Why is my guinea pig smaller than normal?
Technically, a guinea pig who matured to a smaller size than she was supposed to might be considered a dwarf by some people. Small size can be the result of genetics or occur due to a lack of nutrition while the guinea pig was growing.
Do guinea pigs slow down as they age?
Guinea pigs tend to slow down as they reach four or five years of age. Aging guinea pigs may develop some of the same ailments or characteristics as aging humans.
How old do guinea pigs have to be to have babies?
Female guinea pigs go through a 14-18 day cycle where they can mate and become pregnant. Females can reproduce when they are only 6 weeks old while males become sexually active when they are 10 weeks old. A female guinea pig can give birth to 2-3 babies.
Is it normal for a female guinea pig to gain more weight than a male?
During this time you may notice that males gain more weight than females. This is perfectly natural, and is not cause for concern. As a rough guide, a female (sow) will typically weigh about 20-25% less than a male (boar).
How long does female guinea pig dominance last?
Like in males, female guinea pig dominance behavior can last for different periods of time. Sometimes the behavior lasts for two weeks and other times it lasts for only two days. However, the duration may become prolonged if the female guinea pig is sick.
When is the best time to breed a guinea pig?
If you are after breeding guinea pigs, then it is good to do so when the female is still young. Breeding an old female guinea pig (between 7-12 months) for the first time can be quite stressful. This is because their pelvic bones will have fused making it hard for them to deliver.
How old does a guinea pig have to be to give birth?
While it is less important for the male pig to be a certain age at the time of breeding, the female needs to be less than 10 months old (at the maximum) in order to be able to give birth naturally.
How can you tell if a guinea pig is a male or female?
If your adult female guinea pig gave birth, you can try to determine the sex of the babies soon after they are born. Female guinea pigs will have what looks like a tiny grain of rice in their genital area. Male guinea pigs will have a white ring in this area.
How old do guinea pigs have to be to have an estrous cycle?
Female guinea pigs (sows) mature sexually as young as 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Females can have estrous or fertile periods at any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring. The estrous cycle length is 16 days.
When does a guinea pig stop gaining weight?
As they reach adulthood, this weight gain will begin to decline, and eventually stop at somewhere around 12 to 14 months old. During this time you may notice that males gain more weight than females. This is perfectly natural, and is not cause for concern.
What weight should a male guinea pig be?
between 900 and 1,200 grams
1. Weigh-ins. The most accurate way of keeping an eye on your piggy’s weight is with a gram scale. On average, a healthy male cavy should weigh between 900 and 1,200 grams and a female anywhere between 700 and 900 grams.
