Im cute, Im furry and I make 500 babies a year (Guinea Pig)

Member Name: clairebear1984

Product:	Guinea Pig
Date:	10/09/08 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: child friendly, not much care needed

Disadvantages: none

I have decided to write a review about guinea pigs, having two of my own, I can honestly say that they are the most friendly and unusual pets you can buy.

I purchased my guinea pigs about 6 months ago now and almost immediately I realised how sociable and friendly they could actually be, They love to be stroked. This was a big relief as I have a 2 year old and I was a bit frightened that they mite bite, but I couldn't have been more wrong, they love nothing more than sitting on our knees and being stoked.

Female guineas can be kept together or in groups, and two males may also live together. An adult male can be introduced to a very young male i.e. 4 - 10 weeks, and live together happily.

If you are not wanting to breed your guinea pigs it is obvious not to purchase a male and a female, if you do want one of each I suggest that they are kept separate. Breeding is common in guinea pigs but you could end up with a lot more babies than anticipated.

A common home for a guinea pig is to live in a hutch outside, although I keep mine inside in a cage, I think that indoor guineas seem to be a lot more friendly if they are kept living with the family in the home. If you chose to keep your guinea pigs outside you must make sure that in the colder months there is plenty of hay available, you can also buy bedding to make sure the guineas stay nice and warm, it is also recommended that a cover is purchased for over the cage to stop winds and rain getting in.

Guinea pigs love nothing more than to be out of there cage and running around freely to explore, I used to section off my living area for them to explore but I soon found this to be very messy as I didn't realise they had so many poops, I now let them have run of the garden and grass and they seem so much happier, they eat the grass and the pavement is ideal for keeping there claws in check. The claws are something you have to keep an eye on, as they need cutting around every 6 months.

Guinea pigs love to eat, although I wouldn't recommend some foods such as wagg, I purchase guinea pig nuggets from pets at home this means they eat all of the minerals and vitamins needed as it is all rolled up in 1 nugget, other foods such as wagg, have all of the parts separate, meaning the guinea pig only eats what he/she chooses to and misses out on essential vitamins.

Hay should be provided for the guinea pigs daily they enjoy eating this to aid with digestion, and to keep there teeth healthy, Fresh fruit and vegetables should also be welcomed into any guinea pigs diet, I offer a selection of fresh fruit or veg each day. Not all guinea pigs will like the same fruit and vegetables, if they leave a certain variety just remove it and try something else.
One of the foods to be avoided for Guinea pigs is potato, as this can be harmful, apples and lettuce should also be give sparingly as they can cause ulcers and diarrhoea. My guinea pigs especially enjoy cucumber, celery and carrot.

Guinea pigs rarely become ill, but it is important to make sure the cages are cleaned thoroughly, if you have 2 guinea pigs I recommend that the cages are changed and disinfected twice a week to avoid smells, a guinea pig will also become a bit depressed if there cage is dirty.

There are a few different variety of guinea pigs available, the long hared variety takes a little more care as they have to be groomed once a day, the short hared variety are pretty straight forward and don't need grooming although they do enjoy attention and strokes.

We spend hours listeing to our Guinea pigs communicating, they make so many funny sounds, and if they hear a rustling bag they will loudly squeak to let you know they want something.

The lifespan of a guinea pig is approximately 7 years, so they are not just pets for Christmas, If you do have children then the Guinea pig is definitely the perfect pet.

Summary: Cute Friendly Animals