How to tell the age of a guinea pig

[Hannahb2804]

Hi I’m just wondering if there are any ways to tell the age of a guinea pig from features or anything like that, getting two piggies but as they were found and brought to the rescue I’m getting them from, they don’t know how old they are so just wondered if there’s anyway I can find out the age? They think roughly a few months or so but not sure. If anyone can help that would be great

 

[DMS260820]

Any chance you can post some pictures? There's no way of knowing for sure, but really young guinea pigs tend to have very short, sharp nails That's all I've noticed. And they won't weigh much, alot of healthy adult guinea pigs seem to way between sort of 800g and 1.5kg. That's rough, to what I know.

Some more things are younger guinea pigs tend to be more playful and energetic

 

[Hannahb2804]

Any chance you can post some pictures? There's no way of knowing for sure, but really young guinea pigs tend to have very short, sharp, s. That's all I've noticed. And they won't weigh much, alot of healthy adult guinea pigs seem to way between sort of 800g and 1.5kg. That's rough, to what I know.

Some more things are younger guinea pigs tend to be more playful and energetic

I have some pictures from the rescue I can post but as I’m not getting them till next week I’m unable to weight them or do a health check and look at their nails but I’ll post a photo of them both now what they have on their website

 

[DMS260820]

The right one looks younger than the left, but not sure, guinea pigs ears droop when they get more towards adulthood. I don't know exactly when, might differ. Anymore pics?

 

[DMS260820]

Can you get more of the nails in the photo? They do look roughly just a few months old. I think you have probably been told correctly

 

[Wiebke]

I have some pictures from the rescue I can post but as I’m not getting them till next week I’m unable to weight them or do a health check and look at their nails but I’ll post a photo of them both now what they have on their website

Hi!
They look like sub-teenage or young teenage to me; but they also look very thin in that picture, poor sods! The picture must have been taken not long after their arrival so they are likely a bit older now and have hopefully filled out at bit.

 

[Hannahb2804]

Can you get more of the nails in the photo? They do look roughly just a few months old. I think you have probably been told correctly

These are the only ones I’ve got which kind of show their nails but until I pick them up next week, I’ll post photos when I get them x

 

[Hannahb2804]

Hi! They look like sub-teenage or young teenage to me.

How old would you say that is? I get confused with the ages and how they work out into normal years etc

 

[Wiebke]

How old would you say that is? I get confused with the ages and how they work out into normal years etc

Aging exactly is very difficult I would put yours somewhere between ca. 3-9 months, not being able to handle them?

 

[Hannahb2804]

Hi!
They look like sub-teenage or young teenage to me; but they also look very thin in that picture, poor sods! The picture must have been taken not long after their arrival so they are likely a bit older now and have hopefully filled out at bit.

Yeah it was so sad they were rescued in January in a group of 25 others it was awful, many were pregnant but the photos of them now they’ve filled out abit eating fresh veggies!

 

[Hannahb2804]

Aging exactly is very difficult I would put yours somewhere between ca. 3-9 months, not being able to handle them?

I’ll be able to see when I pick them up, because of lockdown I’m unable to go in and see them and all that beforehand but I’ve been in contact with the rescue for a while and see all the videos they post feeding veggies, I found them on the rescue list on this forum!

 

[Wiebke]

Yeah it was so sad they were rescued in January in a group of 25 others it was awful, many were pregnant but the photos of them now they’ve filled out abit eating fresh veggies!

So they are likely 4 months older than my assessment based on that first picture and are likely coming up or being around a year old. Adulthood doesn't start until 15 months.

 

[Hannahb2804]

So they are likely 4 months older than my assessment based on that first picture and are likely coming up or being around a year old. Adulthood doesn't start until 15 months.

How can you tell if they’ve reached adulthood? As soon as I have them I’ll update with photos xx

 

[Wiebke]

PS: I have got piggy stuck in rescue myself; she's been reserved for me since January. We missed the planned adoption pick-up at the end of her pregnancy watch by a matter of 3 days...

 

[Wiebke]

How can you tell if they’ve reached adulthood? As soon as I have them I’ll update with photos xx

You generally get that from their behaviour and that they start growing fatter rather than longer...
Like other members have stated, aging piggies is NOT easy and can only ever be a rough guess. I have adopted dumped piggies classed as 'mature' which could have covered anything from about 3/4 years onward.

 

[DMS260820]

From a sort of complete guess, I think the white guinea pigs looks younger than the ginger one and that they have been bonded from different litters. This is probably obvious by the colours I don't know. I won't confuse you anymore

 

[Hannahb2804]

PS: I have got piggy stuck in rescue myself; she's been reserved for me since January. We missed the planned adoption pick-up at the end of her pregnancy watch by a matter of 3 days...

Oh gosh no! When will you be able to pick her up?

 

[Tigermoth]

Aw, how lovely. Ours were found in similar conditions and they’ve thrived with us. I think ours are coming up for 6 now, bless them, but they had a rotten start to life.

 

[Hannahb2804]

You generally get that from their behaviour and that they start growing fatter rather than longer...
Like other members have stated, aging piggies is NOT easy and can only ever be a rough guess. I have adopted dumped piggies classed as 'mature' which could have covered anything from about 3/4 years onward.

Okay thankyou! I’ll just have to see when I’m able to pick them up, and oh gosh it’s so sad seeing how many are dumped but yeah when I asked she said she estimated a few months when they came and then they’ve been bonded a while back and she’s seen them both grow but not sure how old

 

[Hannahb2804]

From a sort of complete guess, I think the white guinea pigs looks younger than the ginger one and that they have been bonded from different litters. This is probably obvious by the colours I don't know. I won't confuse you anymore

Okay thankyou! Yeah I thought she looked a little younger but can never tell fully on photos