Kinds Of Guinea Pigs:
Wild guinea pigs live on mountains and grasslands in Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay. There are many kinds of guinea pigs: smoothed hair, Peruvian, black Peruvian, Abyssinian, English, Dutch, English spotted, Himalayan, Japanese, monochrome, Russian, tortoise-shell, tricolor, and the satin guinea pig. Guinea pigs are called cavies. A female guinea pig is called a sow and a male is called a boar.
Size, Life Span, Weight, etc.:
Guinea pigs can live 1- 4 years. They weigh about 1- 4 pounds and are about 8 inches long. They can be brown, white, black, and sometimes red. Females have about 6 young in one litter. Guinea pigs have 3 toes on their back feet and four on their front feet. Wild guinea pigs can leap 29 and a half inches in the air.
The picture above is a picture of a female and male guinea pig.
Eating Habits:
Wild guinea pigs don't eat meat, they are vegetarian. Wild and pet guinea pigs like to eat leaves, hay, grass, flowers, chickweed, meadow horse tail, and especially clover. Pet guinea pigs should be fed twice a day. Healthy foods for a pet guinea pig are: carrots, lettuce, and other foods from pet stores. Use water in a bowl so it stays fresher. Do not feed you pet guinea pig these foods because they are poisonous: autumn crocus, fools parsley, elderberry, toad flax, foxglove, buttercup, ragwort, deadly or black nightshade, laburnum, yew plants, and hemlock bark.
Predators and Dangers:
Wild guinea pigs have many predators. Their most fierce predators are probably wild cats, coyotes, and wolves. Some other predators are snakes, humans, hawks, and owls. Dangers for a pet guinea pigs are fierce cats and dogs, human feet, hot objects, electric wires, the sun, doors, poisonous foods, and falling off tables and balconies.
Communication:
Guinea pigs communicate by body language, making high pitched sounds, making gurgling sounds, grunts, growls and rumbling sounds. The only sound that a guinea pig makes for a human is a quite high pitched sound that sounds like a tea kettle. That sound usually means it wants food. If a guinea pig makes a growling grunt to another guinea pig it is a welcome. If a weak guinea pig makes a rumbling sound and puts his head down to a stronger guinea pig that is a welcome too. If a guinea pig leaps into the air it means it has good spirit.
What To Do On Vacations:
When you go on vacations without your guinea pig be sure your guinea pig has plenty of water, food, hay, and a clean cage. Make sure your guinea pig's cage is closed before you leave. If you go on a long vacation without your guinea pig you should ask someone to watch your guinea pig until you get back. When you take your guinea pig with you on a trip make sure you check with the hotel owner about bringing your guinea pig inside. If you do bring your guinea pig with you on a vacation, use a traveling cage from a pet store. Don't let your guinea pig be in too much sunlight.
Guinea pigs mostly live in South America.This map shows where most wild guinea pigs live.
