Guinea Pig Origins
In trying to sort out the question where do guinea pigs originate
from it is incredible to think that the Incas tribes in Peru were the
first to domesticate this animal. The tribes used the guinea pigs for
the fur as well as for a source of meat and took great pride in trading
with the European traders such as the Dutch. When wondering where do
guinea pigs originate from it is almost amazing to see how far they have
come from the 14th century up until today where they are found not only
in Europe and North America but also virtually in all corners of the
world. |
|
Scientific Information |
| Kingdom: |
Animalia |
|
Phylum: |
Chordata |
|
Class:
|
Mammalia |
|
Order: |
Rodentia |
|
Suborder: |
Myomorpha |
|
Super family: |
Muroidea |
|
Family: |
Cricetidae |
|
Subfamily: |
Cricetinae |
|
|
| Physical Attributes: Male and female guinea pigs do not differ much
in appearance apart from general size. They can be available in variety
of colors and fur textures. They have lots of breeds and some are
short-haired, some are long-haired etc. The position of the anus is very
close to the genitals in both sexes. |
| Reproductive System: Males reach
at sexual maturity at 3–5 weeks while females can be fertile as
early as four weeks and can carry litters before they are
adults. Females can become pregnant 6–48 hours after giving
birth. |
| Caring of Guinea pigs
The first step when caring for guinea pig is that they need lots of
space to move. Make sure that the living space is around 18 inches,
wall-to-wall, and a height of 14 inches and a depth of 25 inches. When
housing these creatures in large cages the chances of these pets
becoming more active are great. Forget the thought of aquariums. These
provide very poor ventilation for the guinea pig. Also, stay away from
wire flooring, because guinea pigs have tender feet and these kinds of
flooring will hurt them. When going out and deciding on linings for the
floors and also furniture for the cages, remember that guinea pigs chew
on anything around them. Their teeth grow constantly and they do this to
wear them down. Selecting the right flooring and furniture (as long as
everything is nontoxic) is taking the right step to caring for guinea
pig. Keep in mind that you should make use of plenty of material.
Nesting materials are available a pet shops. Guinea pigs use these
materials as a bathroom and also as bedding. |
| Diet:
Timothy Hay (or grass hay) is the animal's natural diet. Alfalfa hay is
also recommended for the younger ones 4 months and younger. Guinea pigs
are herbivores (unlike hamsters who are omnivores) and like primates are
unable to produce their own vitamin C. Without enough vitamin C in their
diets, they can become very ill with scurvy. It is recommended that 1
teaspoon of vitamin C be added to 12oz of water daily. Broccoli and
cauliflower are very high in vitamin C |
