Choosing a Small Pet: What You Need to Know About Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs can make amazing pets, but there are many different things to consider when finding the newest member to your family, so how do you know that a Guinea Pig is right for yours? Like any pet, a Guinea Pig will require lots of love and care to help keep them healthy and well, so in this blog we are taking a look at Guinea Pigs, and what you can expect if you were to have a one as a pet.

Guinea Pigs are the ideal beginner pet; they are social animals that very rarely bite or scratch but they can be nervous. In addition, they are normally very quiet animals which become tamer the more they are handled. When fully grown, at about 16 weeks, a Guinea Pig will be about 20-30cm in length; so as they get bigger, they will need more space.

Species of Guinea Pig

American Guinea Pig

This is the most common guinea pig species, recognizable by their short smooth hair, which will require very little grooming care.

Albino Guinea Pigs

Albino Guineas have a distinctive white coat and pink eyes.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig

These Guineas are easy to spot as their hair is longer and slightly curly and will be particularly silky and shiny. Although their hair is in whirls they keep themselves relativity clean. Although they do not like to be held as much as smooth haired Guinea Pigs, they do love to be talked to, and can be quite vocal themselves.

Where Guinea Pigs Like to Live

Guinea Pigs can be kept indoors or outdoors. Because of their large size, they will need a large cage or hutch, which will be at least four times their adult size, with a separate space to allow your Guinea Pig to exercise.

If your Guinea Pig is to live outside, choose a hutch which is fully waterproof, draught free and be raised from the ground to help protect from predators. During the winter it is recommended that you take your Guinea Pigs hutch into a shed or provide extra shelter such as a hutch cover to protect them against the harsh weather conditions.

If living indoors, choose a cage which has been specifically designed for indoor use. Your Guinea Pigs cage should be positioned away from radiators or direct sunlight and clear of any draughts.

Exercise & Play for Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are curious animals that will be active during the day, and will become bored if they toys are not available for them. They love to chew so chew blocks and gnaw sticks should be provided at all times. Your Guinea Pig will also need space to run and jump around, so you will need to give them space to do this every day.