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Guinea Pigs - Tips and Hints

Selina Shapland

Pet Care (148) How To (67) Guinea Pigs (3) Family Pets (26)

Guinea Pigs are a favourite pet for a lot of Australian families.

But, How do you choose one? What do they eat? And, Where can they be adopted?

Guinea Pig, Photo courtesy of nokhoog_buchachon/FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

So, how do you go about finding a Guinea Pig and a suitable companion for them?
I went to the Guinea Pigs Australia website to find out more.

Tips include:

Guinea Pigs are pack animals so they need a companion, but they are also dominant and there is a requirement for one to be pack leader.

If you have an older Guinea Pig, you may like to pair it with a younger one, however, you really need to know your current Guinea Pig's behaviour so that they are matched well. That means one needs to be dominant and the other subordinate.

Size can play a role in who is boss out of the two, usually the biggest one is the dominant.

The size of the Cage is very important to allowing enough space for the two Guinea Pigs to meet and bond. The cage really needs to have a 'time out' area so that if things get tense, they can have some down time to regroup.

When introducing two Guinea Pigs, it is best done on Neutral Territory. That means thoroughly cleaning the cage, the bedding and any other accessories so that there are no conflicting smells. They naturally mark their territory, so it's best to let both have an equal footing.

According to Guinea Pig Australia, it is best to have two, rather then one. The reason is that with a companion of the same species, they can express themselves fully, they are pack animals and they can show you all the fabulous antics that only a pair of Guinea Pigs can get up to.

They suggest that you adopt two of the same sex. If you do get a male and female pair it is very strongly recommended that the male be desexed so that no babies come along that could end up in no-home situation.

There are many Guinea Pigs that need a new home, so "Opt to Adopt."

What about food?
Nutrition is important for the health and well-being of your Guinea Pigs. They require a well-balanced diet and to be fed twice a day. Their diet consists of:

Grass Hay - this is a staple for their diet

Lucerne hay - this may be a treat, but check with a professional exotics vet or go to the Guinea Pigs Australia website to find out more

Clean water daily

A wide range of leafy green vegetables such as Cos Lettuce

Capsicum

Baby Carrot

Parsley

Blueberries

Cherry Tomatoes

Zuchini

Orange

Broccoli

To find out more about their specific dietary needs, is recommended that you go to the Guinea Pigs Australia Nutrition and Food Webpage.

Where do you go to adopt a compatible pair of Guinea Pigs?
Guinea Pigs Australia have an Adoption webpage that consists of the following topics to help you with adding to your 'family':

Things to consider before adopting

Current Adoptions

Why choose to adopt a Guinea Pig?

Recommended Rescues

All very useful information to help you make an informed decision as to whether you are ready for cuteness of a pair of Guinea Pigs in your life.

#Guinea Pigs
#Family Pets
#How To
#Pet Care

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