Literature about guinea pig behavior
Current research on guinea pig behavior can be hard to find and information on the internet varies wildly. On this page, I will read and summarize findings from literature, as well as describe methods and limitations of the research. I hope this will make it easier for interested guinea pig owners to get acquainted with current research.
Topics on this page
The benefit of using huts to reduce stress
Acclimatization time for guinea pigs after transport
The impact of huts on physiological stress: a refinement in post-transport housing of male guineapigs (Cavia porcellus)
Sherry L Walters, Cristobal Jose Torres-Urbano, Lee Chichester, and Robert E Rose. Laboratory Animals. Volume 46, Issue 3, July 2012, Pages 220-224
Freely available via sagepub.com
Main takeaways
This study was conducted on laboratory animals. The goal was to see if a hut in the cage would decrease stress in guinea pigs. They tested this on male guinea pigs living in pairs and male guinea pigs living alone.
- The presence of a hut in the cage decreased stress for animals who lived in pairs compared to pairs without a hut
- For guinea pigs living alone, the presence of a hut made no difference. All single-housed guinea pigs had the highest percentage increase in stress in the 4 study days, regardless of a hut in the cage.
- Stress levels for all guinea pigs were still increasing on day 4 of the study. This suggests the guinea pigs need longer to get used to their surroundings before stress levels go down (see study by Stevens on this page)
- The young guinea pigs with a hut in the cage used it as an object of play and exploration
Method
- 60 young guinea pigs of 210-310 grams in weight were part of this study. They were divided into pairs and singles. There were 10 cages in each group (hut, no hut, paired, single)
- Cortisol (stress hormone) was measured from the guinea pigs’ poops over a period of 4 days
My thoughts
This study provides empirical evidence for what many guinea pig owners already know: shelter decreases stress for guinea pigs. It is important to keep in mind that the guinea pigs in this study had very harsh living conditions. Their cage/box was very small, they could barely walk around. The hut covered half of the box. It would be interesting to see how stress levels decrease in a larger space with several huts and larger groups, so the guinea pigs can display natural behaviors like stampeding. A very laboratory-based study that can still provide some confirmation for the benefit of providing shelter in guinea pig husbandry.
The use of radiotelemetry to assess the time needed to acclimatize guineapigs following several hours of ground transport
Sylvia Stemkens-Sevens, Kees van Berkel, Inge de Greeuw, Berber Snoeijer, and Klaas Kramer. Laboratory Animals. Volume 43, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 78-84
Freely available via sagepub.com
