Guinea Pig Information

Are you looking for information about guinea pigs? I remember when my children first decided they’d love to get pet guinea pigs, it was hard to know where to start finding the facts I needed to know. I didn’t have any idea even what guinea pigs ate, whether they were smelly, whether they were suitable pets for young children….nothing!

Sources of guinea pig information

Some of the places I looked for information include:

• The public library – I found some fantastic children’s books on guinea pigs in the library, which were great for introducing my little ones to the idea that owning guinea pigs involved a little more responsibility than owning a teddy bear;-)

• Friends and family who had pet guinea pigs – best for the purely practical aspects of owning guinea pigs, (no, they don’t smell so long as you keep their cage clean!)

• Other guinea pig enthusiasts online shared some great tips for getting guinea pigs to be loving, affectionate pets (rather than wild creatures who don’t want to be picked up and cuddled)

• Guinea pig breeders and vets – I learnt a lot about the signs of guinea pig illness from a number of breeders and specialist guinea pig veterinarians

So to help anyone who may be considering getting a new guinea pig, or who has one and is looking for detailed guinea pig care information, here are some articles which may help.

Q. What’s a guinea pig?

A. Good question! I didn’t know either when I first started out. A guinea pig is also known as a “Cavy” and is a member of the rodent family, originating from the Andes mountatins of Peru. It’s scientific name is Caviidea Porcellus. Need a visual? Check out my Guinea Pig Pictures page.

Q.  Do guinea pigs make good pets?

A.  Yes! They sure do!  There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether a pet guinea pig is the right choice for your family.  These include the age and interests of your children; who is to be responsible for cleaning the cage and feeding the guinea pig, and most importantly whether your family has time to devote to getting to know your new pet. You can also read my article “Guinea Pigs As Pets” for more information.

Q. What do guinea pigs eat?

A. They are vegetarian and love all kinds of fruits, most vegetable (especially leafy green vegetables) and grasses. My guinea pigs get very noisy if they don’t get their daily fix of kikuyu grass from our lawn! There are a few things they really must not eat though for safety’s sake. Find more information here: What To Feed Guinea Pigs.