Is your guinea pig pregnant? Have you recently adopted an adorable pair of baby guinea pigs? Either way, you may wonder what baby guinea pigs are called or how to care for these tiny creatures.
In this article, we’ll discuss what newborn guinea pigs are called, what they look and act like, and how to care for pregnant guinea pigs and their offspring.
What is a Newborn Guinea Pig Called?
You may think that a newborn guinea pig would be called a piglet, but they’re actually called pups! These animals (which aren’t related to pigs at all) are born nearly self-sufficient. At just a few days old, they can already see, hear, run, and eat solid foods.
Here are some other guinea pig terms you may not know:
- Guinea pigs are also called cavies.
- Male guinea pigs are called boars.
- Female guinea pigs are called sows.
As to why they’re called guinea pigs when they’re neither from Guinea nor related to pigs? Well, that one’s somewhat of a mystery, as we don’t fully know the name’s origins!
How Big Are Newborn Guinea Pigs?
Every newborn guinea pig is unique, but they typically weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. If you’re caring for newborn guinea pigs, it’s important to monitor their weight to ensure that they’re growing at a good rate.
As we discussed above, baby guinea pigs are highly independent. They’re born with hair and teeth, and they can see and hear right away, unlike other baby animals such as puppies or kittens.
Although baby guinea pigs can eat solid foods when they’re a few days old, they still rely on their mother’s milk until they’re weaned at around three weeks old. They should be kept with her during this time but separated by sex at three weeks to prevent more pregnancies. An exotic pet veterinarian can perform a health check and also sex the babies for you to prevent accidents!
Caring for a Pregnant Guinea Pig
It’s not recommended for the average pet owner to breed their guinea pig. It’s vital that you know your guinea pigs’ history and genetic health and are informed on proper breeding practices and guinea pig care before breeding. It’s also important to have homes lined up for the babies before breeding a litter and to work with a good exotic pet veterinarian to ensure the mother and babies are healthy.
Image Credit: Arif L
That said, you might already have a pregnant guinea pig–or maybe you’ve rescued a pregnant mama. Here are some tips for caring for a pregnant guinea pig:
- Guinea pigs who are over six to eight months old and experiencing their first pregnancy cannot give birth naturally, as it’s likely to kill them and their babies. If you’re unsure whether your guinea pig has been pregnant before, talk to your veterinarian. They may want to schedule a C-section for the piggies’ safety.
- Monitoring your guinea pigs’ weight is always important, especially when they’re pregnant! You want to ensure your guinea pig is gaining weight as expected.
- Pregnant and nursing guinea pigs need more nutrients as they grow and feed their pups. Talk to your veterinarian about how much more to feed your guinea pig, and ensure fresh grass hay is abundant.
How to Care for Newborn Guinea Pigs
Since newborn guinea pigs are pretty independent, they won’t need much additional care compared to adult guinea pigs. It’s extra important to monitor their weight at this age and to see a vet if they lose weight or aren’t growing like they should.
Socialization is also important. Leave the baby guinea pigs alone in their mama’s care during their first 2-3 weeks and avoid touching them too much. At 2-3 weeks, you’ll want to begin handling them more often so that they get used to people.
You can also spend time around their cage, talking quietly and hand-feeding them if they allow it. This is a low-stress way to get them used to being around humans.
Lastly, it’s essential for baby guinea pigs to receive proper veterinary care. Talk to your exotic pet veterinarian about scheduling an appointment to ensure the pups and mama guinea pigs are healthy.
When are Guinea Pigs Considered Mature?
Guinea pigs reach mating maturity as young as 3 weeks old. They must be separated by sex at this time to prevent more pregnancies from occurring.
Female guinea pigs can be kept with their mother, and a single baby male can be placed with the father if you’d like him to have a companion. Remember that as they get older, male guinea pigs typically don’t do well in groups of three or more.
Keep the male and female guinea pig enclosures far apart so that they cannot get into each other’s cages or mate through the cage bars. As an additional safety measure, you may want to keep the females’ enclosure elevated from the ground.
Some male guinea pigs are determined to get to females, so you may need to place a lid on their enclosure or make a C&C cage two grids high to prevent them from climbing or jumping out.
How Many Babies Can a Guinea Pig Have?
The average litter of guinea pigs contains 2-4 pups. However, guinea pigs can have anywhere from 1-8 babies in a single litter. They can also get pregnant again very shortly after giving birth, so it’s important that the father and mother are separated into separate cages before the babies are born.
As we discussed above, baby guinea pigs can reach sexual maturity as young as three weeks old. Separating males from females at this age is also vital in preventing unwanted pregnancies.
A household can easily go from two guinea pigs to hundreds if the guinea pigs aren’t properly sexed and kept apart. If you’re unsure whether your baby guinea pigs are male or female, it’s best to ask a professional, such as an exotic pet veterinarian. This has the added benefit of ensuring that all of the guinea pigs are healthy and growing well.
While baby guinea pigs are adorable, too many can quickly become overwhelming–and it may be difficult to find them homes as fast as they reproduce!
