western australia

The eyes have it

@JudyEv (382068)

Rockingham, Australia

June 2, 2025 4:15am CST

Now that we’re about to leave our house-sit where one of our duties is to look after six guinea pigs, I decided to do a bit more reading about them. I was left detailed instructions and did read more what they could and couldn’t eat but I wanted to know more about their sight, following a comment by myLotter @Ronrybs. The white guinea pig, Lumi, has red eyes and Ron thought maybe it was an albino. None of the little pigs seem to have very good eyesight so I thought I’d do a bit more research. It seems albino guinea pigs do happen but have white skin. Lumi’s skin is black. Guinea pigs have a 340-degree vision range but do have a blind spot right in front of their noses which would explain why they don’t always seem to see the food I put down. The photo is of Juniper who is smooth-coated and doesn’t look like it’s having the bad hair day that the others do.

20 people like this

20 responses

@DaddyEvil (174430)

• United States

2 Jun 25

Herbivores do tend to have a blind spot in front of their noses. Their vision wraps around the sides of their heads so they can watch for carnivores trying to catch and eat them.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

Mother Nature thinks of all manner of things when it comes to survival skills.

4 people like this

@DaddyEvil (174430)

• United States

2 Jun 25

@JudyEv Very true... Mother Nature hasn't figured out how to keep humans out of car wrecks yet, though.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

@DaddyEvil No, she is slipping up there.

3 people like this

@Ineeddentures (34535)

•

2 Jun 25

Juniper looks like a fine Guinea Pig Did you know in some places people actually eat them

2 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51819)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

2 Jun 25

Springfield, Ohio?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

They eat them in Peru. Vince's cardiologist ate one and siad it tasted like chicken but was full of bones - and they served it with the feet on.

2 people like this

@Ineeddentures (34535)

•

2 Jun 25

@BarBaraPrz Lol

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@LadyDuck (502464)

• Italy

2 Jun 25

This one is cute, I like his coat.

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@LadyDuck (502464)

• Italy

2 Jun 25

@JudyEv I also prefer those with a smooth coat.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

I prefer the ones with the smooth coats. The others always look untidy.

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@Marilynda1225 (91086)

• United States

2 Jun 25

Juniper is a cutie and I didn't know about Guinea pigs and their eyesight.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

I must ask my niece if she has noticed them hunting a bit for their food.

@Ronrybs (21497)

• London, England

2 Jun 25

Interesting, now we know why they are constantly bumping into things!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

Have you noticed it too? I'm just curious. I like to know these things! lol

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@Beestring (15372)

• Hong Kong

2 Jun 25

Juniper has a lovely coat.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

She does indeed. I wish she would let me stroke her.

1 person likes this

@AmbiePam (120738)

• United States

2 Jun 25

When my sister lived and taught in Missouri, a student gave her a guinea pig, but it pooped in her hand once and she gave it back. She’s not an animal person, and I always wondered why the boy’s mother didn’t run it by my sister first. Giving an animal to someone feels like it should be looked into first. Now had it been me, I would have welcome the little guy!

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

I think it's really quite silly to give animals to people without checking first. The creatures might end up with a dreadful life. It's not fair on the person or the animal. I've honestly been thinking about whether I could make a yard at our home but I'm sure I'll see reason shortly and not do it.

2 people like this

@popciclecold (40214)

• United States

2 Jun 25

It's nice looking animal, you did a lot of research, good for you.

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@popciclecold (40214)

• United States

5 Jun 25

@JudyEv Very interesting.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

Apparently they don't fart so they shouldn't be given too much cabbage which I didn't know until I checked up on what they could and couldn't eat.

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@BarBaraPrz (51819)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

2 Jun 25

Looks like she's thinking "Hmmm..."

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

She does have a funny expression.

2 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (135744)

• Marion, Ohio

2 Jun 25

He looks like he is waiting for a treat

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

Every time you go out the door they are waiting for a treat! lol

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@rakski (156475)

• Philippines

3 Jun 25

Cute Juniper. I don't know much about them but your information is good

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@rakski (156475)

• Philippines

4 Jun 25

@JudyEv that is good that you learn about the pets before hand

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

I like to find out about the pets we have to look after, especially if I haven't had any/much experience with them. I think Juniper is cute too.

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@xFiacre (14784)

• Ireland

2 Jun 25

@judyev A lovely specimen. Lovely colour.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

I like the smooth ones. The others look really untidy.

1 person likes this

@moffittjc (128835)

• Gainesville, Florida

3 Jun 25

Guinea pigs are popular pets here in the US. I always thought they had bad eyesight too, but your explanation clarifies the reason.

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@moffittjc (128835)

• Gainesville, Florida

7 Jun 25

@JudyEv Or, if they couldn't see it, you'd think they'd smell it and know where to look to find it.

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jun 25

@moffittjc Exactly but that didn't seem to be the case. I forgot to ask my niece if she has noticed it. I'll have to ask her next time.

@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Jun 25

You'd think it would see the food in its peripheral vision. I would drop peelings ON them so at least they'd find it quickly.

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@LindaOHio (222302)

• United States

2 Jun 25

Juniper has a lovely coat.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

She does. I prefer these smooth-coated ones to those with lots of whorls.

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@GardenGerty (169474)

• United States

3 Jun 25

Oh, but Juniper has quite the look on his face. Lumi is maybe a polar bear? I think I read they have black skin, she is just fooling you. I like that you read up on them and even shared information with us. We are all smarter now.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

I was intrigued that they couldn't seem to find their food easily. Even when I dropped peelings right in front of them, they seemed to hunt around for it.

@terri0824 (5203)

• United States

3 Jun 25

One of my granddaughters has been wanting a guinea pig...her mom has told her, "not until you do what is expected of you!." She's also been told, you will be responsible for taking care of it. I don't think she will be getting one anytime soon as she is only 8 and has a ways to go before being responsible enough to take care of it.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Jun 25

I agree. Kids beg for a pet but can often soon get tired of looking after it properly.

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@allknowing (153530)

• India

3 Jun 25

Juniper looks well groomed, Sad they have that blind spot that comes in their way when it comes to spotting their food bowl.l

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

They find it eventually but they dilly-dally around first.

ultraman cosmos

@id_peace (17036)

• Singapore

2 Jun 25

340 degree sight vision, that is almost they can see everything around them somehow.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jun 25

Yes, that's right. They are very quick to see movement and being able to see all around helps save them from predators.

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@RasmaSandra (98005)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

2 Jun 25

Jupiter looks surprised by something. I think the opossum that comes for my leftovers does not see well. I throw out a piece of bread and he has to sniff around to locate it,

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jun 25

That's what happens with these! It's a bit strange. No wonder they're so skittish if they don't see well.

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@JESSY3236 (22245)

• United States

3 Jun 25

Juniper is cute.

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@JudyEv (382068)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Jun 25

She is, isn't she? I wish we'd been able to pet her but she was too skittish.

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