Thinking of adopting a pet but don’t want it to be a cat or a dog? How about adopting a cute guinea pig? Well, Guinea pigs are amazing pets. They enjoy a lifespan of several years, so you as a pet owner can enjoy their company much longer than most other rodents. They have various personalities and are very vocal, making it easy for the owners to know their identities and preferences and then get attached. They are very playful and entertaining. Guinea pigs make great pets. They are the most exotic pets for first-time pet keepers or large families.
However, there are several things to keep in mind before deciding to pet a guinea pig. Let’s read the article further to know better.
Table of Contents
DO GUINEA PIGS HAVE TAILS?
In case you want to adopt a guinea pig and thinking “do guinea pigs have tails” then the answer is a NO! They don’t have a tail. This is because maybe the forefathers of guinea pigs were once rats like living beings with tails. And because of the environment in which they survived, shorter tails had a better survival advantage over long ones, so each generation tended to get a shorter tail until the tails disappeared. Now that you have got your answer for “do guinea pigs have tails”, let’s move on further with other facts!
WHEN DO GUINEA PIGS STOP GROWING?
As a guinea pig owner, you might have wondered,” when do guinea pigs stop growing?”. Well, the answer is Guinea pigs usually stop growing when they are 14 months old. They generally reach 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) in length and between 1.5-2.6 pounds in weight when fully grown.
A guinea pig is not said to be a grown adult until it is six months of age, but they are not fully grown at this time. Most pigs keep growing until they are about 14 months old, and as they get closer, the growth speed slows down until they are not growing a great amount anymore. Hence, It can be tough to estimate a guinea pig’s correct age if you haven’t kept them since they were little approximately.
CAN GUINEA PIGS CLIMB?
The most common question asked by individuals is, “can guinea pigs climb”? Well, the answer is YES, THEY CAN! They are not that active as rats or hamsters, but they are very active. They love climbing steps for finding a place to sit to take a look at the environment.
WHY ARE THEY CALLED GUINEA PIGS?
If you ever owned a guinea pig or planning to get one, you might be wondering, “Why are they called guinea pigs”?. Hence, concerning this context, the answer is possible is that many individuals believe that the ‘pig’ portion of the name comes from the squeaky noise they make. The word ‘guinea’ originated from the term guinea, which was an old English coin. The history of the name guinea pig is super complicated. Thus, no precise answer to “why are they called guinea pigs?”, exists.
Note: Despite the common name, the guinea pigs are not native to Guinea.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
Guinea pigs are among those easy-going rodent pets that enjoy exotic popularity and care. They enjoy bonding with people who take their utmost care and can’t stop cuddling them. Overall, they are cordial and warm pets one can have. Hence, make sure to keep your Guinea pets safe and comfortable in your company. Provide them with the best you can afford. All they need is love, care, and affection. This article provides you with all the basic details about a guinea pig.
