Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs (also called cavies) are rodents belonging to the family Cavidae and the genus Cavia. Though guinea pigs are currently classified in order Rodentia, there is some scientific dispute over whether or not they are actually rodents, as recent evidence from mitochondrial DNA indicates that Caviidae may belong to a different evolutionary offshoot, and therefore a different order.

Despite their common name, the animals are not pigs, nor do they come from Guinea. Although there are more than 20 different species, the one most familiar to people is C. porcellus, the common guinea pig. The majority of information in this article is about the common guinea pig. They are considered by many to be very cute and are very verbal (they squeak) in contact with humans.

Domestic Guinea Pigs

Domesticated guinea pigs come in many varieties which have been developed since their arrival in Europe and North America. These varieties vary widely in hair and color composition. The most common varieties found in pet stores are the English Short Hair which has a smooth, glossy, short coat, and the Abyssinian which has a rough coat made of cowlicks, crests, and swirls called rosettes. Each of these varieties come in a number of colors and color patterns. The rarer Peruvian has very long hair, hanging all the way to the ground.

Guinea pigs are widely considered to be good pets. They are generally easy to care for, and while they do require frequent cage cleaning and companionship, with a little diligence all their needs can easily be met.

Habitat

Guinea pigs can be kept in cages with low sides as they will rarely climb out. The cage should ideally be as large as possible – 7.5 square feet (0.7 square metres) for one guinea pig is about the minimum to allow space for moving about, exercise, and exploration, as they are naturally curious animals. If the guinea pig is kept in a smaller cage such as those sold in pet stores, it is essential to allow them daily time to move outside the cage (and this is always a good idea no matter how big the cage is.)

Guinea pigs do best in groups of two or more guinea pigs, as they have a herd mentality. However it is not advisable to keep guinea pigs and rabbits together as it is not uncommon for a guinea pig to be badly, if not fatally, injured by a rabbit suddenly kicking out with its paws or an overly romantic rabbit repeatedly trying to mount a guinea pig.

Domestic Guinea pigs' cages are often lined with wood shaving or a similar material; paper and aspen are generally considered safe bedding. Cedar and pine beddings which were common in the past, have harmful phenols (oils and scents) that can cause upper respiratory infections (which are fatal for many cavies). Many stores still sell cedar and pine beddings as safe for Guinea pigs, but there is growing pressure to stop the practice.

Diet

They must be fed fresh vegetables and a commercial food made for guinea pigs. Rabbit food, for example, is not fortified with the vitamin C that guinea pigs must have in their diet. Like humans but unlike most other mammals, guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C, but must obtain this vital nutrient from the food they eat in order to stay healthy. Also like humans, if guinea pigs cannot get enough vitamin C they will suffer from scurvy and ultimately die. Commercial vitamin C pills are also an excellent source. There are several approaches for feeding the pills, but in practice most guinea pigs quickly learn to like them. After a brief period of 'friendly-force-feeding', the animals start eating the pills from their owners' hands, making it an ideal source of essential vitamin C.

Guinea pigs are probably the smallest grass-eating mammals. Grass digestion requires a special digestive system: whereas most grass-eating mammals are quite large and have a long digestive tract, guinea pigs use a more unusual method: they practice coprophagy, the eating of one's own feces. They produce special soft pellets, called "cecotropes," which contain the B vitamins and bacteria required for proper digestion. They share this behaviour with rabbits.

Cavies also need unlimited timothy hay. However, alfalfa hay, which is richer, may be more appropriate for young guinea pigs. This provides roughage and fiber needed in their diet. Cavies should be fed approximately one cup of fresh vegetables daily. Favorites include apples, bananas, celery and green peppers.

Pelleted food is avialable under many different brand names, however most experts feel many brands are unacceptable to meet a cavy's needs. Alfalfa-based pellets (the most common pellet based food available) should be fed only to cavies one year of age or younger. Timothy-based should be fed to cavies older than one year.

Alfalfa, like other foods rich in calcium (such as spinach) should only be fed to adults in moderation. Being fed too much calcium-rich food can result in an animal developing problems with bladder stones and similar disorders.

Breeding

Breeding is easy and males are not known to attack pups (however, females will breed on the day they give birth so it may not be wise to keep males with them at that time). Because of the long gestation period and the large size of the pups, pregnant females become extremely large. Pregnancy Toxemia is common and kills many pregnant females so you may not want to breed favorite pets. Breeding males produce a strong musk that smells much like bee's wax.