Guinea Pig Care: The 411
Scientific name: Cavia porcellus
Size: The average guinea pig weighs about two pounds.
Lifespan: Five to seven years
Colors/varieties
Lots of variations, from brown spotted and black banded to pure golden and all-white.
If your pig's no porker, then what is she? A guinea pig is a rodent, just like mice, rats and hamsters. She has short legs and a plump body, and a tummy that's so big her back legs have to point sideways to fit around it! It's not that she's overweight—like all guinea pigs, she needs a big stomach to digest all the tough plant food she eats.
The three most common breeds of guinea pig are the smooth-coated, who has short, glossy fur; the Abyssinian, whose hair grows in fluffy tufts all over her body; and the Peruvian, who has long, silky hair that flows to the ground.
Guinea pigs are social, and if you keep two or more females together, they'll become great friends. If you want two males, it's smart to choose two babies from the same litter. Groups of adult males tend to fight, so we suggest a pair of females for first-time piggy caretakers.
LEARN MORE
- The 411
- Chow Time!
- Home Sweet Home
- Fun & Games
Parents and teachers, please visit ASPCA.org for more guinea pig care tips to share with your students and children.
