Tjabo was a Black & White male and the first cavy I was allowed to have. I bought him in the summer of 1978. He lived for 7 years and 11 months on the day, and I was his slave. I had had several rabbits before Tjabo, but they lived outside, and Tjabo lived in my room, so I got closer to him.
Tjabo had lots of opinions, and gladly expressed them. He told me when he wanted something, and if I disturbed him he didn't like it. But he was extremly tame. I could let him out on the grass, and he would follow me around.
I just bought myself a scanner today (18th of October 2004) so I could scan these photos from dia.
At first he lived alone, and I had him out of his cage for several hours every day. I thought he was fine. But a friend of mine said he wasn't and that he needed another cavy as his best friend. Another friend of mine told me not to give him a friend, since he would not be so tame if I did.
Anyway, I did get him a friend, a female cavy which I called Pyret. Tjabo was happy. And he was still as tame as always. But I had one problem, I now had one male and one female... And I had to keep them apart every time she was in heat.
I had to buy him a female friend, since he was the old version of cavy, and would not have accepted a male friend ever. Now almost all male cavies will accept a male friend.
When Pyret was big enough I let then have a litter, and then another. These litters was planned. I did sell all the babies.
After a while I got a third cavy from a friend. That cavy was called Na. So now Tjabo had two girls, and I had lots of work, making sure he did not make any extra litters that was not planned. I separated him from the females every time any of them was in heat. He did not like it... He could scream all night, I had to put a blanket over his cage just to keep him quiet, and put his cage in another room. Every time.
I can't remember for sure if he had a litter with Na too, but maybe he did. If he did it was planned.
Tjabo was one of my biggest favorites ever.
Copyright Eva Johansson
Last update: 18th of October 2004.