Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs often are considered one of the best small pets that you can have. They are actually not a type of pig at all. They are a type of rodent like a hamster, rat or mouse. The word ‘rodent’ is derived from the Latin word ‘rodere,’ which means ‘to gnaw’. Rodents’ teeth grow continually throughout their lifetime and they need to chew on things in order to keep their teeth a manageable size and shape. Guinea pigs are shy creatures that spend a lot of their time hiding. In the great outdoors, you might find guinea pigs living in long grass or the abandoned burrows of other animals.
There are many types of guinea pigs:
Abyssinians- longish hair growing in many “clumps” which makes them look shaggy
Agouti- wild guinea pigs are Agouti. Their hair has dark roots and light tips.
Crowning Crests- crest of hair on their heads
Self- fur is one color
Non-Self- three colors in their fur (black, brown and white as an example)
Peruvian- long, soft, silky hair that grows all the way to the ground, and covers their eyes
Shaggy Shelties- long hair like a Peruvian but it does not cover their eyes
Short haired-short hair
Silky Satins – silky, satiny fur
Waxy Rexes- short, waxy fur (feels coarse)
When you go guinea pig shopping, plan to buy two of the same sex. If you want more than two, get females because too many males in one living space will cause them to fight. If you want to raise guinea pigs, go ahead and get a male and a female, but be prepared for the little ones.
You should always have two guinea pigs because one guinea pig will get lonely and sad without a companion to call its own. Human contact is one thing, but when it comes to guinea pigs, they need a like-minded companion as well.
If you are looking at baby guinea pigs (puppies) with the desire of raising them while they are still young, buy those that are at least six weeks old. Choose the ones that are clear-eyed, and that have clear ears and noses. They should be well fed and plump. They should also have shiny, silky fur all over their body including the underside.
You guinea pig can live indoors or outdoors. If they are going to live inside, they will need a cage for sleeping and a “playroom” for when they are awake. The cage they sleep in should be at least one foot by one foot per guinea pig. The “playroom” can be made of a flat wooden tray about two feet wide by three feet long, with a side all around that is at least eight inches high.
You can purchase the “playroom” or make one yourself. You will be amazed at the types of guinea pig “playrooms” you can buy. If you are serious about purchasing an extended “playroom” for your guinea pigs, be prepared to spend a small fortune.
You can buy specialized multi-layered, stacking houses with wheels, tubes and additional rooms. If your guinea pigs are going to play outside, you can fence off a small patch of lawn for them to play in.
They like to climb, hide and play. If you do not wish to spend money on the fancy housing, at least make sure you provide them with some type of cardboard box or clay tube or bowl to climb on and play in.
Line their cage with newspaper and provide torn up or shredded newspaper for bedding. It is also nice to give them some hay to chew. To keep their teeth from becoming too sharp, provide them with a small fruit tree branch to chew on. You can also purchase chew items for them at the pet store.
Guinea pigs are vegetarians. You can give them pieces of leftover lettuce salad and vegetables from your kitchen. You can also give them grass (fresh, not cut), clover, dandelions, cucumber, celery, sweet corn, carrots and fruit. You can also purchase a large bag of dried mix from the pet store. Place their food in a small, ceramic dish that they cannot easily knock over.
Guinea pigs will also need constant access to water. Place a water sipper in their cage and make sure it is filled at all times.
