Guinea Pigs ages? How to tell?

Question

Looking for guinea pigs..Found a pair that are very darling...Is there anyway I can check on their age...The current owner says she things they are just over a year old.

Is that an ok age to get them..I wanted them young to grow with our family. I also hope they arent older than she says.

Answer 1

Don't bother being nosy! You need to know every detail if they are soon to be yours! She should tell the truth too.She might be keeping a secret from you, like they are teenage mutant ninja pigs!

Answer 2

it cant be to much more then 1 year if there still small, they only live around 6 years average

Answer 3

yea i would ask. also they olny live 4-8 yrs so if you get full grown piggies the more stress they have had the shorter their life span.

Answer 4

Its great you found an already bonded pair! Generally, guinea pigs adapt very well to loving families. Guinea pigs are skittish by nature & it takes a bit of time for them to get used to you--some piggies are quicker about it than others---but once they are familiar with their new owners and surroundings, they are great, low-key pets.

Once a guinea pig is an adult, its very very difficult to determine the age. Even a vet cannot tell you for certain. At a young age, the best determinate would be their weight and the shape/length of the nails, but after the one year mark, they could be one, up to four years old! They live on average, 5-7 years. You'll just have to take the former owner's word for it. As long as the piggies look healthy, I wouldn't worry. See this link for info on healthy piggies:

http://www.guinealynx.info/normal.html

Absolutely ask questions! I think both questions--why they are being rehomed & length of time she's owned them are perfectly legitimate questions & not "nosy" at all. I would further ask if they've been ill in the past, whether they're used to children or other pets, what kind of food they have been eating, does she give them hay and vegetables, and what kind of bedding they have been housed on.

Good luck with the new girls!