Male vs Feminine Guinea Pigs: Variations & How you can Intercourse Them

Considering of adopting guinea pigs? You is likely to be questioning what the variations are between women and men, and which gender you need to carry dwelling!

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.

Maintain 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 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?

For those who solely wish 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’s 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 could additionally add one male to your herd–however by no means a couple of, as they’ll combat over the women. One male and one feminine piggy also can stay collectively.

In an effort 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 examine repeatedly 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 have to be carried out very steadily.

Females Can Develop Ovarian Cysts

A typical well being downside in feminine guinea pigs is ovarian cysts. After all, male guinea pigs can’t get ovarian cysts as a result of they don’t have ovaries.

Each guinea pig wants a well being examine at dwelling a minimum of as soon as a month the place you file their weight, examine their eyes and ears for particles, take heed to their respiratory to make sure they don’t sound congested or crackly, and examine that their fur is rising healthily.

Males also needs to be checked to see in the event that they want a boar cleansing at the moment, and females needs to be checked for crusty nipples–one of many signs of ovarian cysts.

Different signs to look at for embody remaining in warmth longer than ordinary, hair loss, and infertility.

In case your guinea pig reveals signs of ovarian cysts, it’s essential to carry her to the veterinarian, as they are often lethal if left untreated.

Males Would possibly Be Extra Human-friendly

Some folks consider 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.

One of the simplest ways to get a pleasant guinea pig is to go to a rescue and ask to satisfy the guinea pigs there. You may as well ask the employees 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 enable you 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 may make very fast, startling actions.

One of the simplest ways 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–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 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 harder to kind and are solely profitable round 20% of the time. However, feminine bonds are profitable round 80% of the time.

Neutered women and men 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, because 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 ladies are huge and chonky!

There additionally aren’t downsides to your guinea pigs being a bit larger or smaller, a minimum of 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 very 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 usually deadly. Older guinea pigs could must have a c-section to be able 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 favor males, some favor 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 enthusiastic 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 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 accommodate all of them.

Boar cleanings aren’t an enormous deal to most individuals, but when they’re a deal-breaker for you, be sure you undertake females!

Lastly, understand that guinea pigs will be sexed incorrectly–particularly in the event you undertake from a pet retailer, yard breeder, or earlier proprietor. Guinea pig rescues aren’t more likely to make this error.

That is one purpose it’s so essential to carry 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.

How you can 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 strain 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, in an effort to ensure it’s carried out proper.

For those who’re unsure about sexing your guinea pigs, please ask knowledgeable. This may very well be another person who’s very skilled, akin to somebody who’s labored in guinea pig rescue, or an unique pet veterinarian.

Finest Guinea Pig Combos

The easiest 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 follow the identical intercourse and never fear about neutering, females get alongside finest with each other. Bonding them collectively is less complicated 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 not likely pure for them (however undoubtedly vital 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 stated, males can have very profitable bonds! You’ll doubtless see extra dominance habits, akin to mounting and tooth 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 a minimum of one cover and one meals bowl to stop fights.

Total, neither male nor feminine guinea pigs are higher than the opposite. They’re very comparable, however there are some key variations that may make the choice simpler for you.

For those who 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!