What do Guinea Pigs  eat? Guinea Pigs need an unlimited supply of hay and water.  They enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables.  Mine love parsley  - every pig is different.  You can try kale, green peppers, red peppers, romaine, carrots, bananas, etc.  Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value and should not be fed to your guinea pig.  Be careful not to feed too much fresh food...they will not eat enough hay and pellets and could also have diarrhea.  If your guinea pig's diet doesn't contain enough Vitamin C...you will need to supplement with a tablet or in their drinking water.  Guinea Pig pellets should be fresh and provided in limited quantity...about 1/2 cup a day.  Babies and nursing mothers benefit from Alfalfa hay and adults need Timothy Hay or Orchard Grass. How long do Guinea Pigs live? The average lifespan of a guinea pig is 5-7 years.   What kind of cage should I get? You should get a cage as big as possible for them to move around.  The more free time outside of the cage they have daily...the smaller the cage can be.  Guinea Pigs cannot sit on a wire-bottomed cage as it may hurt their feet.   A cage with high sides is preferable so there is less mess on the floor, but not so high as to restrict airflow.  Pick a cage that will give you easy access to get your pig in and out and one that is also easy to clean.  All of my cages are from Quality Cage Company. Will my Guinea Pig be friendly? I hold all of my pigs almost everyday so that they will be comfortable with humans.  If you never hold them, they will become unused to human contact and it might take a while for them to relax. What should I use in the bottom of the cage? There are many varieties of cage litter.  I personally use  untreated wood pellets.  They are reasonably priced and have great absorption.  There are many varieties of litter/bedding at your local pet or feed store.  Try as many as possible to see what works best for you and your guinea pig. I have heard that newspaper bedding can turn "muddy" when wet. What kind of toys will my Guinea Pig like? Every animal is different.  Mine don't play with many toys because they have each other.  I always have wood chew sticks and some small cat balls for them to move around.  Other favorites are tunnels to crawl in, bells (make sure they can't be swallowed), toilet paper tubes and they love to run around in a 6 foot stock tank for exercise. What kind of maintenance do Guinea Pigs need? Guinea Pigs stay pretty clean as long as their environment is clean.  That means that  maintenance will be less with the pig if you clean the cage regularly.  I clean the entire cage once a week.  In between I clean out dirty corners and top off their bedding.  I trim their nails every  month...or as needed.  If you want you can give them a bath or just dip their rear ends in the sink every few months.  Since my Guinea Pigs have long hair...I usually trim it every few months to keep it neat. I use scissors and sometimes electric dog grooming shears.  You can also just trim the hair on their back ends to keep this area cleaner. Where should I purchase a guinea pig? You can get one from me if I have a litter available! You can find one from a professional breeder directly, this is especially nice if you want a certain type or color.  I'd be happy to help you find one. You may go to a local Cavy Rescue Association and adopt a pig. You may go to a pet store.  There is a lot of controversy surrounding buying pets from a pet store. You can look in your local paper for someone who may have a litter available. Where can I have more questions answered? I would be happy to assist you.  Please use the "contact us" link on my website. Do Guinea Pigs get lonely? YES!!  YES!! YES!!  If you aren't keeping two together, or within sight of each other, please hold them and interact with them a lot! Guinea Pigs have been known to waste away from loneliness and boredom in their cages.

FAQ "Frequently Asked Questions"