The alpaca guinea pig is one of the most popular domestic animals among rodents. What are the features of a furry animal? How to take care of him and what conditions should be observed? Read more about this in our article.
general characteristics
Before acquiring an alpaca as a pet, it is important to familiarize yourself with all the characteristics of the animal.
The name of the guinea pig alpaca was due to the long hair, which, by its softness and smoothness, resembles that of the hoofed alpaca-lamas. By their biological nature, these rodents are not natural. Alpaca is a hybrid specifically bred by American scientists.
In terms of its size, the guinea pig can be no longer than 20 centimeters in length, and it can weigh about 1 kilogram. However, these indicators are more relevant to males, and females of the species are usually smaller and lighter.
Separate attention deserves the very wool of guinea pigs alpaca.
By itself, it is quite fluffy and thick, reaching a length of 12 centimeters. Moreover, the entire body is covered with hair, including the head (here the alpaca has a real bang).
As for the coloring of the animal, it can be very diverse (often multicolored, rather than monotonous). So, quite often there are options for the combination of white and black, red, etc.
The life span of the alpaca varies from 5–8 years. Most often, it is at the lower limit of this range, but if the animal is healthy and properly cared for, then life can be extended for several additional years.
How to care?
It is worth noting immediately that alpaca guinea pigs require quite thorough and specific care. That is why everything should be carefully considered and analyzed before starting such a fluffy rodent at home.
It is obvious that special care requires the main distinguishing feature of the animal - wool. It must be regularly combed out and in no case should we allow entanglement and the formation of various tangles.
In addition, the alpaca itself should be regularly bathed in warm water. This should be done very carefully.
Another important factor is the temperature regime. In order for the mumps to feel good and to be able to safely carry out their livelihoods, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature regime. Thus, the thermometer should not fall lower than 20 degrees Celsius and rise above 24 degrees. In addition, you need to avoid drafts and sharp temperature shocks. In case of non-observance of the necessary conditions, the appearance of negative consequences in the form of hypothermia or heat stroke in the mumps is quite likely.
It is important to remember that fluffy rodents do not like noise and din, they prefer to live in calm and quiet conditions.
Therefore, if you live on the ground floor and your windows overlook the highway or your house is filled with children, then you should not start such an animal. In addition, it is necessary to continuously release the alpaca from the cage so that it can walk and run over large areas. The fact is that the immovable lifestyle of a rodent can cause its obesity. Alpacas are those little animals that are very prone to this disease.
The alpaca guinea pig is an animal that for the most part leads an inactive lifestyle, so special attention should be paid to nutrition. As feed, you can use special systems that can be purchased at almost every zoological store. Usually they are saturated with all the useful vitamins and minerals necessary for the full functioning of the body of a rodent. In addition, fruits (in particular, apples and bananas) can be added to the diet of a fluffy pet.
You can feed several times a day. And at that moment when you put a new portion of food, the bowl must be cleaned from the remnants of the old.
Also, carefully monitor the amount of water in the drinker.
Failure to follow the rules and diet can lead to the emergence of various kinds of diseases. At the first manifestations of the disease should contact your veterinarian.
Cage for alpaca
Generally speaking, alpaca should be kept in a cage. However, this cell should be large and spacious. The optimal cell size is considered to be 50 centimeters by 70 centimeters. Thanks to such an area, the animal will be able to move freely in its home and feel some space.
It is not recommended to keep several animals in one cage, as aggressive fights for division of territory may arise between them.
The bottom of the cage must be covered with dry grass, which should be replaced regularly.
In the warm period of the year - in spring and summer - fresh grass can be used, however, it must first be decontaminated (this can be done with boiling water) so that the animal does not catch diseases or become infected with pests.
In addition, the cell itself should not be empty. It needs to be filled with various additional elements and objects for entertainment, toys. For example, you can put a running wheel or a house.
Choose a cage made of durable material (it is best to give preference to metal or wood). Thus, the animal will not be able to break its home, and it will last a rather long period.
Breeding
The ability to reproduce in alpacas appears from the second month of life. However, in order to obtain viable and healthy offspring, rodents should not be crossed so early. The best option is to cross at least 4 months.
During pregnancy, females can be very aggressive and bite, so at this time they can throw at the person, and therefore should be very careful (especially for children).
The period of pregnancy in furry pets lasts about 2 months, and at one time they can give birth to 2 or 3 babies (this number is typical in the first pregnancy, the next times the number of babies can increase to 8).
Reviews
According to reviews of alpaca owners, these animals are a great option for a pet. They are very friendly and quickly get in touch with the person. In addition, they are smart enough. However, you should take into account the fact that pigs can make noise at night. As already mentioned above, they need careful care, so before you start an animal, soberly assess your strength, because if you do not follow the rules, the animal can get very sick or even die.
How to properly care for guinea pigs, see below.
