Do you know how long your guinea pig baby will stay with his mother? The answer might vary from species to species. Generally speaking, however, young guinea pigs will stay with their moms for about 18 to 22 days.
If you’re planning on getting a new guinea pig as a pet or adopting one from an animal shelter, it’s important that you know how long the little guy will stay with his mom.
After all, some potential adopters might be put off if they realize the adult male guinea pig in the adoption room is only there until he finds a permanent home.
Of course, each individual’s situation is different and factors such as access to food and water and even socialization can have an immediate effect on how long a baby stays with his mom.
However, there are some general guidelines that can help you understand whether or not your guinea pig is likely to leave his mother permanently.
When Can A Baby Guinea Pig Be Separated From Mom?
If you’re giving your guinea pig a good home and he’s feeling happy and well cared for, chances are that he’ll stay with his mom for the duration of her life. However, sometimes things happen.
For example, if something happens to a mom’s health or she becomes too old to care for her babies properly, you might need to separate them.
If this is the case, it’s important that you find a new home for your guinea pig as soon as possible so that the new family can start bonding right away.
On the other hand, if your pet has been abused or neglected by its mother, you may have no choice but to remove him from the home and give him a better life somewhere else.
You should also be aware that because of how long guinea pigs tend to stay with their mothers, there’s a chance that not all of your guinea pigs will want to leave their moms at once. This means it might take some time before all of your guinea pigs are adopted out into new homes.
Can Guinea Pig Dad Be With Babies?
Guinea pigs can have up to 16 babies during their lifetime. But, as you might expect, not all guinea pig babies are destined to live with their mothers and fathers.
For example, if a female guinea pig has had 10 litters of babies in the past, there is a good chance that she will stop nursing her pups and leave them when they’re old enough.
In this case, it’s possible for the mother to be pregnant with baby number 11 at the time that her previous pups are ready to leave the nest. On average, however, most guinea pigs give birth to one litter per year.
Sometimes female guinea pigs may abandon their babies because of limited resources or because they’re unable to care for an excess of pups. Other times the mother might reject her newborns because they are underweight or deformed in some way.
If you suspect that your female guinea pig might be rejecting her newborns, it’s best to contact a professional immediately so they can help you out.
If your male guinea pig is present when his new litter is born, he will generally take care of them until they’re old enough to start eating solid food on their own (around two weeks). Then he’ll find a new home and leave his offspring behind to grow up with mom and dad.
Can You Hold Guinea Pig Babies?
If you’re thinking of getting a guinea pig as a pet, you might want to know if you can hold your guinea pig.
Generally speaking, young guinea pigs are not as aggressive as adult guinea pigs and will typically allow their mothers to carry them around.
However, you should never pick up a guinea pig by his back legs or try and catch him because he could potentially hurt himself. Although it’s tempting to try to hold your little one, you should always be prepared for the worst-case scenario in which the baby is too strong and refuses to let go.
What Do I Do After Your Guinea Pig Gives Birth?
If you plan to get a new guinea pig after the mother gives birth, it’s important that you make sure you know what to do. There are certain things that should be done in order to ensure that your guinea pig stays with his mom for as long as possible.
For example, if your guinea pig is born during daylight hours, it’s important to make sure the mother and babies have adequate light.
If your guinea pig is born during the nighttime hours, then it’s best not to disturb them. Also, make sure there is enough bedding or straw in the cage for the mother and babies.
In addition, make sure food and water are available on a regular basis when you give your guinea pigs fresh water every day and feed them within a few hours of waking up from sleep.
In this way, they will be less likely to leave their moms for food or water tastes better than what’s offered by their mothers. The result? You’ll be able to enjoy more of your meet-and-greet sessions with your new pet!
