To clarify, guinea pigs in no way are related to the farm pig! They are from the rodent family. Guinea pigs come in all shapes and sizes. There are 13 different breeds. Each is very unique in its own way from personality to coat color and texture. There is even a Skinny Pig breed, which is hairless and almost looks like a little hippopotamus.
A male guinea is called a boar, a female is called a sow, and baby guineas are called pups. Guineas have four toes on their front feet and three toes on their back feet. They do not have tails.
Guineas are very social, and they thrive on interaction. They become attached to their humans but do better with a cage mate. They are a very expressive animals and truly speak their own language. Guineas are smart and can even be taught how to do tricks. They are a timid creature but once they become comfortable with you and feel safe, they love to be held and cuddled. Remember they are prey animals so they can be extremely skittish.
As weird as this sounds, Guinea pigs do not sweat! They don’t sleep for long periods and take lots of short naps instead. Since they are prey animals, they keep their eyes open while they are sleeping. It is rare for a guinea pig sleep with their eyes closed.
The typical guinea pig diet consists of mostly hay, pellets, fruits, and vegetables. They are grazers so they need a constant supply of hay and water.
It is important for guinea pigs to have a large cage to run around in. You can either use pet litter or fleece linings for the cage, but it is very important to keep it clean. Guinea pigs love to be entertained as they are very curious by nature and love to explore. Therefore, they need lots of toys, tunnels, and stuff to chew on with their teeth. They love to hide as it makes them feel safe. Be sure to always take your piggies out for some floor time. They love this kind of interaction! Plus, it promotes good exercise and human guinea interaction.
It is recommended that you always wash your hands before and after handling your guinea pig. Always use two hands to pick them up and before lifting them make sure they feel safe. Once you have them properly lifted you can transport them or lay them in your lap for some snuggle time.
There are so many reasons to own a guinea pig. They make great companions, are fun, cuddly, and form strong bonds with their companions and owners. Each guinea pig has its own, unique personality. They make great pets for children as long as the kids are taught properly how to handle and care for them. Just to let you know guinea pigs do poop a lot! So, you have to clean out their cage regularly but believe me it is worth it!
