Pondering of adopting guinea pigs? You may be questioning what the variations are between women and men, and which gender you must carry house!
Essentially 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 massive herds, and males require common boar cleanings to maintain their genitals clear.
Preserve studying to study extra about female and male guinea pigs, their variations, and which is best for you!
Male vs Feminine Guinea Pigs: Key Variations
Females Can Stay in Herds
Personally, I feel 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 wish to have? Am I okay with them residing in separate cages?
In case you solely wish to undertake two guinea pigs, then males are excellent! It’s very tough to maintain males in herds, and never beneficial until you’re prepared to separate and bond all of them into new pairs if the bond fails. Since most individuals don’t have the sources to take action, it’s finest to keep away from trios or herds!
Feminine piggies, alternatively, 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 that you may additionally add one male to your herd–however by no means a couple of, as they’ll struggle over the women. One male and one feminine piggy may stay collectively.
As a way to do that, you’ll must have the male guinea pig neutered. In any other case, you’ll find yourself with an countless 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, nevertheless it’s essential to test recurrently 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 will 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 achieved very steadily.
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 house not less than as soon as a month the place you file their weight, test their eyes and ears for particles, take heed to their respiration to make sure they don’t sound congested or crackly, and test that their fur is rising healthily.
Males also needs to be checked to see in the event that they want a boar cleansing presently, and females must be checked for crusty nipples–one of many signs of ovarian cysts.
Different signs to look at for embody remaining in warmth longer than typical, hair loss, and infertility.
In case your guinea pig exhibits signs of ovarian cysts, it’s essential to carry her to the veterinarian, as they are often lethal if left untreated.
Males May Be Extra Human-friendly
Some folks consider that male guinea pigs are friendlier towards people than females. Nevertheless, 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 all the way 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 go well with you finest!
It’s additionally essential to discover ways to work together with guinea pigs, as it will make it easier to to make associates with them. Most guinea pigs discover people scary as a result of we’re a predator species, a lot bigger than they’re, and might 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 method them from the facet or entrance–relatively than from above.
Providing meals can be a great way to make them affiliate you with positivity–in any case, there’s nothing a guinea pig loves greater than a snack!
Females Are inclined 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 harder to kind and are solely profitable round 20% of the time. Then again, feminine bonds are profitable round 80% of the time.
Neutered women and men additionally get on very properly with each other and these pairs are likely to bond simply. It’s male-male pairings that don’t do as properly, on account of males being territorial round one another.
Male Guinea Pigs Are Larger Than Females
Lastly, male guinea pigs are typically larger than females. This isn’t a tough rule–some boys are tiny, and a few women are massive and chonky!
There additionally aren’t downsides to your guinea pigs being somewhat larger or smaller, not less than 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 principle 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 further 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 properly.
A vet appointment is very important in case your pregnant piggy is over six months outdated and having her first being pregnant, as a first pregnancy at this age is often fatal. 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 healthier?
Female and male guinea pigs are similar to each other, and neither is definitely higher as a pet. Some folks desire males, some desire 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 fascinated by what number of guinea pigs you need, what number of cages you’re prepared to have, and whether or not boar cleanings are a deal-breaker for you.
As we mentioned above, these searching for a guinea pig herd will wish to restrict themselves to 1 neutered male guinea pig. In any other case, you’ll want a couple of enclosure to deal with all of them.
Boar cleanings aren’t an enormous deal to most individuals, but when they’re a deal-breaker for you, remember to undertake females!
Lastly, take into account that guinea pigs will be sexed incorrectly–particularly for those who undertake from a pet retailer, yard breeder, or earlier proprietor. Guinea pig rescues will not be more likely to make this error.
That is one motive it’s so essential to carry new pets to the veterinarian. Your vet can verify your piggies’ genders so that you simply keep away from undesirable being pregnant and different points.
How one can Intercourse a Guinea Pig
The best way to inform a guinea pig’s gender is by their genitals. Feminine guinea pigs have a Y form, whereas male guinea pigs’ genitals look extra like a lowercase i.
Mild 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 harder and will 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 achieved proper.
In case you’re unsure about sexing your guinea pigs, please ask an expert. This could possibly be another person who’s very skilled, similar to somebody who’s labored in guinea pig rescue, or an unique pet veterinarian.
Greatest Guinea Pig Combos
The easiest guinea pig mixture is nearly all the time going to be a neutered boar and a number of other sows. That is how guinea pigs stay within the wild, so it’s what’s most pure for them.
If you wish to follow 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 more likely to break as soon as established.
Male guinea pigs are trickier to bond with each other, because it’s probably not pure for them (however undoubtedly crucial 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 doubtless see extra dominance conduct, similar 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 not less than one disguise and one meals bowl to stop fights.
Total, neither male nor feminine guinea pigs are higher than the opposite. They’re very related, however there are some key variations which may make the choice simpler for you.
In case 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 converse to you. When you see them, you’ll know that they’re meant to be a part of your loved ones!
