Guinea+Pig

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//Cavia porcellus// Order: Rodentia
 * __Husbandry Information__ **

Diet Requirements

 * Herbivore, preferring leafy foods and roots.
 * In captivity, they eat pellets, lettuce, carrot, orange.
 * Guinea pigs must have vitamin C in their diet!

Notes on Enrichment & Training


=__Programmatic Information__=

Tips on Presentation

 * One facility reports they use them to run across a stage (A to B), which usually gets a good response from guests.

Tips on Handling

 * Frequent handling keeps them reliable for programs.

Potential Messaging

 * Can be used to teach guests about proper pet selections and care

=__Acquisition Information__=

=__Comments from the Rating System__=
 * Natural Science Center of Greensboro: Very skittish and nippy; if they are only held for a short amount of time, they seem to do better.
 * Philadelphia Zoo: Not popular with visitors as a program animal - too common in the pet trade.
 * Toledo Zoo: We have had many medical issues with our guinea pigs.

=__Natural History Information__=

Range and Habitat

 * The guinea pig was domesticated from the wild cavy, which lives in grasslands, woodlands, swamps, plains, rocky areas, and deserts in much of South America. Archaeologists suspect domestication of the cavy may have occurred as early as 5000 BC, but the most reliable early records of domestic cavy population in the north-central highlands of Peru date to 900 BC.
 * Today they are raised in captivity around the world: in North America as pets, in South America as food source.

Physical Description

 * Stocky bodies, short legs, short ears, no visible neck.
 * 3 toes on hind feet, 4 toes on forelegs.
 * Come in a variety of colors, hair length, and hair texture.
 * Have acute hearing.
 * Average length is 11 inches.
 * Average weight is 2 pounds
 * Average lifespan is 5 to 8 years

Life Cycle

 * Guinea pigs breed before they are 1 year old.
 * Gestation period: 63-70 days
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Litter size is between 1 and 6 young, with an average of 3.
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Can have up to five litters a year, but three litters a year is more usual.

Behavior

 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Burrowing
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Diurnal
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Cannot tolerate extreme heat or cold

Threats and Conservation Status
Guinea pigs have no special conservation status. Common predators are dogs, cats, and humans.

=__Did you know…__=
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">The “guinea” portion of the name is said to have originated because they are found in the South American country of Guyana, which was a Dutch colony in the 16th century and the name could be a corruption of Guyana. The “pig” portion of the name refers to the short, stout body and squealing sound guinea pigs make.
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Female is a sow, male is a boar.
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Guinea pigs are used in scientific medical research of heredity, nutrition and disease.
 * <span style="font-family: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">The domestic guinea pig was first described in 1758. Even Queen Elizabeth I had one as a pet!

=__Photographs__=

=__Contributors and Citations__=
 * The Philadelphia Zoo