Alpaca(s)?

[chickenmum]

Does anybody have an alpaca or alpacas? Do you know if you can get just one or do you have to get two or more so that they don't get lonely?

 

[Mahonri]

If you can have one, why wouldn't you want more?

 

[katrinag]

They will pair up with a goat,horse,sheep. You do not need 2.

 

[Florida chick]

Alpaca's need another Paca, they get very lonely and stressed when not in pairs. Many people will not even sell a single one.

 

[chickenmum]

O.k., who's right?

 

[Florida chick]

There is tons of info on never keeping them alone. I hope this helps.
http://www.mountairyalpacas.com/alpacabreeding.html

http://www.altiplanoalpacas.com/aboutalpacas.html

 

[Chirpy]

I raise llamas, my neighbor has a huge Alpaca ranch. Alpacas and llamas NEED the company of another of their OWN kind. They are very social and can get very stressed and have issues if kept by themselves. Another animal is good but not good enough.

Responsible Alpaca and Llama owners will NOT sell their animal if it's going to a home as a single Alpaca or Llama. It's that critical.

 

[chickenmum]

O.k., thanks!

 

[spectrumranch]

I would agree with they need company, but of another LAMA----does not have to be exactly the same type. LAMA is the family name which includes: Llamas, Alpacas, Guanacos & Vicunas.

We have sold pairs of mixed combos that have worked very well. An alpaca and a llama would be a good combo because the larger llama will also protect the alpaca.

Llamas come in several wool or fiber types- traditional, silky, suri, and ranges inbetween. Plus there are also Miniature llamas.

Alpacas come in Huacaya (fuzzy wool, teddy bear looking) & Suri ( ropey drapey type wool, regal looking).

Llamas and alpacas also come in many different colors, where as Guanacos & Vicunas all look alike. Reason being-- Llamas & Alpacas are domestic animals, they do not exist in the wild; Guanacos & Vicunas are both wild animals. There are people that raise Guanacos in the USA.

Guanacos are larger more like a llama. Vicunas are smaller than alapcas. Both have finer wool than their domestic cousins. Vicuna wool is VERY expensive and was highly regulated because of their rarity.

Any of the four will crossbreed and the crossbred offspring are capable of reproducing.

Suri Alpaca

Huacaya Alpaca

young Suri Llama girl

Vicuna herd resting in shade

Guanaco

Randy www.spectrumranch.net or www.sosranch.net

 

[Chirpy]

spectrumranch is right on... sorry I didn't express that better.