Identified for his or her luxurious locks, the Peruvian guinea pig is the “hippie” guinea pig with a character to match. Among the many sweetest of cavies, the Peruvian guinea pig is a well-liked pet, however they’re not proper for everybody. Peruvian guinea pigs have a lot greater upkeep grooming wants than your commonplace cavy, in order that they’re not supreme for a first-time guinea pig proprietor.
Questioning if the Peruvian guinea pig is best for you? Right here’s every thing it’s essential learn about this breed’s temperament, well being, and necessities.
| Measurement: | Massive |
| Weight: | 1 to three lbs |
| Lifespan: | 4–6 years |
| Comparable Breeds: | Abyssinian guinea pig, Sheltie guinea pig |
| Appropriate for: | Skilled rabbit house owners with different rabbits |
| Temperament: | Candy, easygoing, pleasant |
The Peruvian guinea pig is without doubt one of the oldest guinea pig breeds on file. They originate from South America however didn’t grow to be widespread pets till across the sixteenth century when French European merchants shipped them from Peru to Europe. Now, they’re acknowledged by each the American Cavy Breeders Affiliation and the British Cavy Council.
Peruvian Guinea Pig Traits
How A lot Do These Guinea Pigs Price?
As one of many extra widespread cavy breeds, Peruvian guinea pigs are plentiful on the pet market. They could be a little dear, although. For comparability, the American guinea pig, one of the frequent short-haired guinea pigs, prices round $25. The Peruvian guinea pig instructions costs round $40 or $50, very similar to the opposite long-haired Alpaca and Abyssinian guinea pigs. They’re broadly out there from breeders and pet shops, however chances are you’ll discover them in rescues or shelters as properly.
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Temperament & Intelligence of the Peruvian Guinea Pig
Like different guinea pigs, Peruvian guinea pigs are extremely delicate, perceptive, and clever. They’ll be taught methods and are available to their title when known as. They’ll establish their people by odor, sight, and sound, and remarkably, they’ve the emotional intelligence to know when their human is drained or upset.
These cavies are mild and type, however it’s essential to spend time with them with coaching and playtime, as that intelligence and sensitivity may cause boredom and stress if their wants aren’t met. They do properly once they have loads of selection of their day-to-day interactions, together with superior trick coaching.
Do These Guinea Pigs Make Good Pets? 👪
Sure, the Peruvian guinea pig makes an ideal pet. These cavies are pleasant, sociable, and sweet-natured. Apart from their magnificence, individuals preserve Peruvians due to their cuddly and energetic personalities. They’re additionally curious and wish to spend time with their house owners, in order that they’re not a show pet.
Does This Guinea Pig Get Alongside With Different Pets?
Guinea pigs do properly in colonies, which additionally applies to the Peruvian guinea pig. They get alongside properly with other guinea pigs, however it’s essential to ensure that everyone seems to be spayed and neutered to keep away from unintentional litters. As a prey animal, guinea pigs shouldn’t be allowed to work together with canines or cats, irrespective of how pleasant they appear. There’s not solely a threat of your canine or cat harming your cavy, however the stress of the scenario might trigger well being issues for the guinea pig.
Issues to Know When Proudly owning a Peruvian Guinea Pig:
Meals & Food plan Necessities 🥕
Peruvian guinea pigs want a correct stability of pelleted meals, hay, and recent greens. Like different guinea pigs, they will’t make their very own vitamin C and must get it from their weight loss program. Your cavy ought to have a vast amount of recent timothy hay every day, pelleted meals fortified with vitamin C, and a rotation of vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruit daily.
Habitat & Hutch/Enclosure Necessities 🏠
Guinea pigs don’t leap or climb, so it’s extra essential to have a bigger enclosure with loads of flooring area. One guinea pig can have a cage that’s a minimal of 30” by 36”, however greater is at all times higher. Plan one other three sq. toes per extra guinea pig. A rodent cage is extra appropriate for a guinea pig than plastic tubs, glass aquariums, or cages with wire flooring.
Train & Sleeping Wants 🐹
Guinea pigs ought to have at the very least three or 4 hours of free-range playtime every day. You probably have a bigger enclosure with area to train, your guinea pig might have much less time exterior of their cage. Guinea pigs which have exterior time and exercises are typically higher adjusted and happier. With the Peruvian, it’s essential to have this time for not solely train however bonding, as they get hooked up to their house owners.
Coaching
Like different guinea pig breeds, Peruvian guinea pigs are clever, docile, and straightforward to coach. They are often skilled to make use of a litter field, push a ball, spin in a circle, leap via a hoop, or come when known as. Coaching is best with optimistic reinforcement and treats as a motivator, however it’s essential to keep away from overfeeding and making your guinea pig obese or ailing.
Grooming ✂️
Peruvian guinea pigs are excessive upkeep to groom. In contrast to different breeds, they’re unable to groom themselves correctly. Together with spot cleansing and common cage cleansing, your cavy will want every day brushing and common baths to maintain their fur clear and detangled. A delicate brush or effective tooth comb is good for working via your guinea pig’s coat gently. If you happen to don’t sustain along with your Peruvian Guinea Pig’s coat, they will get tangles, mats, and pores and skin issues.
It’s finest to make use of a fleece cage liner to make sure that your guinea pig doesn’t get loads of hay, paper, or wooden shavings of their coat. Their hair grows shortly, so most Peruvians will want month-to-month haircuts to forestall their hair from rising previous their toes.
Lifespan and Well being Circumstances 🏥
Peruvian guinea pigs have a wholesome lifespan of 4 to 6 years. They’re inclined to most of the identical well being circumstances as different guinea pigs, together with respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, abscesses, and scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency. As well as, the Peruvian’s lengthy coat leaves them inclined to different well being circumstances, resembling heatstroke, ear mites and infections, and flystrike, a situation through which flies lay eggs of their pores and skin and the maggots burrow out.
Minor Circumstances
- Respiratory infections
- Gastrointestinal illnesses
- Ear mites and infections
Severe Circumstances
Scurvy
Abscesses
Heatstroke
Flystrike
Male vs Feminine
Choosing a male or a female Peruvian guinea pig comes down to private choice. Males are typically barely bigger, whereas the females could be extra standoffish. They differ by particular person, nevertheless, so you might have a male that’s extra unbiased or a feminine that’s extra affectionate. Both manner, it is best to spay or neuter your guinea pig to keep away from behavioral issues related to intercourse hormones, in addition to well being circumstances that may have an effect on the reproductive organs.
3 Little-Identified Information About Peruvian Guinea Pigs
1. They Might Not Be From Peru.
Regardless of the title, Peruvian guinea pigs aren’t essentially from Peru. They nonetheless have wild cousins roaming all through South America, primarily in Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Argentina.
2. They Want Hairdos.
Peruvian guinea pigs have lengthy locks that develop on their sides, however additionally they have a rosette of fur on the highest of their head. Left to develop wild, this hair will develop the identical size of the physique, giving the guinea pig “bangs” that may have an effect on their imaginative and prescient.
3. They Can’t Groom Themselves.
Most guinea pigs have shorter hair and have interaction in social grooming behaviors that do loads of the proprietor’s work. They secrete a milky fluid from the eyes that different guinea pigs drink and use to scrub one another’s fur. Peruvian guinea pigs can’t have interaction in social grooming, even in colonies, due to the size and quantity of their fur. They’ll chew one another’s hair to skinny or shorten it, however many of the work is on the proprietor to maintain the hair trimmed and tangle-free.
Ultimate Ideas
Peruvian guinea pigs are the celebs of the cavy world for his or her appears and personalities, however this isn’t a pet to be taken frivolously. Whereas they’re pleasant, loving, and straightforward to coach, Peruvian guinea pigs want much more grooming than different cavies, in order that they’re not for an off-the-cuff proprietor. If you happen to neglect this breed’s grooming wants, it will probably find yourself with critical and painful well being circumstances. If you wish to convey house a Peruvian guinea pig, be ready to place extra work into its coif than your individual.
Featured Picture Credit score: lino9999, Pixabay
