Abyssinian Guinea Pig

Origin of the name Abyssinian guinea pig has an interesting story behind it. These pigs are neither from Abyssinia nor Guinea; they are not even pigs. So, how did they get this name? Guinea pigs belong to the order, rodent and are originally from South America. The import of guinea pigs by European nations first started in the 16th century. During those times, anything exotic was given a trendy or fashionable name and this included names of countries too. The name guinea pig was thus, prefixed with 'Abyssinian' by Britishers. Guinea was an old monetary unit in Britain. Maybe, the import of these rodents would have cost a 'guinea' in olden times; the word guinea thus, was included in the name.

Facts about Abyssinian Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs belong to the Caviidae family and their scientific name is Cavia porcellus. Using guinea pigs as pets is common in western countries. Average life expectancy of these pigs is around 5-6 years. Females can start breeding at the minimum age of 20 weeks. On an average, 3 offspring are produced at a time. However, the litter size can vary between 1-6. The coat of Abyssinian guinea pigs have a pattern that is known as rosette. The name rosette is assigned for the fact that the coat grows in whorls. Edges of rosettes have prominent borders. Rosettes are arranged on the body in a symmetrical fashion. The different colors of these pigs are black, white and/or red series. The beige, lilac and chocolate are included in the black series. The red series includes colors such as cream, buff, orange, red and white.

Temperament
These creatures have an accessible temperament and are therefore, suitable for domestication. One cannot make a generalized statement about their temperament; however, most of them follow the commands given by owners. These are intelligent creatures which recognize human voice after getting accustomed to it. The nature of these animals is such that they prefer living in pairs. One should however, try to socialize young guinea pigs as early as possible.

Personality
The Abyssinian guinea pigs are known to be energetic and active. These guinea pigs are more mischievous than other types and also friendlier. The docile nature of guinea pigs and their responsiveness in terms of hand feeding make them good pets.

Care and Treatment
The guinea pigs need fresh fruits and vegetables as their diet. Adequate fresh water should be provided to these animals regularly. Exercise is an important part of the daily routine of these pigs. It should be provided with tubes and boxes to play with. A separate guinea pig house allows them to move freely and in the process, gives enough exercise to the body. The guinea pigs should not be overfed with vegetables and fruits. It may cause the animals to suffer from diarrhea. Liver problems may arise from overfeeding of lettuce. The body coat should be groomed regularly in order to prevent matting.

Names for Pigs
The following guinea pig names should be suitable for baby guinea pigs.

Chippy	Axel	Autumn
Abby	Aubrey	Annabelle
Fatso	Ambrosia	Angel
Cookie	Beanie	Bea Honey
Chubby	Charlie	Benny
Beauty	Biscuit	Bingo
Betty	Bobo	Blondie
Blueberry	Cheeko	Bissel
Billie Jo	Chocolate	Chipper
Charlotte	Bubba	Caramel
Butterfinger	Buddy	Brownie
Daisy Mae	Cotton Ball	CreamPuff
Cola	Cocoa	Dudley
Dumbo	Frisky	Fudge

The information about Abyssinian guinea pigs provided in the article, present facts about various aspects like the anatomy, the personality, temperament, health and pet names. One should know more about these creatures in order to take proper care.