A female Guinea Pig is called a sow and a male Guinea Pig is called a boar.
The Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus), also commonly called the Cavy, is a rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the Genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not pigs, nor do they come from Guinea. The domestic Guinea Pig originates from South America where the natives used the Guinea Pig as a source of food and it is still considered a delicacy today. They originated in the Andes (south america) and studies based on biochemistry and hybridization suggest they are domesticated descendants of a closely related species of cavy such as Cavia Aperea, C. Fulgida, or C. Tschudii, and therefore do not exist naturally in the wild.
Adult Guinea Pigs can reach a length of 25-36 cm. Boars tend to be larger than Sows. The head is broad and short and the body is compact with no tail. The Guinea Pig is a sociable pet and loves the company of other Guinea Pigs. They are herd animals. Sows are generally more accepting making it possible to have a large herd of sows housed together. Boars tend to be a bit more territorial, so best kept in pairs. Guinea Pigs are active during the day. Guinea Pigs are ideal first pets, although the average lifespan is 4-8 years so they are a long term pet.
Guinea Pigs are mammals which belong to the rodent family. Rodents have large incisor teeth which constantly grow. Guinea Pigs gnaw on things to prevent the teeth from overgrowing. The word 'rodent' is derived from the latin word 'rodere' which means 'to gnaw'.
Like humans, Guinea Pigs cannot make their own vitamin C and require a certain amount of it daily to prevent scurvy. Guinea Pigs receive vitamin C from the daily fresh vegetables.
Guinea Pigs need to be wormed every 3 months.
