Finally, your new friend needs a balanced diet of pelleted food, fresh veggies and greens, fresh water, and hay. These are social creatures, and should not live alone. This leads to our second factor – social behavior. ![]() This is especially important if you have more than one. First, their enclosure must be large enough for them to roam and explore. There are several factors that you must address to keep your Guinea Pig healthy and happy. They are small, fragile animals, and might not be the right choice for families with young children. Before purchasing one, it is important to do your research and understand all their needs. Traders began taking them to other areas of the world in the 1500s. In some cultures, people gave them as gifts, viewed them as sacred, or used them in ceremonies. Local tribes selectively bred them for easy handling and meat production.įrom there, various cultures began raising, breeding, and interacting with Guinea Pigs. Humans began to domesticate these animals for food in South America about 7,000 years ago. By carefully socializing your new friend, you can make sure your Guinea Pig is happy and comfortable when handled. When interacting with them, it is important to always handle them gently, speak softly, and keep a close eye on children or pets. These cuddly little creatures are usually very sociable and friendly towards people. They also eat fruit, lettuce, hay, and other safe veggies. Pelleted feed is an important component of their diet, as it provides them with all the vitamins and nutrients they need to stay healthy. They rely on their owners to provide a balanced diet to keep them healthy. Diet of the Guinea PigĪs herbivores, these rodents feed only on plants and plant materials. They live throughout Peru, Argentina, and Chile in this habitat. They do not live in the wild, but their closest living ancestors inhabit the Andes Mountains in South America. Across South America, humans breed domestic Guinea Pigs for their meat as well. These little rodents live in households worldwide as companion animals. Both cedar and pine shavings are potentially dangerous to these animals. You should also use aspen, corncob, paper, or similar rodent-safe choices for their bedding. You should only keep your pet on a solid floor, as wire floors can cause foot injuries. Nowadays, most domestic Guinea Pigs live in cages with soft bedding on the bottom and plenty of artificial hiding places. ![]() ![]() Unlike many other rodents, they do not dig burrows or tunnels, but instead hide in rocky crevices and beneath vegetation. Though these creatures do not live in the wild, their most recent ancestor lives in mountainous grasslands and meadows. Different noises are associated with different behaviors or emotions. These social little creatures call to one another with a variety of squeaks, wheeks, purrs, and more. Social Squeakers – In fact, Cavies produce a wide variety of noises.As rodents, these fuzzy pets are not closely related to pigs at all! They got their name from their squeaking, squealing, pig-like vocalizations. Not a Pig – Just like the other half of their name, the “pig” in Guinea Pig is also a bit of a misnomer.In fact, scientists still are not entirely sure where the “guinea” in their name even came from! The ancestors of these rodents actually come from the Andes Mountains in South America. Not From Guinea – Despite their name, these creatures are not from Guinea.If they do not grind down their teeth, their teeth can grow too long for them to eat and they can starve. Because of this, these rodents must have plenty of things to gnaw on and grind down their teeth. Never-ending Gnawing – Like all rodents, Guinea Pigs’ teeth keep growing for their entire lives.However, as is the case with any pet, you should do your research before adding a new member to the family. Some have short coats, while others have long coats, or even curly coats. ![]() Because of this, these little rodents are brown, than, white, cream, grey, black, orange, and any combination of the above. Humans have selectively bred a wide variety of colors and coats. Most Cavies are about eight or nine inches long, and only weigh a pound or two. These are relatively small rodents, with small ears, short legs, and no tail.
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