I used to have Guinea Pigs and would recommend them as a family pet. They are good to teach children responsibility and I think they are a better pet than Rabbits they rarely bite or scratch - making them ideal pets for young children.

They usually live between 4 and 8 years.

They are active during the daytime, They communicate vocally, making them fun to watch and play with.

Although you do need to keep them in pairs as they are sociable animals and can get lonely.

Guinea pigs will love and appreciate the love you give them, they like to be held and played with. They can be kept inside as long as they have space to run around or outside in a hutch and run protected from the elements.

My Guinea Pigs were indoor pets although I used to put them in a run outside daily for exercise. They will not jump or dig. They are very clean animals and don't smell if you keep their living areas clean. One of my Guinea Pigs- Dill was toilet trained and used to use a litter tray.

Guinea Pigs need lots of vitamin C otherwise they suffer from scurvy so it's important to feed them with fresh fruit and vegetables carrots, dark green leafy vegetables as well as a good Guinea Pig food you can get supplements to put in their water but this should not be necessary.

Basically a guinea pig is a low maintenance pet suitable for children.