When getting a guinea pig, one of the best things to do is love on them and enjoy their company! However, you might wonder many things if you are new to the guinea pig world.

New pets bring with them a deluge of questions, everything from the best way to care for one to “How can I tell if my pig is fully grown?” Thankfully, the answer to the latter question is relatively easy.

Guinea pigs are considered full-grown adults at six months old, depending on the breed. However, you’ll need more information on what to look for and what to tell at a glance.

Given that information, we will dive deep into how long guinea pigs live, what age they reach full size and more. These questions are essential because you need to know what you have to feed your guinea pig and what lifestyle choices you should provide them during this growing period. Continue reading for more information.

How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live?

 

The average lifespan of a guinea pig is anywhere from five to seven years, but differences in breed, health complications, and general activity can make a significant impact on just how long your pig can be with you.

Narrowing down some of the biggest influences on this overhead number, a guinea pig’s diet plays a pivotal role in measuring this time frame, primarily because unhealthy foods and treats can lead to the very same health issues noted earlier. Everything from diabetes, obesity, heart problems, and more can be traced back to a poor diet.

Additionally, other outside factors can heavily influence a guinea pig’s average life expectancy. Things like cage cleanliness and exposure to emotionally jarring events (like dogs barking at them, doors slamming, and other jolting experiences) can all be very nerve-racking on a pig, which can then send them into torpor, a very deadly state of being if left untreated.

 

At What Age Do Guinea Pigs Reach Full Size?

 

The average guinea pig breed will reach full maturity in about six months, but some species can continue growing all the way up to a year of age. At this point, the pig’s weight and overall size will more or less stabilize, guaranteeing that they are as big as they will get without an unhealthy diet, making them a bit plumper.

 

Males 

 

A male pig can usually be considered fully mature at around four months old, which is a tad faster than females, but not by a large amount. Even more fascinating, however, is that if we were to quantify maturity on a spectrum that reflected when they could reproduce, male guinea pigs could reach sexual maturity at anywhere from two to three months old.

 

Females

 

Sows, on the other hand, unlike their boar counterpart, reach full maturity in about six to eight months and, much like the males, can become capable of giving birth at around three months of age.

Do Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Different Portions Than Adult Guinea Pigs?

 

Surprisingly enough, there is very little difference in the raw volume of food eaten between adult guinea pigs and young ones. The biggest discernible difference that can be observed would be the ratio of hay to other food options, assuming, of course, you are opting for pellets or another food alternative alongside hay.

As far as rationing food goes, guinea pigs should be allowed to eat their fill of hay at all times. It wouldn’t be wise to try to limit this, as your pig may once again become convinced that there is a food shortage, placing itself into that state of torpor mentioned earlier.

 

Are Different Breeds of Guinea Pigs Different Sizes?

 

Yes, not only can size differences become blatantly apparent based on a guinea pig’s diet, but their species will innately cause them to be slightly bigger or smaller, depending on the condition. Unless your guinea has something like dwarfism, there shouldn’t be a massive difference in size.

 

What Are the Biggest Guinea Pigs?

 

The biggest guinea pig breed in the world is currently the Rex. It typically grows to about 18 inches in length and weighs about 3 pounds on average, making it a very girthy, fluffy pig. But if their size and stature weren’t enough, they also have fantastic furry coats, making them one of the snuggliest breeds around.

 

What Are the Smallest Guinea Pigs?

 

The crown for the most miniature guinea pig is shared between two different breeds: the American and the Texel. Both are about 8-10 inches in length and weigh a very meager 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. These pigs take being handheld to the next level. They usually have a slightly skittish nature, but they can come out of their shells with people they trust.

 

Is My Guinea Pig Too Small or Too Big?

 

No, thankfully enough, a guinea pig cannot be too small or too big if the only metric we observe is its raw size. On the other hand, weight can easily make a pig bigger than it is supposed to be. Still, this is not a good thing, as a pig that is just bloated and overweight clearly isn’t healthy and, as such, will need some dramatic changes to its diet and weight if it is to lead a long and healthy life.

 

Should I Be Concerned if My Guinea Pig Looks Too Small?

 

Looks can be deceiving, if your pig is eating regularly, content in its enclosure, and not displaying any traits that might be considered unhealthy, it’s best to just leave it to its own devices.

The only time you should be concerned about a pig appearing too small would be if you think that it is malnourished, which can be diagnosed by the pig appearing slightly gaunt, deflated, or even displaying clear signs of lethargy, generally having no energy, and not moving around very often.

 

Should I Be Concerned if My Guinea Pig Looks Too Big?

 

Once again, you can’t rightly judge a book by its cover, but more so by the content of its pages. If you have a Rex, for example, and he is looking a little wider than usual, that could just be a trick of the light. However, if your pig is struggling to get around its enclosure and you know you’ve been giving it a few too many fruits as treats, then you could say it is too big for its own good.

Thankfully, resolving this bloating is as simple as a diet change. To that end, you’ll just need to refrain from giving it any more treats for a while, encourage it (in a non-food way) to play a bit more, and endorse a healthier lifestyle.

 

How to Fatten Up a Skinny Guinea Pig?

 

The concept itself is relatively straightforward. The only thing you need to do to get a pig to be fatter is give it more fruits. The sugars inside will produce fat and inevitably make the pig bigger. The problem here is that most people wouldn’t be able to tell whether or not a pig is too skinny by simply looking at it.

If you are truly concerned that your guinea pig is malnourished or too small, your best course of action would be to take it to the vet and have them run some tests and assess it to ensure it is truly unhealthy.

The absolute worst thing you could do is assume there is a problem with your pet when everything is perfectly fine. Your “medicine” can inadvertently become the very problem you sought to cure in the first place.

 

What Are Some Ways to Keep My Adult Guinea Pig Healthy?

 

The best way to keep a pig in picture-perfect health would be to regulate its diet (primarily treat intake), regularly clean its pen, and interact with it often so that its spirit and morale are always in check. Otherwise, you can keep things simple.

The area your pig is in can also create health complications. Things like dust, mites, and noise pollution can negatively affect your pig’s health. You’ll want to take a minute to survey your surroundings and ensure your pet is not only safe but undisturbed in its enclosure.

Generally speaking, pets, people, or any other outside influences that can be interpreted as loud, obnoxious, or unruly shouldn’t be too close to your pig. Everything from someone who talks too loud to a door that gets slammed too often can shock your pig and scare it into that torpor state, which is obviously not healthy.

 

What is Torpor?

 

You saw us mention this word a few times but may not know its meaning. Torpor is a state of lethargy often confused with hibernation because some of the aftereffects can appear the same. The difference is that one is induced by being in a state of shock, and the other occurs naturally in nature.

While in torpor, a guinea pig’s breathing plummets, as do its temperature and overall movement, often appearing to be in a very weak state of suspended animation. The triggers for this are wide, but the best way to diagnose whether or not your pig is in torpor or has already passed away would be to check for signs of breathing or other reactionary reflexes.

Using a small spoon and holding it to your pig’s nostrils should emit a very small smudge on the tip of the spoon, indicating that the pig is, at the very least, breathing. You can also use touch tests around the stomach or cheeks, as these will be the hottest areas on your pig.

Assuming you aren’t feeling any heat, there are no smudges or worse, your pig feels slightly firm to the touch, so it may be too late. This is why it is imperative to double down on where your pig is located, what outside influences are affecting it, and ensuring it has a healthy diet.

Conclusion

 

Regardless of gender, guinea pigs are largely considered adults at about 6 months of age. From that point on, they are not only capable of reproduction but also much more cognate of their surroundings. So, to ensure your pig gets the full life it deserves after reaching maturity, check your surroundings and keep its diet healthy!