Choosing a guinea pig takes a long time and meticulously. And the point here is not even that you should like her and be physically healthy. Since the lifespan of these animals is not very long, it is best to buy young pigs so that the joy of communication with them can last much longer. But how can you determine how many weeks, months, or even years a guinea pig lived before you looked into a pet store?
It is necessary
scales, attentiveness and a keen eye
Instructions
Step 1
The simplest thing is to ask the seller or breeder. Of course, in this case, you can only rely on the honesty of a person and believe that he is not trying to slip you instead of a young animal of an elderly veteran. If the seller cannot answer your question or begins to evade, it is better to buy the animal elsewhere. It is better to stay away from scammers or breeders who do not accurately represent the age of their animals themselves.
Step 2
One of the most accurate indicators of a guinea pig's age is its weight. Do not hesitate to bring a scale with you or ask the seller to weigh your pig with you on a store scale. The fact is that from the age of 3-4 weeks (namely, from this moment these animals begin to go on sale), a guinea pig, no matter how much it eats, cannot weigh more than 400-500 grams. Therefore, if the seller assures you that the animal is only four weeks old, and the seahorse stretched out a kilogram, you are being deceived. Full sexual maturity in pigs occurs at the age of 15 months, the maximum weight of females at this time is 700-1000 g., For males - 1000-1800 g.
Step 3
It also happens that with age, the guinea pig begins to lose weight. This happens already closer to old age, when metabolic processes are slower and the animal begins to consume less food, refusing large pieces. An unscrupulous seller can give you such an old man as a young animal. That is why, in addition to weight, it is necessary to pay attention to secondary signs of youth. In young pigs, the coat is thicker, has a characteristic color, does not fall out and does not fade. In retired guinea pigs, there may be problems with the skin and claws on the hind legs. Usually, the animals process the front legs themselves, but they simply cannot reach the hind legs. If you keep the animal at home, it needs to be processed with special scissors, but in the store, of course, there is no one to do this, therefore the back of the claws in an adult does not look very aesthetically pleasing.
