Can a guinea pig live alone or is it better to keep a pair?
This is a question many pig owners ask.
Most often, people do not want to get a second pet, thinking that keeping two animals is a costly affair, which also requires a lot of time and additional space. But in Europe they no longer think about such “little things” in life, since the law has prohibited the solitary keeping of rabbits and guinea pigs.
To understand whether your four-legged ward can live comfortably alone, you need to figure out what kind of behavior would be typical for him in the wild. And in natural conditions, guinea pigs are social animals that live in large groups. Together they avoid danger, take care of each other (clean their fur) and communicate. In a group, pigs feel comfortable and safe. Therefore, a mate is the main need of a guinea pig.
Many owners claim that their pet is happy just by being attached to its owner and happily plays with a person, but unfortunately, this is not an indicator. To become a companion for a pig, you need to lie next to it on the floor, eat from the same plate, make sounds, know the body language of these animals and brush its fur. In addition, pets are alone at home all day while their owners are at school or at work and do not always get their share of attention.
Article on the topic: Keeping two guinea pigs together: how to introduce them and what to do in case of fights
Don't worry that the animals might not get along. Guinea pigs are easy to make friends. To do this you need: a large cage with a length of 1 meter (for two animals), toys and hammocks in duplicate, separate bowls and food for two. This will avoid fights between animals. These rodents are very friendly, but they must establish a hierarchy when introduced.
You cannot interfere in “showdowns” between guinea pigs. After all, until the hierarchy is established, they will not stop conflicting. There is a very small chance that your pig will be antisocial and will not tolerate cohabitation. But this is a rare exception rather than the rule.
Breeders and sellers in pet stores sometimes advise keeping them alone. This is explained by ignorance of the characteristics of these animals and the desire to sell at least one animal (after all, not everyone decides to buy an animal if it definitely needs a mate).
No one can replace a pig's relative. Cats and dogs are predators and a priori cannot be the best friends of rodents. It is mistakenly believed that rabbits and chinchillas can become good relatives, because they have different “languages” of communication and a guinea pig can only suffer from this company. The cohabitation of different animals in one group dooms each of them to loneliness.
How expensive is it to keep two pets at the same time? For two pigs you need a little more space, a double portion of food (pellets and succulent food) and a large tray. In terms of time, caring for two individuals will differ little from caring for one. But living in pairs, pigs will get sick less and live much longer. And if the animal lived alone for a long time, then it will be very happy when it finds a friend.
Rules for sharing
The new tenant must spend two weeks in a separate cage so that the owner can make sure that the rodent is healthy. After quarantine, you can introduce the guinea pigs to each other. Before attempting, you need to make sure that both rodents are full and in a good mood. It is better to introduce guinea pigs on neutral territory.
The first meeting place should be:
- new for both rodents, not marked by odors;
- protected by high sides, or located closer to the floor;
- spacious so that there is enough space for pursuit and escape;
- equipped with through shelters for a passive individual.
Competition for food is not typical for the species, so while the animals are getting to know each other, you can try to defuse the situation with treats. During the procedure, you need to be vigilant, since a fight may arise for the owner’s attention, or simply out of principle.
When joining a group, it is recommended to rub the newcomer from behind with sawdust from the common cage. Sensing the familiar smell, the flock will accept the guest more loyally.
After several meetings on neutral territory, if the pigs behave calmly, you can put them in one cage. Before doing this, you should wash it thoroughly and change the location of the accessories. For each individual, you need to install separate feeders and drinkers on different sides of the cage. The room will look unusual for both pigs, which will allow the rodents to inhabit the territory on equal terms.
Can an animal exist only with its owner?
To figure out whether a pet can live alone, you need to consider its behavior in the wild. In their natural environment, animals live in groups. They live together, hide from adversity, take care of each other. In the company they feel safe and happy. Therefore, the statement that a guinea pig can live alone is a misconception.
Most owners say that the pet experiences happiness from the presence of the owner and playing together. If a rodent feels good next to its owner, this does not mean that he does not want a friend to live nearby who will lie with him, eat and clean his fur. And we must not forget that the owner does not have the opportunity to constantly be near his pet.
It is not recommended to keep your pet with other rodents, but a rabbit, hamster, or rat would be a good companion. It should be borne in mind that they can harm each other, so it is better to plant them separately, but so that they can see each other.
brief information
A medium-sized rodent eats plant foods: cereals, vegetables, fruits, and freshly cut grass. The cute animal is kept in a spacious cage or aquarium. Every day the pet is allowed to walk outside the cage, carefully watching to ensure that it does not run behind a closet or under the bed.
These rodents are clean, but if they ignore regular replacement of the bedding in the cage (aquarium), they acquire a disgusting smell.
There are pros and cons to allowing a guinea pig to roam around the apartment.
The guinea pig does not make noise and sleeps at night, so it does not cause trouble to its owners. But while awake, the pet is noisy. By squeaking, he expresses not only discomfort, but also pleasant sensations.
Bouncing, wagging the butt and squeaking are an expression of popcorning - behavior characteristic of an animal enjoying its owner, relatives or tasty food.
The life expectancy of an animal receiving quality care is 6-8 years, and this is a good indicator among rodents kept at home.
Pair for the animal
Two guinea pigs in one cage is definitely a good thing, but you need to know that some pairs do not get along well together:
- Animals of different sexes;
- several males;
- Kavya girls raised separately.
It must be taken into account that once a male and a female are together, they will definitely begin to reproduce. But at a young age, ligaments are harmful and can even lead to death.
Two male guinea pigs in the same cage may begin to compete and fight after a while. Two girls who grew up together get along well.
How to choose a company
You need to be guided by the fact that how rodents get along together. Don’t be nervous that the animals will start competing, because they are easy to make friends with. A large cage, toys for both and separate bowls will help avoid conflicts between rodents. It should be remembered that you cannot place a male with a female, since the inevitable mating will only interfere, especially at a young age, there is a risk of death. Even if the birth is successful, the animal will need rest for about 3-4 months, and the male will not stop, which can cause another pregnancy.
Breeding
Breeding rosette pigs has its own nuances. The gene that is responsible for the formation of spirals and the rigidity of the cover is dominant. When mating two representatives of the breed, offspring without rosettes may appear if the recessive allele for smooth hair (r) is present in the genotype of both parents.
In addition to the rosette gene, an important role is played by the genetic modifier marked M. If it dominates, then the formation of correct rosettes is suppressed even in the presence of the rosette gene.
In such pigs, instead of normal spirals, the following are formed:
- combs only;
- curls on wool;
- only 2 sockets and one comb.
If the modifier gene is in a recessive state (marked mm), then rosettes of the correct shape are formed. In fact, to breed good pigs, a superficial knowledge of their genetics is not enough. Under the influence of various factors, even purebred animals can produce descendants that are far from perfect.
The rosette pig is mated with a male at the age of 4-10 months, if it weighs more than 700 g. Estrus occurs every 16-20 days. The most favorable time for fertilization is the first 6 hours of sexual heat. It is advisable for the male to make several cages during mating games, then the likelihood of pregnancy will be higher.
The rosette guinea pig carries its young for 63-66 days. There are 3-4 piglets in a litter, less often – up to 6. The more babies in the womb, the shorter the gestation period. The first birth can last 2-3 hours, each subsequent one occurs faster. Rodents are born at intervals of 5-7 minutes.
Caring for rosette pigs cannot be called difficult. Rodents are unpretentious, so they won’t cause much trouble. In response to the care and love of their owner, they will willingly give a lot of positive emotions.
Is it possible to keep a guinea pig alone and what could be the consequences?
Guinea pigs are paired animals. In the wild world, they live in packs, which gives them a sense of comfort and security. They are quite sociable and friendly. Very often, owners get only one individual, based on the fact that keeping two at once is very inconvenient and costly. But in European countries there is a law prohibiting having guinea pigs at home without a pair. It is believed that they can die of boredom.
Can a guinea pig live alone?
Guinea pigs can live alone, but prolonged loneliness has a detrimental effect on them. It is vital for them to have their own relative. Under certain conditions, they can live alone for some time. In this case, they receive their main communication from the owner or from other pets, for example, a cat. Some individuals run after their owner or other animal in search of company and games. But this is not spending all the time, as if it were a relative with whom you can spend all the time together. Therefore, for paired animals, it is important to live together with their relatives.
Article on the topic: How to determine the gender of a guinea pig at home (photo) - learning to distinguish girls from boys
Is it worth getting an exhibition copy?
When choosing a guinea pig, many people want to purchase an exhibition specimen of a rare breed, without thinking at all about the responsibility that they will have to take on. In addition, the cost of an exhibition rodent will also be much higher than a regular one.
In addition to financial expenses, the future owner of a guinea pig has a number of responsibilities:
- joining the breeders club;
- participation in exhibitions;
- selection of a partner for mating;
- daily animal care.
If the owner of a purebred individual plans to breed, he will either have to find a suitable pair or buy one.
The appearance of offspring will require more space and time, which may make the breeder want to find a new home for a significant part of his animals. Finding people willing to place guinea pigs in their apartment is not easy. This is due to the high fertility of these rodents.
All breeds can be divided into four types:
- long-haired;
- rosette;
- smooth-haired;
- bald.
When purchasing an exhibition specimen of a long-haired breed, it is important to understand that this animal will require daily care for its coat, which the owner will have to comb.
There is no need to hope that this painstaking task can be entrusted to the children for whom the animal was purchased. Without proper care, your pet's fur will quickly become matted, turning your pig's life into a real nightmare.
Breeds with smooth coats are most suitable for beginner breeders. These individuals are easy to care for and have a more stable immune system, due to which diseases occur much less frequently.
Features of the alpaca breed.
How many guinea pigs is best to keep?
The number of residents depends on the area you provide for them. If two guinea pigs live in the same cage, then each of them needs to have access to clean water and their own allocated food. Plus, each pet needs its own territory, even a small one. You can keep more than two individuals, but for this you will have to choose and buy a cage for each and the care for them will be different. This is more difficult than keeping one guinea pig.
Pros and cons of content
The guinea pig is a popular pet because keeping and feeding it does not cause much trouble.
Advantages
Pros of keeping a guinea pig:
- the rodent itself and its “house” do not take up much space in the living room, which is convenient in a small apartment;
- your pet can be fed with inexpensive natural food of plant origin;
- bedding for an aquarium or cage, represented by sawdust, is inexpensive;
- if it is a representative of the smooth-haired variety, then there is no need to comb its fur;
- The rodent washes itself, which is why there is no need for bathing.
One of the advantages of the animal is its cute appearance.
The charm of a guinea pig says it's worth getting this animal
Flaws
If you are getting a cute and kind rodent for a small child, it is recommended to take into account that most of the care for the pet will fall on the shoulders of the parents. A guinea pig will be a suitable pet for a child if the little owner is of primary school age (6-7 years).
Guinea pigs can cause allergies.
When thinking about whether it is worth getting and keeping a guinea pig in an apartment, you need to take into account that it is still a rodent. Without supervision, the pet chews furniture, communications, wallpaper and other things. Unlike its fellow chinchillas and rabbits, the guinea pig does not cause significant damage to interior items. Still, it is better to prevent possible damage to household items by constructing a pen of the required area.
Read about which one is better to buy in our articles: “Who is better: a decorative rabbit or a guinea pig?” and “Which is better: a chinchilla or a guinea pig?”
If you get a long-haired guinea pig, you will have to brush it regularly.
Before you get a guinea pig, you need to consider the disadvantages of caring for it. The owner of the animal should be prepared for the fact that the bedding in the animal’s cage will have to be changed almost every day, since the rodent often urinates and has bowel movements. If you ignore this, the pet and its home will acquire an unbearable smell that spreads throughout the apartment.
An important disadvantage of the guinea pig is that it is susceptible to many diseases, most of which quickly lead to death.
If an adult takes a pet into the house for children, then in case of illness, the rapid death of the pet will become stressful for the little household members.
A small animal running around the room leaves behind feces and urine. Feces do not have an unpleasant odor, but if there are children under two years old in the house, you need to ensure that feces do not become an object of increased interest on the part of the children.
Important! Some people are allergic to rodent fur, in which case this animal should not be owned.
