Tunisian Piggies!

[DavidEscapes]

I just came back from a lovely holiday in Tunisia. Late one night we were walking along the road near the hotel and I noticed some movement behind a fence across the road. It was pretty unmistakable movement too

We rushed across to find a piggie enclosure with a selection of various piggies racing around. It was a pretty nice space but it seemed to lack any good hiding places, and I suspect it was a mixture of sexes etc. So likely lots of repeat pregancies. There is a seperate part behind the hole in the wall at the back so there may be more shelter there. I would guess there was about 15 of them in total.

We never went into the zoo, so no ideas what other animals were there. Given the area I doubt much shalter from the weather is required. But there obviously needed to be lots more hay, places to hide etc. Along with the obv possibility of constant pregnancies for the females.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

I like the little chairs and playground

How hot was it there though? I was just saying to my dad today, I had always wanted to move to the south of France some day, but was thinking it'd be too hot for guinea pigs, but he says it's a different kind of heat to here and would be ok. I dunno though . . .

 

[DavidEscapes]

It was quite hot, but gets hotter at other times of the year. I guess it didn't really get higher than 30C, so totally bearable. Even at the hottest times I think they would be fine if the run was planned and positioned carefully. An area with full shade on a surface that doesn't retain heat very well, maybe built with white painted brick walls. I am sure it can be done just fine.

The area at the back of the run looked like it possibly would provide enough shelter from the heat for the piggies. Didn't get to see it from any other angles though so I don't know.

Humidity not temperature is often the issue in the end. Think of the difference between a sauna and a steam room. The temperature in a sauna is 80C as a minimum, sometimes quite a lot higher at 110C+. The same temps in a steam room would kill you, and in a bath it doesn't bear thinking about. That's what your dad means by 'different types of heat'. Imagine sitting for 15 minutes in boiling water, which is not even as hot as many saunas. Yet in a sauna you are fine, happy and comfortable even.

When we first got there two of the piggies were using the table and chairs, one at either side Didn't get the camera out fast enough though.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Yeah that makes sense. I'll do some research into countries where people keep piggies before I want to move (not for years yet!) . . . I'm really sick of Irish weather, though it's lovely at the moment.