This is important information I found from a new owner’s guide to guinea pigs.
- The guinea pig’s average life span is 5 years, but they can live to be up to 10 years old
- Guinea pigs are not nocturnal so if they live in someone’s bedroom they won’t wake up the people at night
- They will try to talk to you during the day by making animal sounds
- Guinea pigs rarely git sick
- Males are called boars
- Females are called sows
- Guinea pigs don’t like to live in their cage alone
- Boars that are siblings will not fight if they have always lived together but if they are not siblings, they will under any circumstance fight
- Sows can live together as well but if 1 is pregnant the others need to be removed from her cage until the babies move out
- Sows can live with boars, but the boars need to be put in another cage once you realize the sow is pregnant and can’t be put back in until the babies are put in their own cages
- You need a cage, nest box, bedding, water bottle, salt lick, guinea pig food, food dish, hay, hay rack, fresh vegetables, gnawing items, a simple block of untreated wood, washing supplies, and a vitamin C supplement
- You can clean the cage whenever needed
- They eat alfalfa-based guinea pig pellets
- Peanuts are a great guinea pig treat
- Guinea pigs should eat a large handful of hay each day
- Some guinea pigs will eat citrus if they like it but only offer it as a treat
- You need to either a) grow lettuce for your guinea pig or b) buy lettuce for him or her
- All guinea pigs love carrots and the tops are an extra treat
- Get water bottles at pet smart
- The first time a sow is mated she should be in between 5 and 8 months old
- At 3 to 4 weeks the babies can be put in their own cages
