Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are originate from South America. They typically live in various open environments with low elevations including savannas, thorn forest and scrub desert. They are generally found in grasslands, at the edges of forests, swamps or rocky areas. As a species, guinea pigs do not dig, however, they will occupy dens and burrows that other animals have abandoned, or they will shelter in vegetation, rock crevices or under brush piles. The ideal temperature range for the species is 17-20°C, guinea pigs are more susceptible to cold temperatures and may not be able to be outside all year round. Temperatures under 15°C can be dangerous and temperatures above 26°C can cause heatstroke. When factoring in their wild environment, we can consider the provision of lots of hiding places and tunnels with less need for elevated spaces as guinea pigs do not typically climb.

Guinea pigs are a prey species that are active for around 20 hours per day including at dawn, during the day, and at dusk. They have a life expectancy of 4-7 years.

In the wild, males (boards) and females (sows) live in family groups of 5-10 individuals. However, guinea pigs will often be close to other family groups to create a larger colony. They are a highly social as should always live in a social group. Within a social group, boars have a hierarchy to determine access to food and mates. This means that boars can be more likely to show agonistic behaviours towards one another and can be difficult to keep in bachelor groups if there are any females in the nearby area. 

When communicating with other guinea pigs, and other species, they will typically used visual communication (body language) and auditory communication (vocalisation). Guinea pigs have a diverse range of vocalisations that are key to understanding their underlying emotional state.

Handling requirements: Guinea pigs are a prey species, so being confident and calm around them is extremely important. Avoid standing over them, crouch down and allow them to approach where possible.

Latin name: Cavia porcellus