Pondering of adopting guinea pigs? You is perhaps questioning what the variations are between men and women, and which gender you need to convey residence!
Probably the most substantial variations between female and male guinea pigs are that males can’t stay collectively in teams of three or extra, whereas females can stay in giant herds, and males require common boar cleanings to maintain their genitals clear.
Hold studying to be taught extra about female and male guinea pigs, their variations, and which is best for you!
Male vs Feminine Guinea Pigs: Key Variations
Females Can Dwell in Herds
Personally, I believe that is the distinction between female and male guinea pigs that issues most. When deciding which gender to undertake, ask your self: what number of guinea pigs would I prefer to have? Am I okay with them dwelling in separate cages?
When you solely need to undertake two guinea pigs, then males are excellent! It’s very troublesome to maintain males in herds, and never really helpful except you’re keen to separate and bond all of them into new pairs if the bond fails. Since most individuals don’t have the assets to take action, it’s finest to keep away from trios or herds!
Feminine piggies, then again, do nice in herds. It is because within the wild, guinea pigs are likely to stay in herds consisting of a bunch of females and one male. Males don’t stay collectively.
This implies you can additionally add one male to your herd–however by no means multiple, as they’ll combat over the ladies. One male and one feminine piggy may stay collectively.
With a view to do that, you’ll must have the male guinea pig neutered. In any other case, you’ll find yourself with an infinite provide of infants!
Males Require Boar Cleanings
One other deciding issue for some folks is that males require boar cleanings. This includes cleansing across the genitals and contained in the sac. Most individuals use q-tips for this.
Younger males don’t all the time want boar cleanings, but it surely’s essential to test commonly to see in the event that they’re soiled down there and clear them if they’re. Most senior piggies want boar cleanings round as soon as a month.
Although the method may be smelly, don’t let boar cleanings alone put you off of adopting male guinea pigs! It solely takes a couple of minutes and doesn’t should be performed very ceaselessly.
Females Can Develop Ovarian Cysts
A standard well being downside in feminine guinea pigs is ovarian cysts. In fact, male guinea pigs can’t get ovarian cysts as a result of they don’t have ovaries.
Each guinea pig wants a well being test at residence at the very least as soon as a month the place you report their weight, test their eyes and ears for particles, hearken to their respiratory to make sure they don’t sound congested or crackly, and test that their fur is rising healthily.
Males must also be checked to see in the event that they want a boar cleansing right now, and females ought to be checked for crusty nipples–one of many signs of ovarian cysts.
Different signs to look at for embrace remaining in warmth longer than normal, hair loss, and infertility.
In case your guinea pig reveals signs of ovarian cysts, it’s essential to convey her to the veterinarian, as they are often lethal if left untreated.
Males Would possibly Be Extra Human-friendly
Some folks imagine that male guinea pigs are friendlier towards people than females. Nonetheless, that is anecdotal–we don’t have formal research on it!
Personally, I wouldn’t advocate adopting males simply since you need friendlier piggies, since there’s no assure of this. It actually comes right down to character.
The easiest way to get a pleasant guinea pig is to go to a rescue and ask to satisfy the guinea pigs there. You can even ask the workers which piggies they suppose will swimsuit you finest!
It’s additionally essential to learn to work together with guinea pigs, as this can assist you to to make buddies with them. Most guinea pigs discover people scary as a result of we’re a predator species, a lot bigger than they’re, and may make very fast, startling actions.
The easiest way to introduce your self to new guinea pigs is to maneuver slowly, discuss in a quiet voice, and strategy them from the facet or entrance–moderately than from above.
Providing meals can also be a great way to make them affiliate you with positivity–in spite of everything, there’s nothing a guinea pig loves greater than a snack!
Females Are likely to Get Alongside Higher
Feminine guinea pigs are likely to get alongside higher with different guinea pigs. This makes it simpler to bond them!
Male bonds are tougher to kind and are solely profitable round 20% of the time. Then again, feminine bonds are profitable round 80% of the time.
Neutered men and women additionally get on very effectively with each other and these pairs are likely to bond simply. It’s male-male pairings that don’t do as effectively, attributable to males being territorial round one another.
Male Guinea Pigs Are Larger Than Females
Lastly, male guinea pigs are typically greater than females. This isn’t a tough rule–some boys are tiny, and a few women are huge and chonky!
There additionally aren’t downsides to your guinea pigs being a little bit greater or smaller, at the very least for my part!
What About Pregnant Females?
Now that we’ve mentioned the final variations between female and male guinea pigs, let’s discuss pregnant guinea pigs.
The primary variations in pregnant piggies are their dietary and veterinary wants.
Whereas most grownup guinea pigs shouldn’t eat alfalfa hay, pregnant and nursing guinea pigs can eat some alfalfa hay and alfalfa-based pellets.
Pregnant guinea pigs additionally want additional journeys to the veterinarian. It’s essential to maintain up with these visits to make sure your piggy has a wholesome being pregnant, and to take the infants and mother to the vet after beginning as effectively.
A vet appointment is particularly very important in case your pregnant piggy is over six months previous and having her first being pregnant, as a primary being pregnant at this age is commonly deadly. Older guinea pigs might must have a c-section as a way to survive the beginning of their pups.
Are Male or Feminine Guinea Pigs Higher?
Now that we’ve mentioned all of their variations, you may nonetheless marvel: which is best?
Female and male guinea pigs are similar to each other, and neither is definitely higher as a pet. Some folks want males, some want females, and a few simply undertake the piggy that calls to them most.
A greater query to ask is, which is finest for you? To reply this, I counsel serious about what number of guinea pigs you need, what number of cages you’re keen to have, and whether or not boar cleanings are a deal-breaker for you.
As we mentioned above, these looking for a guinea pig herd will need to restrict themselves to 1 neutered male guinea pig. In any other case, you’ll want multiple enclosure to accommodate all of them.
Boar cleanings aren’t an enormous deal to most individuals, but when they’re a deal-breaker for you, make sure you undertake females!
Lastly, needless to say guinea pigs may be sexed incorrectly–particularly for those who undertake from a pet retailer, yard breeder, or earlier proprietor. Guinea pig rescues should not prone to make this error.
That is one cause it’s so essential to convey new pets to the veterinarian. Your vet can affirm your piggies’ genders so that you simply keep away from undesirable being pregnant and different points.
Find out how to Intercourse a Guinea Pig
The way in which to inform a guinea pig’s gender is by taking a look at their genitals. Feminine guinea pigs have a Y form, whereas male guinea pigs’ genitals look extra like a lowercase i.
Light stress close to the dot of the “i,” or simply above the genitals, will trigger a male guinea pig’s penis to stay out, affirming that they’re certainly a boy!
Sexing child guinea pigs is tougher and may be very inaccurate. It’s finest to attend till round 3 weeks of age earlier than sexing your piggies, with the intention to be certain it’s performed proper.
When you’re unsure about sexing your guinea pigs, please ask an expert. This may very well be another person who’s very skilled, comparable to somebody who’s labored in guinea pig rescue, or an unique pet veterinarian.
Finest Guinea Pig Combos
The perfect guinea pig mixture is sort of all the time going to be a neutered boar and several other sows. That is how guinea pigs stay within the wild, so it’s what’s most pure for them.
If you wish to persist with the identical intercourse and never fear about neutering, females get alongside finest with each other. Bonding them collectively is simpler and their bonds are much less prone to break as soon as established.
Male guinea pigs are trickier to bond with each other, because it’s not likely pure for them (however positively obligatory in order that they don’t stay alone!). Within the wild, males would stay in separate territories with their very own herd of females.
That mentioned, males can have very profitable bonds! You’ll possible see extra dominance habits, comparable to mounting and enamel chattering, from boys. That is okay as long as they aren’t drawing blood or intimidating one another to the purpose the place one doesn’t have entry to issues like meals or water. With male guinea pigs, you’ll must arrange the cage so that every piggy has at the very least one conceal and one meals bowl to forestall fights.
General, neither male nor feminine guinea pigs are higher than the opposite. They’re very comparable, however there are some key variations which may make the choice simpler for you.
When you nonetheless don’t know whether or not to undertake a male or feminine, I like to recommend visiting a shelter or rescue and seeing which piggies communicate to you. When you see them, you’ll know that they’re meant to be a part of your loved ones!