Himalayan guinea pigs are probably the most well-liked in guinea pig reveals. They’ve white our bodies, crimson eyes, and darkish factors on their nostril, ears, and toes. These cute guinea pigs are born all-white and develop their markings at just a few months of age.
On this article, we’ll talk about Himalayan guinea pigs, what they seem like, their temperament, and extra!
What do Himalayan Guinea Pigs Look Like?
| Particular traits: | They’re albino and have vibrant crimson eyes. |
| Coat colour: | White with darkish factors on the nostril, ears, and toes. Their coat colour might change based mostly on local weather. |
| Dimension: | 8-12 inches on common. |
| Lifespan: | Common lifespan is 5-7, the identical as for all guinea pig breeds. |
| Grooming: | No particular necessities aside from weekly brushing. |
| Rosettes: | They don’t have rosettes (cowlicks). |
Himalayan guinea pigs look much like Siamese cats. They’re white with darkish factors on the nostril, ears, and toes.
The British Cavy Council describes the colours of those darkish factors as both jet black or “wealthy milk chocolate.” The official variations are known as black Himalayan or chocolate Himalayan.
Black Himalayans are inclined to have a brighter white coloring, whereas chocolate Himalayans is likely to be extra of an off-white colour.
Apparently, a Himalayan’s coat colour might change based mostly on local weather. In chilly climate, their our bodies are inclined to grow to be extra pigmented, whereas their pigment can fade in very popular climate.
After all, we wish to all the time home our guinea pigs in reasonable temperatures—if it’s very popular or chilly the place you reside, your piggies must be stored in an indoor, temperature-controlled space.
As a result of they’re albino, Himalayan guinea pigs have crimson eyes. Child Himalayan piggies haven’t any darkish factors and are all-white. The factors develop by the point the guinea pig is just a few months outdated.
How Large do Himalayan Guinea Pigs Get?
Himalayan guinea pigs usually measure round 8-12 inches, the identical as most different guinea pig breeds. They weigh round 1.5-2.5 kilos, or 680-1130 grams.
It’s usually good for guinea pigs to weigh a bit greater than common, as they’ll drop weight in a short time after they grow to be in poor health. Some additional grams can preserve them going whilst you and your veterinarian work out what’s incorrect!
So, don’t go placing piggy on a weight loss program in the event that they weigh greater than listed above—typically, the one guinea pig meals you ever wish to limit is their pellets.
In case you do have a priority, speak to your veterinarian to find out what you ought to be feeding every day. It’s doable you’re feeding too many sugary treats, comparable to fruit or carrots, and must substitute with extra darkish, leafy greens, for instance.
How one can Groom a Himalayan Guinea Pig
Himalayan guinea pigs aren’t high-maintenance with regards to grooming. They want their nails trimmed usually, and brushing their coat round as soon as every week will assist to distribute oils, preserving it wholesome. Brushing the coat can even take away particles that will get caught within the fur.
Don’t bathe your guinea pig except needed, and not more than 3-4 occasions a 12 months. Some guinea pigs can go their total lives with no bathtub!
Temperament
Himalayan guinea pigs have the identical temperament as most guinea pigs. They’re prey animals, thus will be timid and frightened of people. Some guinea pigs prefer to be pet and held, whereas others choose their people look however don’t contact!
Guinea pigs choose to be approached from the aspect, somewhat than from above—as reaching into their cage from above mimics a hawk swooping them up from the sky.
The easiest way to a guinea pigs’ coronary heart is with meals! They’re consistently consuming to maintain their digestive system transferring, and will be fairly food-obsessed.
Fortunately, guinea pigs are additionally fairly mild creatures. Something with enamel can chew, particularly when startled or dealt with improperly. Nevertheless, guinea pigs are much less more likely to nip than lots of the different rodents we preserve as pets.
The place Can I Discover a Himalayan Guinea Pig?
From a Rescue or Shelter
The very best place to discover a Himalayan guinea pig is from a shelter or rescue. Although it’ll take extra wanting, that is essentially the most accountable technique to undertake a brand new piggy.
In case you haven’t but, look into guinea pig-specific rescues in your space. They’ll be the very best place to look, as they doubtless have a whole bunch of piggies ready for brand new properties!
Keep away from Pet Shops and Most Breeders
By no means undertake a guinea pig from a pet retailer, as they supply their guinea pigs from breeding mills. These are much like pet mills, however for different animals like guinea pigs.
Breeding mills put many guinea pigs collectively in tight enclosures, permitting them to breed at random. They don’t thoughts if animals die of their care—or in the event that they die in your care attributable to poor genetics, being handled improperly as infants, or catching an sickness whereas of their crowded amenities.
Most Himalayan guinea pig breeders you’ll discover gained’t be moral both. Sadly, it’s uncommon to discover a guinea pig breeder who is aware of what they’re doing and is in it for the betterment of the breed.
Even with good intentions, it’s straightforward to breed sick guinea pigs, preserve them in substandard situations, and even damage the mom whereas breeding her, if the breeder doesn’t know what they’re doing.
Discovering a Respected Himalayan Guinea Pig Breeder
Respected breeders are few and much between. I don’t typically advocate this as an choice, not as a result of I’m in opposition to respected breeders, however since you’re impossible to search out one–however you’re more likely to discover many yard breeders.
Respected breeders don’t breed many guinea pigs, and so they don’t revenue from breeding. It takes a passionate particular person to place the time and care into breeding correctly, elevating child guinea pigs, and discovering them good properties.
Right here’s what to search for in a good Himalayan guinea pig breeder:
- A ready listing. You must by no means be capable of undertake a guinea pig same-day. Respected breeders discover properties for his or her piggies earlier than they’re born and have ready lists for potential adopters.
- They learn about guinea pigs. They need to be educated concerning the Himalayan breed, breeding guinea pigs, and elevating them. A good breeder follows and recommends correct care, comparable to correctly sized cages, a nutritious diet, and all the time preserving two or extra guinea pigs to satisfy their social wants.
- You’ll be able to meet them at house. The guinea pigs must be stored in an satisfactory cage measurement of seven.5 sq. toes or higher, relying on what number of are stored in every cage. It must be clear with a considerable amount of recent hay obtainable always.
- They solely provide one breed. A breeder with two litters isn’t essentially a deal breaker—but when they’ve a bunch of breeds listed on an internet site, you’re positively not coping with a good breeder.
Contemplate what number of guinea pigs they’ll correctly take care of, together with massive cages, monitoring the piggies for indicators of well being issues, and vet prices! If it doesn’t really feel doable, chances are high the guinea pigs aren’t correctly cared for.
- A return coverage. A good breeder will take a guinea pig again for any purpose, at any level within the piggy’s life. They may make you signal a contract stating that, must you ever must rehome your guinea pigs, they go proper again to the breeder.
This reveals that they care for his or her animals and don’t wish to see them left in a shelter! - DNA testing. With out DNA testing, your breeder doesn’t know in the event that they’re breeding wholesome guinea pigs. They need to be checking for the satin trait, roan gene, and Dalmatian gene—all of which might trigger a piggy to cross down lethal genetic diseases. (Specifically, Satin Syndrome and deadly white guinea pigs).
These traits are recessive, which means a guinea pig can have them with out showing to! - Well being data. Your breeder ought to see a veterinarian usually—no less than annually for a wellness go to, and extra usually after they’re pregnant. They need to additionally be capable of advise you on a superb exotics veterinarian to convey your personal piggies to!
The place do Himalayan Guinea Pigs Come From?
Like all guinea pigs, Himalayan piggies originated in South America. Guinea pigs have been first bred for meat, however fortunately, Himalayans at present are largely bred as pets.
Though some folks assume that Himalayan guinea pigs are from Asia, attributable to their identify, they’re truly named for his or her similarities to Siamese cats (which are literally from Thailand).
Himalayan guinea pigs are cute as a button, identical to Rex, Texel, or another guinea pig breed! If you wish to undertake, ensure to take action responsibly and never help unethical breeding. Anticipate comparable behaviors, weight loss program, and lifespan to another guinea pig breed.