Many people are afraid of starting pets more because they are afraid of the pain of loss. Some pets, especially rodents, are not famous for their longevity, and they do not want to become attached to a being that will live on the strength of 3 years. But not everything is so bad: there are also such rodents, whose life expectancy will be up to 15 years, are guinea pigs.
These funny guinea pigs
Guinea pigs were domesticated for five thousand years before our era by South American tribes, but not so much because of their beauty, but because of their nutritional value. Yes, yes, and to this day the guinea pig is considered a delicacy in Ecuador and Peru. To feed this animal in a short time is not difficult, especially since it is unpretentious in food.
We keep guinea pigs exclusively as pets, because they are non-aggressive, quiet, good-natured and very fond of communicating with a person. They are always sold in any pet store, and care does not require specific knowledge and skills. And in captivity in good hosts guinea pig lives for a long time.
Although it is impossible to say unequivocally, how many years live guinea pigs. Life expectancy can depend on many factors:
- heredity;
- health;
- conditions of detention;
- care.
On average, the rodent will live up to 10 years. However, there are also such pigs that live to the age of 13-15.
Now there are more than 25 breeds of guinea pigs, among which there are both bald and long-haired. Furry animals will require from you not much more effort than the short-haired: they themselves can take care of themselves, so combing the hair with a brush is not a must.
Care and Feeding
It is very simple to care for guinea pigs: to feed once a day, to change sawdust once a week. An unpleasant odor from the guinea pig will not be if you clean the cage regularly. These rodents are very clean and smell of hay.
Feed guinea pigs , first of all, hay and ready-made mixed fodders. They should be in the feeder constantly, but the daily portions should be measured carefully and according to the instructions, because the pigs are prone to overeating and obesity. In addition, every day in the water bowl you need to change the water, even if you think that it was not drunk.
In the diet, you can and should add vegetables and fruits - apples, cabbage, carrots, lettuce leaves. Sweet fruits can be present only as a treat. From spring to autumn, you can feed grass, in winter - germinated crops. You can not in any form give food with protein of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs), fried and boiled vegetables, porridges. Once a week it is allowed to pamper the pet with rye crumbs. If you notice that your pig is eating its litter - do not worry, it's normal.
The cage is filled with wood chips and shavings. It is necessary to place a mineral-salt stone in the pig's dwelling next to the stool.
If the pig is in your hands, make sure that it does not fall: it is very dangerous for rodents.
In the foothills of the Andes, where guinea pigs live in wild conditions, these animals form entire colonies. So it is better to have two guinea pigs at once.
About the life of bald guinea pigs
Contrary to popular opinion, the breed is practically independent of how long the guinea pigs live. Although wondering how many live bald guinea pigs, you can stumble on the information that such breeds barely survive to 3 years.
Bald guinea pigs are of two breeds: skinny and baldwin. Baldwin appeared as a funny mutation from one of the breeders, and then underwent a related crossing. Skinny is the result of experiments of dermatologists. Initially they were bright, red-eyed and absolutely bald; those that are sold now are the result of crossing with other breeds.
However, how many live guinea pigs skinn and bolduiny, not affected by their unusual origin - the duration of their lives the same 8-10 years.
Remember that how much your guinea pigs live depends on you. Do not forget to take care of them every day and give them a little affection.