From Andean Mountains to Your Living Room: Guinea Pigs

Chris and Angie explore the fascinating world of guinea pigs (cavies), featuring a visit to Chris’s New Zealand pets, Thor and Prince, with special guest Pip. They unpack what makes guinea pigs unique — tailless rodents with continuously growing teeth, wide vision, sensitive hearing, and a grazing digestive system that requires constant hay and daily vitamin C. The episode dives into their South American wild relatives and conservation status (including the critically endangered Cavia intermedia), their 5,000–7,000-year domestication in the Andes, and their unexpected role in vitamin C and biomedical research. You’ll also learn why they’re social herd animals that should never live alone, plus practical care tips on housing, diet, temperature, and health. From popcorning and complex vocalizations to precocial babies and surprising physiology, this episode reveals why guinea pigs are far more biologically impressive than their “starter pet” reputation suggests. Follow and subscribe for more species deep dives from the All Creatures Podcast. Timeline 00:00 Welcome to the Guinea Pig Episode (Meet Thor & Prince!) 01:00 Angie’s Zookeeper Days & the Vitamin C Research That Hooked Her 03:32 What Guinea Pigs Look Like: Size, Fur Types, Teeth & Super-Wide Vision 06:33 Wild Cavy Relatives: South American Range & Conservation Status 09:20 Why Guinea Pigs Matter: Ecology, Scurvy Science & Great Classroom Pets 12:29 Domestication Story: Andes Origins, Culture, and How They Got the Name 17:53 Breeds & Selective Breeding: From Hairless to Long-Haired Peruvians 20:30 Guinea Pig Care Basics: Housing Space, Hay, Handling & Temperature 26:02 After the Break: Pip Joins with Thor—Diet, Pellets & Daily Routine 29:16 Meet Prince + Poop-Eating Explained, Vocalizations & Enrichment Tips 34:40 Wrapping Up with Pip, Thor & Prince (Goodbyes + Florida Talk) 35:14 Guinea Pig Evolution 101: Rodent Origins & Rafting to South America 38:05 Fun Facts: Lifespan, Speed Escapes & Surprising Swimming Skills 41:34 Senses & Physiology: Hearing Range, Color Vision, and Super-Fast Heart Rates 48:04 Digestion Deep Dive: Hindgut Fermentation, Diet, and Cecotrophy Explained 54:47 Behavior & Social Life: Herd Dynamics, Popcorning, and Enrichment 01:01:15 Talking Guinea Pigs: Wheeks, Purrs, Rumbles, and Teeth Chattering 01:05:36 Reproduction & Baby Pups: Gestation, Precocial Newborns, and Weaning 01:11:57 Responsible Ownership + Podcast Wrap-Up (Research, Rehoming, What’s Next) =========================================================== Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices