Pet Guinea Pigs Are Fun, Here's How To Care For Them!

Well, they're not exactly pigs. Guinea Pigs, specifically known as Cavia Porcellus, are actually rodents. Many people casually refer to them as "Cavys" and they have been domesticated animals for thousands of years. Cavia Porcellus is not found naturally in the wild which suggests that they are a product of the interbreeding several rodents in the Cavia genus.

They generally live 5 to 7 years and weigh about 1 to 2 lbs. Male guinea pigs are called boars and females are referred to as sows (just like pigs!).

Guinea Pigs make great pets. They are fairly easy to take care of if you know exactly what they need and they get along great with humans and other animals for the most part. When your pet guinea pigs have warmed up to you it will be all too happy to be held and gently cuddled.

Aquariums, cardboard boxes, and chickenwire cages are all very bad habitats for your guinea pigs. The chickenwire can harm their tiny feet, and aquariums and boxes don't provide adequate ventilation.

One of the best ways to make a great habitat is to visit an office supply store and purchase a set of plastic-coated wire cube storage sets. These can be assembled in different patterns and are easy to take apart and add to if you ever want to change the set-up. Assemble the wire panels around a large, shallow plastic tray or box to be used as he leak-proof flooring of the habitat.

Guinea pigs need plenty of space so make sure to allow for it. Being curious creatures, they will need room to run around and explore so they don't get bored and fat. You can build ramps and decks inside the habitat as well as place some medium sized flower pots on their sides for hiding and nesting.

The floor should be lined with lots of timothy hay. Guinea pigs love it and need lots of it for nesting, bedding, and snacking on. This hay-lined pan will also act as their bathroom, and while they guinea pigs constantly clean themselves they also use the bathroom constantly. This style of habitat is easy to clean and should be tidied daily as well as completely scrubbed down every week or so.

Guinea pigs should be fed quality guinea pig pellets from the pet store. These should be in a heavy bowl in their habitat. While this is their staple diet, they also need plenty of leafy green vegetables to provide them plenty of vitamin c. Kale, lettuce, and hay and also bits of safe fruits will all be more than welcomed by your furry pets.

Along with the food they will be constantly eating, your guinea pigs will need some sort of wood to gnaw on. Their teeth (and nails!) grow constantly, so provide them with something to chew away the excess on. Any kind of treated wood may be harmful so check for what is safe at your pet store.

Your guinea pigs will need lots of water too. A bottle attached to the side of the caging will stay much cleaner than a bowl on the bottom of their habitat. Clean and refill the bottle daily.