Mary Allen
Guinea pigs have excellent hearing, they recognize their owner and quickly develop a relationship with him. If you take their needs into account, they turn out to be lively housemates. They are mostly compatible with one another, and there is seldom friction in the group. Under no circumstances should you keep them alone, as they have a pronounced social behavior. Guinea pigs are crepuscular, which means that they mainly move in the morning and evening. Does it all sound like guinea pigs are perfect pets for you? In the following sections, you will find tips on what needs these lively rodents have and how you can meet them.
What is Your Responsibility?
Guinea pigs require a lot of care and attention. With the acquisition, you as the owner take on responsibility for several years. Please be aware of this before buying. Guinea pigs live on average six to eight years old, in individual cases even more than ten years. Are you ready to take care of her for so long? A guinea pig also makes demands financially. The running maintenance costs are comparatively low, but the initial equipment for species-appropriate keeping is quite expensive. And guinea pigs can get sick from time to time. Veterinary and medication expenses can add up quickly, depending on the nature of the disease, of course. You should also include the money factor in your considerations before purchasing.
Guinea pigs dig and run around. The litter flies through the apartment. Even with the most careful cleanliness, a certain level of odor arises. Are you getting on well with that? Last but not least, guinea pigs are very curious and look for mental challenges. Can you keep the animals busy and give them time?
Before the guinea pigs are accepted into the family circle, you must also clarify the following points: Is anyone in the household allergic to animal hair? Are there other pets who are not compatible with the new housemates? Who takes care of the animals when they are on vacation or sick?
Setting Up the Guinea Pig Home
Did you know that guinea pigs are originally from South America? There the small rodents were domesticated as food animals thousands of years ago. They came to Europe with seafarers, which gave them their name, and started their triumphal march as pets. Depending on the breed and gender, the adult rodents are 25 to 35 centimeters long and weigh 800 to 1400 grams, which is not much, but guinea pigs still need a lot of space because they want to run and jump. Accordingly, you need a large, varied, and species-appropriate cage, or better still: an enclosure.
The guinea pig home should have a minimum area of 0.5 square meters per housed animal, but be at least 1.40 meters long. In the cage, there should be a shelter made of wood for each animal with two sufficiently large exits, a water bowl made of ceramic that the animals cannot knock over, and if necessary an outside drinking area and a hay rack. Fresh litter in the cage is also important. Please make sure that no plastic material is accessible to the guinea pigs. As rodents, they test everything for edibility and can seriously injure themselves when nibbling on plastic. Guinea pigs need at least four hours of supervised free-roaming every day. In addition to the cage, you also need an outlet grid or folding enclosure.
What’s to Eat? Menu for Guinea Pigs
The basic diet consists of hay, it is important for digestion and must be available to the animals at all times. They also grind their ever-growing teeth as they nibble on the stalks. In addition, there are grain mixes that are specially tailored to your needs, as well as fresh feed in the form of grass, herbs, dandelions, and wild herbs. Leaves from apple, pear, and hazelnut trees are also gratefully accepted. Please provide your guinea pigs with at least 10 percent of their body weight as fresh food, but slowly get them used to it because in the pet shops they usually don’t get anything fresh.
You Shouldn’t Feed This to Your Guinea Pigs
Make sure you pay attention to what your guinea pig is not allowed to eat. All types of stone fruit and exotic fruits are taboo. In general, only a small amount of fruit should be fed as a treat. The less acid a type of fruit contains, the better, that is: apples, strawberries, and melons are fine in small quantities. Citrus fruits and kiwi fruit, on the other hand, can cause severe skin irritation. When it comes to vegetables, pulses, and onions, eggplants and cabbage are taboo. Carrots, celery, and fennel, on the other hand, are suitable guinea pig foods. Be careful with all salads and leafy vegetables: Due to the nitrate content, the guinea pig can only tolerate small amounts. Guinea pigs attach great importance to fresh food at any time of the day. It is best to plan four meals for the guinea pig. For breakfast, you give him fresh hay, which is available all day, and distribute three more fresh feed (grass, herbs, leaves) throughout the day.
How Much Work Do Guinea Pigs Do?
Most important is the daily mucking out of the urine points. Once or twice a week, the cage must be completely cleaned with a change of litter and once a month cleaned with hot water. Please do not use harsh detergents. Guinea pigs, who cannot wear their claws sufficiently, occasionally need a manicure with special claw scissors, breeds with long fur occasionally need a new haircut. A good relationship of trust between humans and animals is particularly valuable for activities or visits to the vet where touching the animal is essential. Calm, cautious behavior and “bribes” in the form of treats can work wonders here.
The Guinea Pig Group
In nature, guinea pigs live in small groups of three to ten animals, this is the only way they feel comfortable. Keeping guinea pigs individually is cruel to animals, and keeping them together with rabbits is anything but species-appropriate: the two animal species speak completely different languages. In order to meet the needs of the animals, keep at least two, preferably several, guinea pigs. It is essential to pay attention to the gender mix: With a gang of girls or several females with a castrated buck, you prevent unwanted offspring. Many experienced guinea pig keepers advise against keeping several bucks together, as turf fights often occur here, even if the animals have been neutered.
Does My Guinea Pig Want to Cuddle?
Contrary to popular belief, guinea pigs are not cuddly animals, even if they can become very tame if they trust their owner. The small rodents often fall prey to birds of prey or predators in nature. They are typical escape animals. It is therefore very stressful for guinea pigs to be picked up. They are only partially suitable as pets for small children who would like to have something to stroke. Some guinea pigs like to be touched after a while, but this has to be done voluntarily, without taking the animal out of the enclosure.
Where Can I Get Guinea Pigs From?
Guinea pigs are available from pet shops and breeders. In animal shelters, too, many of the little rodents are waiting for a loved one who will offer them a great new home.