your guinea pigs and find that you have a male and a female, it is a good idea to separate them immediately. You’ll have to keep your guinea pigs in two separate enclosures to prevent them from breeding until you can get your male neutered.
What do you call a female guinea pig?
Female guinea pigs are called sows. Dot is my example sow in this post. All guinea pigs have two teats like humans, so this cannot be used to determine sex. The main thing to look for when trying to identify their sex is a “y-shape” in the genital area. Male guinea pigs are called boars. Duke is my example boar in this post.
When to separate a male guinea pig from a female guinea pig?
Males can breed at around 1 month old. Therefore, you need to keep males and females separate at quite a young age. Females reach sexual maturity when they are around 10 weeks old. If you check your guinea pigs and find that you have a male and a female, it is a good idea to separate them immediately.
Can a male guinea pig live with a female guinea pig?
On the other hand, if you are looking forward to group a male piggy and female guinea pigs, this can be a great way to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Female guinea pigs usually feel calm when grouped with one neutered male so it should not be a problem. Do not place two neutered males together, since they will end up fighting a lot.
Is my guinea pig a boy or a girl?
As they grow, it will be slightly easier to tell the difference. Male guinea pigs do have nipples , so the presence of nipples alone is not enough to tell you whether you have a guinea pig boy or girl. According to GuineaPigCare.com, sows have larger nipples than boars, but the boar’s body size is somewhat larger than the females.
What is a boy guinea pig called?
Male guinea pigs are called boars, females sows and babies are called pups. They are originally native to the Andes, and while they are no longer extant in the wild, they are closely related to several species which are commonly found in the grassy plains and plateaus of this region.
What are some cute guinea pig names?
The most common pet names are popular because they are usually catchy and cute. Take a look online at the most common pet names and see if any of them fit your guinea pig. Popular names include Charlie, Tiger, and Buddy for male pets, and Bella, Lucy and Kiwi for female pets.
What is the name of a male guinea pig?
Fun Guinea Pig Facts. A male guinea pig is called a boar and a female is called a sow. Guinea pigs are able to fend for themselves from 5 days of age.
Can a male guinea pig be as sociable as a female?
Male guinea pigs are as sociable as females, as long as they are neutered and not vying for the attention from sows. And as long as there’s plenty of space for them in their hutch, males will be less inclined to wage turf wars.
How can you tell if a guinea pig is a boy or a girl?
Guinea pigs are not sexually dimorphic, and it is difficult to determine sex otherwise. In addition, male guinea pigs and female guinea pigs have genitals that may appear similar due to the lack of external testicles.
If you check your guinea pigs and find that you have a male and a female, it is a good idea to separate them immediately. You’ll have to keep your guinea pigs in two separate enclosures to prevent them from breeding until you can get your male neutered.
On the other hand, if you are looking forward to group a male piggy and female guinea pigs, this can be a great way to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Female guinea pigs usually feel calm when grouped with one neutered male so it should not be a problem. Do not place two neutered males together, since they will end up fighting a lot.
How can you tell a guinea pig from a sow?
Aside from examining their genital area, there are a few other ways you can tell boy and girl guinea pigs apart. One key difference is that boars tend to be slightly larger and heavier than sows. The difference isn’t major, but it is noticeable. Boy guinea pigs also have nipples, but they’re not as large as the nipples found on sows.
