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How can I tell the age of my piggies?
- Thread starter o&b
- Start date
o&b
Junior Guinea Pig
Oh, also-
I know my piggies aren't adults, but I'd just like to know if there's a way to find out the age (even if it's not 100% accurate)
I know my piggies aren't adults, but I'd just like to know if there's a way to find out the age (even if it's not 100% accurate)
No there is no real way to tell their age, their weights will not tell you their age given they huge variations which can carry through life. Measuring them won’t tell you their age either due to those same variations.
All you can do is make rough guesses ie if they were pet shop piggies, then assume they were sold at around 6-8 weeks of age, and then add on the amount of time you’ve had them. That’s not accurate though.
All you can do is make rough guesses ie if they were pet shop piggies, then assume they were sold at around 6-8 weeks of age, and then add on the amount of time you’ve had them. That’s not accurate though.
Nails can also be used as a very rough guide - the older the piggy the thicker and more curled their nails can be, but this isn't really accurate either. It just lets you know if they are a baby or an adult.
o&b
Junior Guinea Pig
Thanks!
Hi
Pet shop guinea pigs are generally sold at around 6-8 weeks of age.
The very largest newborns can be triple the size of the smallest; and the same goes for adults weight/size variation.
Other than knowing the birth date, you can determine age only ever roughly as pet-teenage, teenage (when in boars the testicles descend in the first part of it), adult (from around 15 months, plus/minus about three months) and mature (i.e. no longer at the peak of their life to very elderly, which can also happen sooner with some piggies than others...
If you want to find out more about guinea pig development over the course of a life, biological and species information, you may find these links here helpful:
Guinea Pig Facts - An Overview
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs
For the life-long weekly weigh-in and body check as a crucial part of regular health monitoring and grooming care:
Weight - Monitoring and Management
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely (videos)
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs
For the most common new owners how-to challenges and concerns/pitfalls for a hopefully smooth start:
Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners