If children ask you to start a pet, but you are against, or you do not have time to care for it and extra cleaning in the house, boot off the guinea pig. These cute animals do not take you a lot of space in the house and it certainly will not be dirt and spoiled furniture. And if you start the Peruvian guinea pig, then the "bonus" get aesthetic pleasure.
The history of the occurrence of Peruvian guinea pig
More than five thousand years ago, the ancient Indians who lived in Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Guinea considered these little animals with sacred, almost gods. In Europe, researchers from France at the beginning of the XIX century were brought to Europe of these animals. Since that time breeders and began to breed them. The pigs have gained wide popularity among the aristocrats and lived even at the court of the king.
After the exhibition in Paris, animals became popular throughout Europe, and then scientists began to bring new breeds of guinea pigs. Until 1930, the Peruvian breed was called Angora, and only recently she acquired their current name.
Description of breed
This breed of animals is easily distinguishable from other fellow, its appearance causes delight and lunizing not only in children, but also in adults. The distinguishment of their feature and a characteristic feature is a long coaming along the whole body. The length of "hair" can reach 30 centimeters.
Along the spine hair cover is divided by a smooth line into two parts. On the head "Hair" falls on the eyes of the pigs and resemble a fashionable cheek, while closing the whole face. Strest silky and smooth, but on the abdomen and legs of the hairproke is much shorter.
They have a small body, thirty centimeters in length, they weigh no more than one and a half kilograms. The back is smooth and wide, but they have no tail. The head is rather large for their size, it is located large dark eyes and a slightly hanging ears. Color from animals, as a rule, monotonous, two or three colors - white, brown and black.
By the nature and manner of behavior, these are calm rodents who are easy to come to contact with people. The animals love active games, because for their health it is important, and preferably to give them a few minutes of attention every day. They are good and calmly tolerate moving, so they behave carelessly and easily at exhibitions.
With good and constant care, these animals can live for more than five years.
Content and care
Like any home rodent, the guinea pig must live by certainly in a spacious cage. These little animals are unpretentious in food and do not require a special diet.Feed
When feeding rodents, there is one basic rule - they can not be fed from a common table. No bakery products, legumes, potatoes or exotic fruits should not fall into the rodent bowl. Adult animals feed fresh grass, oats, bran, add bone flour and salt.
You need to feed twice a day, as a rule, in the morning and in the evening. Pregnant rodents or moms with offspring more often - four times a day, gradually adding milk to the diet. And, of course, sometimes animals need to give vitamin complexes that can be purchased in any pet store.
It is also very important for the work of their body, so that they use litter in food, as some vitamins (groups in and k) they can assimilate only after the second time of the use of products. You can purchase a balanced feed and gradually pour them into a bowl.
Water
In the cell, an animal should always have a drinking cooler with water, it must have free access to it. Water needs to be changed daily so that it is not stagnant; Water itself can be from under the tap, but resistant for three to four days. In the summer, the amount of water needs to be increased.
Cell and toys
Buying a cage, first of all inspect it carefully, check the safety so that there are no sharp discovering items and distances between the rods where the rodent can be stuck. It is necessary to carefully treat not only the purchase of the cell, but also to the choice of place in the house where you put it. The cell is put in bright, but not under the right sunlight, the place so that there are no drafts. It is desirable that she stood in a quiet place away from television and video equipment, rooms with smells (toilet, kitchen).
The cell must be free and spacious so that the pig can stand on the rear paws, as it does it often. Well suitable cells in size in one square meter per animal. But if you do not have the opportunity to place at home such a "palace", then you can purchase a two-level cage, but not more. Cells intended for other rodents are also not suitable.
Clean the cage is preferably at least three times a week, removing the dirty lumps of the filler. At least once a week, you need to change the entire litter and cleaned the entire cell. Otherwise, excrement can be confused in the secretion of the animal, and stick the remains of the feed.
So that the animal has always been moving and in a good mood, the cage should be equipped with everything necessary: toys, two troughs (one for dry other - for juicy feeds) and drinker. Also in the cage must be a house for recreation, where it can hide, and the toilet. To know which angle of the cell to put the toilet, look for animals for a couple of days. What place it will notice there and you can put the tray. If still failed to learn the animal to go to the tray, you can pour a litter on the bottom of the cell. Speakers are well suited, hay or special fillers, which can also be bought in pet stores.
Well, the last element: in the cell there should be a toy in the cell so that the animal does not gain weight, it was always moving, and that he was not bored. The balls, a mirror, a staircase, a wheel and so on are good as toys.
Care of wool
The wool of Peruvian guinea pigs does not require much care - just need to deduct the animal once a day. It is only necessary to co-cultivate wool as needed, for example, when the killya completely closes his eyes or confusing between the legs, interferes moving.
Wash rodents is also not necessary, it needs to be done only before preparing for exhibitions . After bathing, the animal needs to be well wrapped with a cotton fabric or a towel, you can use a hairdryer with a light jet of warm air.
Reproduction and offspring
These animals, like everyone else in their form, poorly transfer loneliness, so it is better to contain them with pairs. Then it will be possible and avoid all risks in the breeding of offspring, for example, the failure of one of the partners during crossing, aggressive behavior, and so on.
If you want to breed the Peruvian guinea pigs for exhibitions or for sales, then it is better for you to consult or instruct this case with experienced breeders. They will be able to fulfill all the requirements for maintaining the purity of the breed. Despite the fact that sex ripening comes not earlier than 6 months, males are ready for mating at the age of 10 weeks, and females even earlier - aged 5 weeks. It is still better to cross them at the age of 6 months, but also the ultimate age for the offspring in rodents should be no more than two years. If you break these intervals, then the offspring can be patient, and the female itself may suffer.
Pregnancy in females last an average of 68 days. In litter the pig can bring from two to four cubs. For the next crossing, the female will be ready in 2 weeks.
Purchase rules
If you want to purchase a real thoroughbred Peruvian guinea pig, then it is better to buy it in a pet store. Buying from the hands, or via the Internet you risk becoming a victim of scammers or just inexperienced people. In the pet store, in addition to buying a purebred animal, you will be able to consult in detail among employees of the store on the conditions of its content and care. In the same way, you can immediately purchase everything you need for your pet - from the cage to feed for it. Well, if you still buy an animal with hands, pay attention to some nuances.
- First of all, on wool. It should be pure and anywhere not confused. Even in the area of the rear pass, the wool should be clean - do not score to inspect the animal's wool everywhere. Also, wool should not climb, there should be no parasites or insects in it.
- An animal should have a shine in the eyes, and they should be dry and clean. No mucues or accumulated dirt around the eyes should not be. Similarly, look closely and inspect the mouth and nose of the animal.
- The pig itself should be pretty well and in a good mood. This is very cute and sociable animals to them unusual lethargy in behavior.
Feel free to ask the seller about the pedigree the animal, about his age, when and how many vaccinations were put by an animal. If the seller responds to all your questions, and the animal in his hands feels comfortable, you can safely buy a pet.
The most suitable age for the establishment of these animals is 5 weeks. Animals of an early age have not yet completely moved from Mother's milk, and animals in older will be hard to fit in new conditions. The price of rodents can reach 40 dollars per animal, depending on its pedigree and awards. More simple representatives of this breed can be acquired an average of 5-6 dollars.
But the most important thing is to consider when buying any pet pet, is the lack of allergies on animal wool from you or members of your family.
About how to solicate the Peruvian guinea pig, see the next video.