Comments on: (Way More Than) Everything You Wanted To Know About Guinea Pigs

By: Hyacinth

Hyacinth — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:04:17 +0000

I like the idea of having a “miniature rhino” but having to moisturize its hindquarters may be what keeps me from getting a hairless guinea pig. Interesting story!

By: kani

kani — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:46:27 +0000

At various times I’ve had 3 guinea pigs, Chloe, Teela and Savage. Chloe used to squeak for me and then lick my finger. She was really sweet and calm. The other two were a bit wild. We used to take them outside to eat clover. Chloe was content to just munch away but Teela and Savage both jumped in the lake. I also had a dachshund, Nikki. Nikki acted like the guinea pigs were her puppies.

By: GTT

GTT — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:11:22 +0000

A 1,500 pound rat is the most disgusting this I have ever heard of in my life.

That said, I have tried CUY and although I am not a fan, I know many people who consider it a delicacy.

By: Chris coultas

Chris coultas — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:47:46 +0000

pigs is pigs elliss Butler reference

By: Marissa

Marissa — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:56:29 +0000

Hi, everyone, thanks for the comments.

No one actually knows where the name Guinea Pig comes from, although there are several theories.

For starters, they were discovered back when Europeans thought the Americas were “India” (hence the use of the word Indians, etc) so there may have been some confusion there. The South American country Guyana may have been twisted into the word Guinea over time. There is also a chance they may have been shipped to the African country of Guinea before being shipped north to Europe. There is also another theory that Guinea Pigs used to cost a British guinea to purchase (an old coin worth about one pound, give or take a few shillings.) The problem with this theory, though, is that cavies/guinea pigs were discovered nearly 100 years before the first guinea was minted.

As for why they are called pigs, well, they do make adorable wheeking noises that might sound like pig noises. They are also voracious eaters. Many European cultures call guinea pigs some translation of “sea pig” or “seafaring pig” probably because they were good to have aboard ships for transatlantic voyages. However, in Spain they were called “conjejillo de Indias”–Indian bunnies.

Since there is no definite answer, I decided to leave all of this info out of the article. Does anyone else have other theories?

By: cazart

cazart — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:15:37 +0000

They’re good swimmers.
Also, they’re really, really stupid.

If your guinea pig gets a cold, give it whisky.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:28:25 +0000

I was visiting some friends last week when I noticed that they now have a guinea pig. It looks pretty cool, with colors like a calico cat.

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:26:08 +0000

I used to raise guinea pigs for years. They are the best small animal type pet that you can get. I would like to caution people to research proper care of ginuea pigs before actually getting one, because they are very suceptible to getting colds, which, can be fatal to a guinea pig. Coincidentally, I think that eating one is just something I could not do. Not that I have anything against people who do, but, if I ever tried, I think all I’d be able to imagine is that cute little guinea pig face staring at me as I crunched his little bones. “sniff” the horror!!. If I had no choice I’d have to ask the cook to remove the head, or at least the eyes. Then I’d feel better.

By: zantimisfit

zantimisfit — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:20:54 +0000

Guinea Pigs make the best sounds!

By: JaneM

JaneM — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:04:34 +0000

I recently saw an episode of ‘1000 Place to see Before you Die’ where they were in a market in the Peruvian Andes. They ordered Guinea Pig and it was served whole on a plate. They had to pull it apart and eat it sans cutlery. I thought the wife was going to hurl (guess she thought it would be breaded and fried or served in some disguising fashion). Good on them that they did manage to gag it down-they did not want to insult anyone by not eating it. She remarked that it tasted like chicken (lol)