Himalayan guinea pigs are one of the crucial well-liked in guinea pig exhibits. They’ve white our bodies, purple eyes, and darkish factors on their nostril, ears, and ft. These cute guinea pigs are born all-white and develop their markings at a number of 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 vivid purple eyes. |
| Coat coloration: | White with darkish factors on the nostril, ears, and ft. Their coat coloration might change primarily based on local weather. |
| Measurement: | 8-12 inches on common. |
| Lifespan: | Common lifespan is 5-7, the identical as for all guinea pig breeds. |
| Grooming: | No particular necessities apart 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 ft.
The British Cavy Council describes the colours of those darkish factors as both jet black or “wealthy milk chocolate.” The official variations are referred to as black Himalayan or chocolate Himalayan.
Black Himalayans are inclined to have a brighter white coloring, whereas chocolate Himalayans could be extra of an off-white coloration.
Curiously, a Himalayan’s coat coloration might change primarily based on local weather. In chilly climate, their our bodies are inclined to turn out to be extra pigmented, whereas their pigment can fade in highly regarded climate.
After all, we wish to at all times home our guinea pigs in average temperatures—if it’s highly regarded or chilly the place you reside, your piggies ought to be stored in an indoor, temperature-controlled space.
As a result of they’re albino, Himalayan guinea pigs have purple eyes. Child Himalayan piggies don’t have any darkish factors and are all-white. The factors develop by the point the guinea pig is a number of months previous.
How Huge 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 turn out to be unwell. Some additional grams can maintain them going whilst you and your veterinarian work out what’s unsuitable!
So, don’t go placing piggy on a eating regimen in the event that they weigh greater than listed above—generally, the one guinea pig meals you ever wish to prohibit is their pellets.
For those who do have a priority, discuss to your veterinarian to find out what you ought to be feeding day by day. It’s potential you’re feeding too many sugary treats, equivalent 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 in terms of grooming. They want their nails trimmed frequently, and brushing their coat round as soon as per week will assist to distribute oils, retaining it wholesome. Brushing the coat may also take away particles that will get caught within the fur.
Don’t bathe your guinea pig until needed, and not more than 3-4 instances a yr. Some guinea pigs can go their total lives with out a bathtub!
Temperament
Himalayan guinea pigs have the identical temperament as most guinea pigs. They’re prey animals, thus will be timid and scared of people. Some guinea pigs prefer to be pet and held, whereas others want their people look however don’t contact!
Guinea pigs want to be approached from the aspect, moderately than from above—as reaching into their cage from above mimics a hawk swooping them up from the sky.
One of the simplest ways to a guinea pigs’ coronary heart is with meals! They’re always consuming to maintain their digestive system transferring, and will be fairly food-obsessed.
Fortunately, guinea pigs are additionally fairly light creatures. Something with tooth can chew, particularly when startled or dealt with improperly. Nevertheless, guinea pigs are much less prone to nip than most of the different rodents we maintain as pets.
The place Can I Discover a Himalayan Guinea Pig?
From a Rescue or Shelter
One of the 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 option to undertake a brand new piggy.
For those who haven’t but, look into guinea pig-specific rescues in your space. They’ll be the perfect place to look, as they doubtless have tons of of piggies ready for brand spanking 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 on account of poor genetics, being handled improperly as infants, or catching an sickness whereas of their crowded services.
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, maintain them in substandard circumstances, 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 usually suggest this as an possibility, not as a result of I’m in opposition to respected breeders, however since you’re most unlikely to seek out one–however you’re prone 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 record. It’s best to by no means have the ability to 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, equivalent to correctly sized cages, a nutritious diet, and at all times retaining two or extra guinea pigs to fulfill their social wants.
- You possibly can meet them at house. The guinea pigs ought to be stored in an ample cage measurement of seven.5 sq. ft or higher, relying on what number of are stored in every cage. It ought to be clear with a considerable amount of contemporary hay out there always.
- They solely supply one breed. A breeder with two litters isn’t essentially a deal breaker—but when they’ve a bunch of breeds listed on a web 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 potential, likelihood is the guinea pigs aren’t correctly cared for.
- A return coverage. A good breeder will take a guinea pig again for any motive, at any level within the piggy’s life. They’ll make you signal a contract stating that, must you ever must rehome your guinea pigs, they go proper again to the breeder.
This exhibits 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 move down lethal genetic diseases. (Specifically, Satin Syndrome and lethal white guinea pigs).
These traits are recessive, which means a guinea pig can have them with out showing to! - Well being information. Your breeder ought to see a veterinarian frequently—not less than every year for a wellness go to, and extra usually after they’re pregnant. They need to additionally have the ability to 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 had been first bred for meat, however fortunately, Himalayans at the moment are principally bred as pets.
Though some folks assume that Himalayan guinea pigs are from Asia, on account of their title, they’re really 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 some other guinea pig breed! If you wish to undertake, make sure to take action responsibly and never help unethical breeding. Count on related behaviors, eating regimen, and lifespan to some other guinea pig breed.
