Choosing The Right Guinea Pig Is Very Important

     Guinea pigs are among the gentlest of pets that one can ever find. In contrary to their name, they don't really belong to the pig family. Just like the hamsters, the guinea pigs also belong to the rodent family. Although these tiny creatures are best known as pets, they are also known to have lived in the wild several decades back. The guinea pigs are usually shy and gentle by nature. Also called as cavies, they are very friendly and love to be in company. Guinea pigs are generally active during the daytime and are very vocal when they are in a fun mood. They use their vocalism to interact with their buddies.

Researchers have stated that a guinea pig can generate up to eleven different kinds of sounds to express themselves and communicate with their fellow beings. Guinea pigs are great pets for kids and children. These pocket pets don't scratch or bite; and maintain good personal hygiene and cleanliness. These adorable pets love playing; and squeak with cute noises when they are fondled. Nevertheless, Guinea pigs are among the few animals that don't manufacture vitamin C on their own. Since, it is one of the most essential vitamins, it is important to feed your pets with a diet rich in all the essential vitamins.

There are different types of guinea pigs. You can find guinea pets with long hair, short hair; straight and swirled hairs and are available in different colors. A male guinea pig weighs about 700-750 grams while a female weighs 400-500 gm. The expected life span of a guinea pig is around 5-7 years.

Housing

Guinea pigs can be kept in the indoors and outdoors. However, they are sensitive to loud noise and it's better to keep them in a quiet place. You can keep them in a wooden hutch or wire cage. If you go for a wire cage, ensure that it is fitted in with light a weight plastic board to avoid the little ones from getting injured by the sharpness of the wire. Always, go for a weatherproof hutch and embellish the cage with soft bedding to make them feel comfortable while they are playing. Don't keep more guinea pigs in a single cage. Depending on the size of the cage, you can decide how many guinea pigs you can put into it. Some people have a lot of pets in their homes. Nevertheless, it is recommended not to keep all the pets in the same cage. For instance, keeping pets like rabbits and guinea pigs is not the right thing to do because even if any of the pets carry a disease, there is a high probability that other pets may also get infected by the disease.

Breeding

The male guinea pigs become fertile once they are four weeks old while the female pigs can breed when they are three weeks old. However, it would be premature to breed them at a very young age as the litters may not be healthy. So, the ideal breeding age for males would be 6 months while the female guinea pigs can be allowed for mating when they are 10 months old. The pregnancy period lasts for about 60 days and they are capable of producing 3-4 litter of babies. However, if your guinea pig has given birth to little ones, do seek expert advice on how to take care of them. To know more about the basic nature of the rodents you can watch Animal Planet or National Geographic channel using any of the services like the Dish Network Offers.

Tips for choosing a healthy Guinea pig

Before purchasing a pet guinea pig, take the guinea pig in your hand and check if their eyes, nose, ears, rear end are clean and devoid of any swelling or scratches. Likewise, see to that the there is no flakes, rashes, or redness on the skin. Choose a guinea pig that is neither too heavy nor too thin. Don't buy the ones that are too dull and quiet because there is a probability that they may carry a disease or an infection. Choose a guinea pig that is healthy, active and full of energy.