Mary Allen
Guinea pigs are playful, sociable animals. In their South American homeland, their wild relatives live in large packs and cover considerable distances. The cute rodents can only feel good when they are among their own species with plenty of freedom of movement.
What the Spoken Language of Your Guinea Pigs Reveals
The ideal pack: girl power! A pack of four to five animals of the same age ensures the guinea pig’s feel-good factor. Pure katrate groups are particularly harmonious. Groups of pure females also usually work well. But there can be occasional “squabbles”. A socially competent, neutered buck can usually be added to such a harem without any problems – however, several bucks often fight bitter territorial fights. The average life expectancy of rodents is six to eight years, but if kept appropriately, up to twelve years are possible. Diet is of particular importance here: the constant eaters eat around eighty meals a day, which above all have to be rich in raw fiber and vitamin C. Read here how to put them together.
Beautiful Living for Meerlis
This is what your guinea pig dreams of freedom of movement and lots of climbing, hiding, and employment opportunities. The need for exercise in guinea pigs has long been underestimated. Today it is said that an area of at least six square meters should be available for five to ten animals. You can also reach this area by drawing on several levels. The sporty rodents are excellent climbers who like to overcome suspension bridges, ramps, or branches. By the way: did you know that guinea pigs make popcorns? This is what they call popcorn-like jumping into the air with all four paws at the same time.
In principle, guinea pigs can be kept in the house or garden all year round. A mixed form is also possible – however, the animals must be slowly accustomed to temperature changes. Your enclosure consists of a place of retreat – for example, a cage (at least 120 x 60 x 50 cm for two to four animals) – and an outdoor enclosure that is accessible at all times. For a permanent housing of two to four guinea pigs, an area of at least 2 m² should ideally be available, for each additional animal the area should be increased by approx. 0.5 m². Equip the retreat with one shelter for each animal – preferably made of wood and with at least two exits. Furthermore, a hayrack, sufficient food and water bowls (in addition to a nipple drinker as security) belong in the enclosure and a rodent toilet in the rest area. Several layers of litter with a lower layer (pellets), an upper layer (hemp), and a cuddly and digging layer (straw and hay) are distributed on the subsurface. A soft wear layer is important. The sensitive paws must not come into contact with hard and pointed surfaces such as straw pellets. So that the guinea pig hutch does not turn into a pigsty, remove dirty litter and leftover feed daily. In the open-air enclosure, you score with species-appropriate employment opportunities, such as food balls, suspension bridges, tunnels, or digging boxes. In the case of outdoor enclosures, provide protection from predators and the weather. By the way: The heat-sensitive Meerlis always need shade.
Checklist: What else is part of the initial equipment
- Brush;
- Pet crate;
- Nibbles;
- Rodent stone;
- Claw scissors.
