Q What age do guinea pigs reach?

 Guinea pigs live between 5 and 6 years, some have been known to live longer.

Q How long is a sow pregnant?

A On average a sow is pregnant for 65-70 days

Q How many pups does a sow have?

A Anything from 1-6 pups can be born from a single litter but 3-4 is the average size of a litter.

Q Are guinea pigs nocturnal?

A They are not, my guinea pigs are awake in the morning and around lunchtime tend  to hide and rest for a while. They then become quite active during the early evening, but once the lights go out at night they keep quiet and hide away.

Q What is the best age to start breeding my sow?

A  A female guinea pig should not be younger than 4 months old and should weigh at least 700g. A sow should also not be bred if older than 10 months as their pelvic bones start to fuse at this age and this makes a successful birth almost impossible. You will end up losing your sow and her pups if she is bred too late.

Q Can guinea pigs and rabbits be housed together?

A No!!! Firstly their dietary needs are completely different and secondly a rabbit can harm a guinea pig with its powerful hind legs.

Q Why does my guinea pig eat its own droppings?

A Coprophagy, or eating of an animal’s own droppings, is normal for guinea pigs. Is similar to cows chewing the cud. They don’t eat the hard dry droppings in the cage, but small moist droppings, which it takes directly from its anus. These droppings are full of protein essential for the animal’s health.