My First Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs can make very loving pets, and are ideal for slightly older children, however younger children must be supervised around their guinea pigs at all times, to keep both the children and the pigs safe.
Guinea pigs can squeak, squeal and grunt to express themselves. They give a high-pitched squeak when they're hungry or see food coming.
How to Choose a Guinea Pig
First, if you are after a female guinea pig, never buy one that has been housed with males, as is done at many pet shops, as they will almost certainly be pregnant. Although guinea pigs don't mind living alone, they prefer company. Two females, will live happily together, as will two males who have been raised together, and have never been near a female. Once a female cavy has been introduced to males housed together, they will have to be separated, and will never be able to be housed together again. It is not advised to introduce two adult males together, as fighting will most likely ensue. A gentle older boar, and a young weanling may often be hosed together successfully, but if the older boar shows any aggression to the youngster, they should be separated immediately.
Your first guinea pig should be no younger than five to six weeks old, and should have a nice clean coat, bright clean bold eyes, clean bottoms, not at all hunched, and should not be skinny, or have a scurfy coat. Cavies with baldness should be avoided as they may have mites, or other skin conditions. When buying a cavy, you ask whether they have been wormed, and what they have been fed.
This is so that when you get them home, you can introduce them to a new diet slowly, and be sure that they are parasite free.
The best place to purchase your cavy is from a registered breeder, as they will have the best idea of how to keep cavies, and you will know that you guinea pig is coming from some one who cares about the welfare and health of the cavies that they breed and sell. Contacting your local Cavy Club is a great start, as they can provide you with details of breeders who may have stock available for sale. Breeders often have babies who are not quite show quality, but who will make lovely pets, and they sometimes have ex breeding stock that need a pet home to retire too. Most breeders are willing give advice and offer support to those interested, and in general you can be safe in mind that your guinea pig will be a healthy animal, with years of selective breeding for health, and looks behind it.
Another option for purchasing a guinea pig is from a rescue society, such as the Australian Cavy Sanctuary, where guinea pigs have been surrendered, or rescued, and have been brought back to health, and are looking for a new home.
Guinea pigs can squeak, squeal and grunt to express themselves. They give a high-pitched squeak when they're hungry or see food coming.
How to Choose a Guinea Pig
First, if you are after a female guinea pig, never buy one that has been housed with males, as is done at many pet shops, as they will almost certainly be pregnant. Although guinea pigs don't mind living alone, they prefer company. Two females, will live happily together, as will two males who have been raised together, and have never been near a female. Once a female cavy has been introduced to males housed together, they will have to be separated, and will never be able to be housed together again. It is not advised to introduce two adult males together, as fighting will most likely ensue. A gentle older boar, and a young weanling may often be hosed together successfully, but if the older boar shows any aggression to the youngster, they should be separated immediately.
Your first guinea pig should be no younger than five to six weeks old, and should have a nice clean coat, bright clean bold eyes, clean bottoms, not at all hunched, and should not be skinny, or have a scurfy coat. Cavies with baldness should be avoided as they may have mites, or other skin conditions. When buying a cavy, you ask whether they have been wormed, and what they have been fed.
This is so that when you get them home, you can introduce them to a new diet slowly, and be sure that they are parasite free.
The best place to purchase your cavy is from a registered breeder, as they will have the best idea of how to keep cavies, and you will know that you guinea pig is coming from some one who cares about the welfare and health of the cavies that they breed and sell. Contacting your local Cavy Club is a great start, as they can provide you with details of breeders who may have stock available for sale. Breeders often have babies who are not quite show quality, but who will make lovely pets, and they sometimes have ex breeding stock that need a pet home to retire too. Most breeders are willing give advice and offer support to those interested, and in general you can be safe in mind that your guinea pig will be a healthy animal, with years of selective breeding for health, and looks behind it.
Another option for purchasing a guinea pig is from a rescue society, such as the Australian Cavy Sanctuary, where guinea pigs have been surrendered, or rescued, and have been brought back to health, and are looking for a new home.