|
|
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are good pets.
They are small animals.
Their front teeth keep growing.
They chew hard food to stop their teeth getting too long.
Guinea pigs are rodents and belong to the cavy family. They are related to rats and mice. Females are called sows, and males are called boars. In their natural habitat, in grassland areas in parts of South America, guinea pigs live in family groups, so when deciding to have them as pets it is a good idea to keep at least two guinea pigs so that the animals have companionship.
Feeding your guinea
pigs
Guinea pig pellet food can be bought from the pet shop. Because their front teeth grow continuously, gnawing food such as dry pellets helps keep their teeth to a good size.
Guinea pigs should also be fed hay, fresh fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, strawberries and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and cauliflower. Guinea pigs need fresh water too.
Housing your
guinea pigs
A hutch for your guinea pigs should be large enough for the animals to move freely about inside. It should be well ventilated and have a solid bottom. A cardboard or wooden box with an open bottom and a hole cut in the side should be placed inside the cage as a place where a frightened guinea pig can hide.
Bedding can be a layer of ink-free paper or shredded cardboard with hay on top, but it must be changed often. Special bedding for guinea pigs is available from pet shops.
Guinea pigs need plenty of exercise and should have a safe playpen area. It can be joined onto the cage or the guinea pigs can be taken to it each day. The cage and the play areas should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
Life Cycle
When males and females mate, the male's sperm enters the female's body and joins with eggs inside her body. Baby guinea pigs begin to grow. The babies are born about 70 days after mating. There can be up to 8 babies in the litter, but the average is 3 or 4.
The young are born with hair and teeth, and with their eyes open. Even though they suckle milk from their mother's body, baby guinea pigs are able to eat solid food from birth.
Go here to read more about looking after pet guinea pigs
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/rabbit_horse_and_other_pet_care/how_to_care_for_guinea_pigs.html
http://www.erodent.co.uk/BeforeYouBuyAGuineaPig.htm
Responsible pet ownership
Guinea pigs, like most pets, enjoy the company of people and depend
on their owners for food, protection and shelter. Before becoming
a pet owner think carefully about all the things you will
have to do to care for your pet responsibly.
Acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Guinea
Pigs (2002).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
Axolotls Budgerigars Dogs Canaries Cats Fish Mice Rabbits
updated May 2007