Give your pet guinea pig a good home
The more you know about guinea pigs, the easier it will be to give your pet guinea pig a good home. Guinea pigs are not pigs. Guinea pigs are warm blooded cavy type rodents with short legs, a short neck, a big head and have either a short or no tail at all. They are very entertaining, gentle, vocal and delightful. Their popularity as pets increased when people began noticing their docile temperaments and tendency not to bite or scratch when handled.
Guinea pigs have relatively clean habits. They are sociable animals and are best kept in herds of at least two of the same gender. Male should be kept separately from females and vice-versa, as the smells will drive them to fight.
A guinea pig is likely to run away when you try to pick it up. However, if the guinea pig has been handled since it was weaned, it will be well-mannered and gentle once you catch them. Guinea pigs can grow to about 10-12 inches and weigh about 2 pounds.
Suitable Enclosures for Your Pet Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs can be kept in different kinds of enclosures, like wire, stainless steel, durable plastic, or glass. However, for each type of enclosure, there are certain precautions and considerations that should be followed.
A cage with open wire sides should have a solid bottom with sides that come up at least three inches, as the pig can throw pieces of bedding out of the cage and that can result in you having a mess in the area surrounding the cage. Wire enclosures are subject to corrosion and rust. Plastic or glass aquarium cages should have sufficient holes for ventilation. You will have to put some ventilation fans in the enclosure to circulate fresh air.
Plastic or glass aquarium cages that do not provide sufficient ventilation are not recommended because breathing in the fumes from the urine is bad for the animal. Wood and similar materials should not be used in the construction of their cage because it will eventually be gnawed by the guinea pigs.
You can use wood for huts as long as you know they will gnaw on them. You should provide about 7.5 square feet for one guinea pig, and add 2-4 feet per additional guinea pig. You should try to ensure sufficient space to avoid territorial issues. The enclosure can have an open top provided the sides are at least 10 inches high.
A Good Home for Your Pet Guinea Pig Will Include Acceptable Bedding
Regardless of material used in the construction of the enclosure, you should try to have solid flooring with easy to clean dust free beddings. The enclosure should be easy to clean, well lighted, and ventilated. Avoid shredded paper as it can become soiled quickly and it does not absorb well. Corn cob is also not good. It does not absorb well, molds quickly and expands when wet. Sawdust should not be used since it is dusty and doesn't absorb well.
Wood chips are a common choice and wood chips are fine but avoid cedar and pine shavings, as they both give off phenols which are toxic to the delicate respiratory systems of guinea pigs. The more commonly acceptable beddings are Aspen, fleece, and paper-based beddings such as Carefresh. Make the home of your pet guinea pig as comfortable as possible for their health and enjoyment.




















