Pet of the week: Guinea pigs

Three guinea pigs enjoying their evening meal

• Guinea pigs are native to South America where they were first discovered over a thousand years ago
• Scientific name: Cavia Tschuldi
• Wild guinea pigs mainly inhabit abandoned rabbit and snake tunnels
• The Spanish adopted guinea pigs as pets and introduced them to many parts of the world
• It is believed that the name originated from the high pitched squeals guinea pigs produce coupled with the fact that they were originally sold for one guinea.
• The rarest guinea pigs have an all black coat and are usually only found in captivity

When deciding to keep a guinea pig as a pet it is very important to do as much research as possible. There are a number of misconceptions about guinea pigs that are floating around the internet.

For instance, guinea pigs do not make good pets for children. Yes, guinea pigs have mild temperaments and are not prone to bite. However, guinea pigs are very skittish creatures and must be held constantly and properly from a young age before they can be easily handled. In addition, guinea pigs also love to nibble, which includes on you, and can become quite carried away. On several occasions my own guinea pigs have taken a good nip out of my skin while trying to chew on my shirt or on my hair.

Guinea pigs can also be classified as one of the higher maintenance requiring pets. Guinea pigs need several hours of out of cage time each day for exercise and exploration (more if you only have one guinea pig). Also, guinea pigs require a combined diet of store bought pellets, timothy hay, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a source of vitamin C. Children may find it difficult to devote such a large amount of their time to a pet.

A second misconception I have come across on the internet is the belief that rabbits and guinea pigs can be housed together. Although they require similar environments and diets, rabbits and guinea pigs should never, under any circumstance, be left alone together. Rabbits have extremely powerful hind legs that are capable of snapping the more delicate bones of guinea pigs. Rabbits are also very sexually driven creatures and have a tendency to mount their guinea pig cage mates which can cause a lot of damage to the fragile creature. All animals should only be caged with their own kind.

Although guinea pigs require more work and attention than other members of the rodent family, they also form strong bonds with their owners and make great companions for adults or for families that have the time and resources to care for them.

For resources on how to care for your guinea pig, please visit these websites:
• About.com
• Guinea pig fun facts
• The Humane Society of the United States
• GuineaPigs.Info
• GPAN-Guinea Pig Adoption Network
• Cavy Spirit
 

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