Origins of the Guinea Pig
Cavies, or Guinea Pigs as they are more commonly known, come originally from South America and are still kept for food in Equador, Bolivia and Peru where they are known as Cuyes.
We are not sure why they are called Guinea Pig but it is thought to be because they arrived into Europe via the country Guiana, or maybe it was because they were sold for a Guinea in England.
There are many relatives of the Cavy these include the Capybara, which is the world's largest rodent, the Mara a hare like mammal and the Agouti much like the Guinea Pigs we have today but slightly bigger with longer, thinner legs.
How many Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pigs are social animals so take this into account when you are planning to keep them.
The only number not to consider is one.
However do make sure the cage/hutch you choose if big enough for the amount of piggies you choose.
Make sure you know the piggies you choose are the same sex.
I have lost count of the number of times people take two piggies home believing them to be the same sex and to find out months later when the pups arrive that this wasn't the case.
Anatomy of a Guinea Pig
The length of a full grown Guinea Pig is usually round 20 cm.
The weight of a female may vary from 600 - 1200 grams, of a male from 800 - 1800 grams.
As they are rodents they have 4 sharp incisors and 16 molars.
They are stocky and have short legs. Their heads are quite large with small hairless ears and dark eyes.
Cavies have a good sense of smell and very good hearing. They can also see in colour but they are very short sighted, which makes it very difficult for them to judge distances.
Their body temperature is higher than humans and they also breathe much faster (120 times/min).
Where to get your Guinea Pig
There are lots of places other than pet shops to buy your piggies.
Breeders, Shows and of course Sanctuaries and Rescues where you will find many unwanted Guinea Pigs that need a good home.
A good place will never let just anyone walk away with a Guinea Pig without telling them how to look after their pet and making sure it has everything it needs to be healthy and happy e.g. proper housing, food etc.
Age of your Guinea Pig
Depending where you get your pet the age will vary.
Usually from a pet shop they will be around 6 weeks old. Younger than that and they shouldn't be ready for sale. Guinea Pigs stay with their mum until they are at least a month old.
Guinea Pigs from rescues make excellent pets but will often be older. This doesn't mean they can't make good pets and you will also be giving an unwanted piggy a new home
What you'd expect to pay
You can sometimes get a Guinea Pig advertised free to good homes. I have seen Guinea Pigs for sale from as little as £4 all the way up to £20 for a pure bred show standard Cavy.
Choosing your Guinea Pig
Make sure you observe the Guinea Pig you are planning to take home for at least ten minutes or so. It should have clean bright eyes and a glossy coat. It should be lively, alert and eating well.
It is important to choose a healthy animal. It is tempting to take home the runt of the litter or one who is huddled in the corner but unless you have plenty of funds to take them to the vets please don't choose them.
I know it's hard but in the long run it's best even if this seems harsh and uncaring.
If you see any animal in distress or suffering the best thing to do is contact the R.S.P.C.A.
Where to keep your Guinea Pig
I personally think that a Guinea Pig does better in an indoor cage it can have more human contact it will then become less timid and more used to it's owner and also the temperature will be more constant leading to a healthier, happier Guinea Pig.
However it is a matter of choice and as long as the hutch is protected from drafts and frost it is ok to have an outside hutch.
If two or more Guinea Pigs are housed together they will be able to huddle together to keep themselves warmer during the winter months but I do recommend that they are moved to a shed or outhouse in the colder months of the year.
Feeding your Guinea Pig
Guinea Pigs need Vitamin C daily which is found if fresh vegetables and Fruit e.g. celery, peppers, cucumber, apples, carrots, parsley, romaine lettuce and lots more.
Grapes and spinach can be fed in small amounts.
Note: Do NOT feed iceburg as it has very little food value consiting mostly of water it can cause diarrhoea.
They also need fresh hay and water daily.
Grass should also be available daily, I know this is hard to find during the winter months so you can feed a handful of dried grass sometimes called Supa Forage, readigrass or just grass in pet shops e.g pets at home
A good dry food is Wagg Guinea Pig food or Burgess Supa Guinea Excel and they need 25-50g of this daily.
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