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What you should know about guinea pigs
It is simple getting to grips with guinea pigs. Their size and shape makes them easy for an individual to handle. What is more to it is that they are ideal as children’s pets. Guinea pigs are docile, gentle, and inquisitive and always love to chat whenever they squeak loudly. However, there are few simple rules for you in keeping guinea pigs happy and healthy.
Guinea pigs are also known as cavies. It comes from South America origin, and they live in caves, rock crevices and abandoned burrows somewhere in the Andes Mountains. More so, there are several species of wild guinea pigs that live in South America today.
These wild species can be found in the Peruvian grasslands wherein they like to spend six hours a day roaming and grazing. They also have threats to predators so it is safe for them to live in colonies. Guinea pigs have a little means of defense from their predators. They have to run and hide so it is no wonder that they move really fast.
Guinea pigs are introduced in Europe by the Spanish conquerors during the 16th century and domestic guinea pigs that people have as pets nowadays are similar to their Peruvian cousins. There are basically over 25 types of guinea pig and they fall into three main groups. They may belong to smooth shorthaired, rough haired with rosette fur also known as Abyssinian, and silky long-haired.
Moreover, guinea pigs are sociable animals. A lone guinea pig will be lonely hand unhappy. . So it is best for them to have a company. Remember that a mixed pair will breed. You can keep females together, but males, also called as boars, are best kept in pairs. You have to do this by introducing young males after weaning or a young male to an older male after weaning. Ensure that there is a hole for hiding where the young guinea pig can go to alone.
Also, you must beware of bunnies. It is not advisable that you keep a guinea pig together with a rabbit. This is because rabbits can become aggressive towards guinea pigs and this can lead to disaster. Rabbits are sometimes fatal and your guinea pig will be facing lots of consequences. Read the rest of this entry
