If you have ever thought about keeping a rodent as a pet consider getting a guinea pig. Keeping guinea pigs as pets can be rewarding, entertaining and fun. These friendly and clever little rodents are easy to house and feed and can make affectionate pets for adults and children alike.
A guinea pig is a small mammal. It is a rodent whose Latin name is Cavia porcellus. They usually measure about ten inches in length and normally weigh about two to three pounds. Like most rodents they tend to be nocturnal. This means they are most active at night although many will adapt to the activity cycles around them and become more active during the day.
Guinea pigs are often quite friendly and outgoing. They are vocal and communicate frequently. If a guinea pig has been handled from when it was a baby they can be quite comfortable around humans. They may show some excitement if they are in a new situation or place but they will often calm down quickly and love to explore new situations. If you are deciding whether a particular guinea pig would make a good pet give it a few minutes to relax and become used to you before evaluating its? personality.
What do Guinea Pigs Need to Feel at Home?
If a guinea pig is to be properly housed, it needs to have room to move around. Because they are bigger than most other rodents it is important that a guinea pig be kept in a cage with enough room. If you have decided to keep a pair of guinea pigs to keep each other company this cage will need to be even larger.
A home-made cage will work as well as a store bought one but you need to be careful of the materials used to make it. If it is chewable, the guinea pig will chew it. They are rodents and need a way to grind their teeth. Also, you should be careful that the materials used do not contain chemicals that could be harmful if eaten.
Guinea pigs enjoy being kept in pairs although you need to be careful when allowing two guinea pigs to live together. If a same-sex pair is kept it may be a good idea to keep a pair of females so that they don?t fight like males can. If you do choose to keep a male and a female you should be aware that the female can begin to bear young at four months of age.
Food is also something to consider. All guinea pigs should be fed a base diet of good quality guinea pig pellets. Food for other rodents can often have ingredients in the wrong proportions for good guinea pig health or even be missing some important nutrients which can make your pig ill. Guinea pigs love treats of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is better to offer fruit very sparingly since guinea pigs do have a sweet tooth. Wooden chew toys to wear down the teeth are good as are specially formulated rodent treats that are designed for guinea pigs. Leafy greens are an excellent treat but be careful not to feed them too much or they can end up with soft stools. This can lead to health problems.
Guinea pigs as pets are wonderful creatures. They can be affectionate and, with a few key pointers, easy to take care of. If you do, you can have a good friend for years to come.
A guinea pig is a small mammal. It is a rodent whose Latin name is Cavia porcellus. They usually measure about ten inches in length and normally weigh about two to three pounds. Like most rodents they tend to be nocturnal. This means they are most active at night although many will adapt to the activity cycles around them and become more active during the day.
Guinea pigs are often quite friendly and outgoing. They are vocal and communicate frequently. If a guinea pig has been handled from when it was a baby they can be quite comfortable around humans. They may show some excitement if they are in a new situation or place but they will often calm down quickly and love to explore new situations. If you are deciding whether a particular guinea pig would make a good pet give it a few minutes to relax and become used to you before evaluating its? personality.
What do Guinea Pigs Need to Feel at Home?
If a guinea pig is to be properly housed, it needs to have room to move around. Because they are bigger than most other rodents it is important that a guinea pig be kept in a cage with enough room. If you have decided to keep a pair of guinea pigs to keep each other company this cage will need to be even larger.
A home-made cage will work as well as a store bought one but you need to be careful of the materials used to make it. If it is chewable, the guinea pig will chew it. They are rodents and need a way to grind their teeth. Also, you should be careful that the materials used do not contain chemicals that could be harmful if eaten.
Guinea pigs enjoy being kept in pairs although you need to be careful when allowing two guinea pigs to live together. If a same-sex pair is kept it may be a good idea to keep a pair of females so that they don?t fight like males can. If you do choose to keep a male and a female you should be aware that the female can begin to bear young at four months of age.
Food is also something to consider. All guinea pigs should be fed a base diet of good quality guinea pig pellets. Food for other rodents can often have ingredients in the wrong proportions for good guinea pig health or even be missing some important nutrients which can make your pig ill. Guinea pigs love treats of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is better to offer fruit very sparingly since guinea pigs do have a sweet tooth. Wooden chew toys to wear down the teeth are good as are specially formulated rodent treats that are designed for guinea pigs. Leafy greens are an excellent treat but be careful not to feed them too much or they can end up with soft stools. This can lead to health problems.
Guinea pigs as pets are wonderful creatures. They can be affectionate and, with a few key pointers, easy to take care of. If you do, you can have a good friend for years to come.
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