# Domestic Guinea Pig (*Cavia porcellus*) Domestic guinea pigs are small, friendly animals that make great pets! They love to squeak and play, and they come in many colors and patterns. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Domestic Guinea Pig](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Conill_porqu%C3%AD_g%C3%A0bia.JPG&width=800) Photo: User:Laurita, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conill_porqu%C3%AD_g%C3%A0bia.JPG) ## Appearance The Domestic Guinea Pig is a stout, tailless rodent with short legs and a large head. They exhibit a wide range of coat colors and patterns, including solid, bi-color, and tri-color combinations, often with smooth, rough, or long fur. Their compact body shape makes them visually distinct from slender wild rodents. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Caviidae - **Genus:** Cavia ## Interesting facts - Baby guinea pigs are born with fur, teeth, and open eyes! - They are not from Guinea, nor are they pigs! - They do 'popcorning,' jumping excitedly when happy! - Wild cavies, their relatives, live in South American grasslands. ## Special abilities - **Teeth Trimmer:** Domestic Guinea Pig has continuously growing teeth that help them keep them sharp by gnawing on rough foods like hay. - **Hidey-Hole Hunter:** Domestic Guinea Pig can quickly dart into small spaces because of their compact body shape that helps them feel safe from threats. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 9 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-6 - **Gestation:** 59-72 days ## Diet & Feeding They are plant-eaters who love fresh hay, vegetables, and special pellets to stay healthy. - **Primary Foods:** hay, leafy greens, carrots, bell peppers, special pellets - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Relies on humans for food, shelter, and care. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Can be prey for cats if left unsupervised or escapes. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-dog) (*Canis familiaris*) — Can be prey for dogs if left unsupervised or escapes. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after playing with a guinea pig and be gentle when holding them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Domestic Guinea Pig? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Domestic Guinea Pig? 20-25 cm ### How much does Domestic Guinea Pig weigh? 0.7-1.2 kg ### How long does Domestic Guinea Pig live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Domestic Guinea Pig move? 9 km/h ### What does Domestic Guinea Pig eat? They are plant-eaters who love fresh hay, vegetables, and special pellets to stay healthy. ### Where is Domestic Guinea Pig usually found? Urban areas ### How does Domestic Guinea Pig hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Weeze](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-weeze) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Zabakuck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-zabakuck) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tiergarten Eisenberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-eisenberg) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Bürgerpark (Bremen)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burgerpark-bremen) — Bremen, DE · Park - [KALISTO Tierpark & Café](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kalisto-tierpark) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Zittau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-zittau) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Domestic Guinea Pig](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/domestic-guinea-pig) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Domestic Guinea Pig: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-guinea-pig)