There are so many options for pets these days from dogs and cats to more exotic creatures. One ideal option for people with less living space is the guinea pig. Keeping guinea pigs as pets can be fun and enjoyable and guinea pigs can give you much entertainment throughout their lives.

There are several different breeds of guinea pig from the short haired American to the extremely long haired Peruvian. There is also the Abyssinian which has rumpled fur that looks like cowlicks all over. All guinea pigs are approximately the same size. They usually measure just under a foot in length and can weigh up to several pounds. A healthy guinea pig is fairly substantial and has a plump, well-formed body.

A guinea pig is often quite outgoing and they can be quite vocal. They are normally nocturnal however they will adjust their activity cycle and some will be quite active in the day time as well. A guinea pig is normally very friendly especially if it has been handled and treated well from the time it was weaned. A guinea pig may be quite excited at first contact or if it is in an unknown situation but they can be very affectionate.

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.

Since guinea pigs are very social creatures it can be a good idea to keep a pair instead of a single pig. If you opt to do so you should make sure that they are both the same gender. Two males can sometimes fight. Keeping one of each sex will result in baby guinea pigs once the adults become mature enough to mate and bear young.

Bedding can be a special problem for guinea pigs. Their pens need to be kept extremely clean. A guinea pig does have urine which can be quite strongly scented and the bedding should be changed frequently. If not it can lead to health problems which can ultimately shorten the life of the guinea pig.

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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Written by Warren Tereska using tags: Keeping Guinea Pigs At Home, Keeping Guinea Pigs In The House, Pets, Pets In The House