Dumb Guinea Misconceptions

[smoot]

The thread about people who don't like guinea pigs reminded me of all the ridiculous things people have asked me about my guinea pigs. I wouldn't say that they were common misconceptions, so how about listing com un-common misconceptions?

1. One of my co-workers insisted that a guinea pig she used to have ate her young after she gave birth to them. This came up after I had mentioned to another co-worker that my herd grew from two pigs to three because we didn't know one of the girls was pregnant when we got her. I swear I had to reassure her at least half a dozen times that guinea pigs do not eat their young. She insisted I should separate the baby from her mother to avoid a tragedy.

2. Someone asked me if guinea pigs have knees.

3. A co-worker asked me what color my pigs were. When I told him that I had a golden agouti, he told me that if you have a bunch of guinea pigs and you keep letting them breed together, eventually you'll end up with a bunch of agoutis. And he knows this because when he was younger thay had hundreds of guinea pigs living free range in their back yard.

4. This person also claimed that guinea pigs will eat other dead guinea pigs.

These are all I can remember right now. But you can see why I don't talk about guinea pigs with people I don't know well.

[Katie]

Originally Posted by smoot

The thread about people who don't like guinea pigs reminded me of all the ridiculous things people have asked me about my guinea pigs. I wouldn't say that they were common misconceptions, so how about listing com un-common misconceptions?

1. One of my co-workers insisted that a guinea pig she used to have ate her young after she gave birth to them. This came up after I had mentioned to another co-worker that my herd grew from two pigs to three because we didn't know one of the girls was pregnant when we got her. I swear I had to reassure her at least half a dozen times that guinea pigs do not eat their young. She insisted I should separate the baby from her mother to avoid a tragedy.

2. Someone asked me if guinea pigs have knees.

3. A co-worker asked me what color my pigs were. When I told him that I had a golden agouti, he told me that if you have a bunch of guinea pigs and you keep letting them breed together, eventually you'll end up with a bunch of agoutis. And he knows this because when he was younger thay had hundreds of guinea pigs living free range in their back yard.

4. This person also claimed that guinea pigs will eat other dead guinea pigs.

These are all I can remember right now. But you can see why I don't talk about guinea pigs with people I don't know well.

Almost everyone I talk to has had guinea pigs... I think it's something people just make up to try to get us all riled up!

However, I know some of my rescue sows have accidently "ate" their young when they started cleaning too vigourously. A leg or two and maybe some of the ear. Some sows may also do this when trying to stimulate a stillborn. This mostly happens with young mothers.

It might be possible that pigs in the wild may eat their young completely if they are stillborn, or even eat other dead pigs since they are prey animals. I think they would try to hide any "evidence" as not to attract any unwanted guests, but they are also always on the move.

Pigs don't have knees?

[Matt & Guins]

Some that I have heard.....

* you can NOT handle baby cavies until they are 3-4 weeks old

* you CAN keep baby boars in with their mothers/sisters until they are 6-8 weeks old

* you CAN keep boars and sows together - they will only breed if the sow wants to

* if you cut a longhair's hair it WILL hurt them

* all guinea pigs have 4 back toes

* guinea pigs have ONLY 4 teeth (no molars!)


matt

[suzilovespiggie]

Guinea Pigs have no personality.

[Spirited]

This one fits in with the thread title -

Guinea-pigs are dumb.

[laura220]

You can let hamsters and guinea pigs play and live together.

Guinea pig is another name for hamster. The same thing.

Guinea pigs will eat hamsters.

Guinea pigs can be fed raw meat.

Guinea pigs eat bread mainly.

That's all I can remember right now.

[Cavie Cove]

That a sow will only have babies if the boar she is in with has the right personalitly (never could work that one out)

[bbqbarbiedolls]

Originally Posted by Spirited

This one fits in with the thread title -

Guinea-pigs are dumb.

This is one that I come across a lot too, but Manson, especially is so smart. He actually was the reason that I got checked for breast cancer after he bit me and my friend suggested there might be something wrong. I went to the doctor and sure enough there was a lump right where he bit. It ended up not being anything too serious, but I still found it interesting.

[Cavie Cove]

That a guinea will change sex if it wants to. How dum?

[ellenvega]

* if you cut a longhair's hair it WILL hurt them

One would think based on the way my girls carry on during a trim that this is true.

[Katie]

Originally Posted by Cavie Cove

That a guinea will change sex if it wants to. How dum?

I hear this a lot from so called "breeders".

Some others that I hear

1. My guinea pig lived just fine in a 10 gallon aquarium.

2. Guinea pigs can't have ANY lettuce.

3. "My guinea pig died of old age, he was 3 years old! That's old for a guinea pig!"

4. They smell nasty.

5. They make great companions for rabbits.

[Maggie]

Originally Posted by Matt & Guins

* if you cut a longhair's hair it WILL hurt them

* all guinea pigs have 4 back toes

It's like cutting your own hair! It doesn't hurt! All that happens is that it grows back corser(sp) and thicker...

The only piggies with 4 back toes are ones with birth defects...

1. My guinea pig lived just fine in a 10 gallon aquarium.
4. They smell nasty.

1. They can SURVIVE in aquariums, but it's bad for them because of the poor ventilation.
4. Only when you DON"T CHANGE THE BEDDING
____

My family constantly call my piggies 'rats' 'gerbils' 'hamsters'....Just say rodent if you can't remember! I guess 'gerbil' is close...*rolls eyes*

[fallen__angel]

Hi Some "Breeders "always say that they have had guinea pigs who have been able to dive through her pool and swim!1

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by fallen__angel

Hi Some "Breeders "always say that they have had guinea pigs who have been able to dive through her pool and swim!1

This isn't a misconception - it's true. Guinea pigs can swim, and very well too. I'm sure I saw a video of someone's guinea pig swimming, once. I wouldn't recommend it or ever do it, though, many are terrified of water let alone swimming.

[ellenvega]

That guinea pigs will die out if you go the adoption instead of breeder route.

[Eolith]

That's funny. My first guinea pig was dropped into a pool as a baby before I got him. He swam just fine. I didn't see him at it, but according to the owners, that's what happened. (He was part of a friend's mistake litter.)

[Squigglepiggle]

1. guinea-pigs don't need that much space when all they do is sit there
2. guinea-pigs and hamsters are the same thing
3. guinea-pigs don't need much care
4. ALL guinea-pigs bite