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FAQ'S
Although there are many questions asked by guinea pig owners relating to their guinea pig, these are the most frequently asked questions.
When you bring your guinea pig home for the first time, you have to understand that they are really scared, becasue it is their first time in a place they have never been before. You have to give them about a week of privacy, so that they can get used to their new surroundings.
After that week you can start to hold and pat them. Try laying them on your lap every time you are watching TV, reading a book, or playing on the computer. This will help them to get used to you. Also make sure that you provide a hidey house in their cage, so that they can retreat there every time they get scared. If you don't provide this, they can get very stressed.
My guinea pig took about a year until he got used to me, and even now he still scurries off to his hidey house every time I open the cage door. This is just a guinea pig's natural instinct, and you have to respect that.
Guinea pigs have
always been common prey for other large animals. For that reason, they
have evolved to hide their pain and weaknesses. If they make any noise,
limp or show distress, they will be an easy catch and sign for
predators. They work hard to make sure that they hide their pain well.
For that reason, it can be very important that you keep an eye on your
guinea pig.
Guinea
can do fine by themselves as long as you give them a lot of attention,
so that they don't get depressed, or lonley. Make sure that you spend
at least one hour a day with your guinea pig, and
try laying them on your lap every time you are watching TV, reading a
book, or playing on the computer. This will help them to get used to
you, and you will keep them company.You could also try putting a chair
in front of your guinea pig's cage, so that other pets can keep it
company.
It
is advised that you keep females together, because they don't fight,
and they will keep each other company. You should never keep males
together, because they fight, and it usually ends up with an injured or
dead guinea pig.
Two males can live together if there is a male that is a lot older than the other one. This is because one has to be more dominant than the other so that they both know who is boss, therefore they won't fight and they will live together in peace. You also have to make sure that the two males are both over the age of one. This is because before they turn one, they will be going through the stages of puberty, and they will want to test their strength with each other, eg. fighting.
I have been a loving guinea pig mother for over seven years now, and I have experienced what it is like with a single guinea pig, and what it is like with two guinea pigs. I have only ever owned male guinea pigs in my entire life, and getting them a mate is a very bad idea. I used to own two male guinea pigs who were in the same cage at the pet store, so I bought them together. They got along fine for about a year, and then they started fighting really badly, and one almost died. So now I own a one year old male guinea pig who lives by himself quite happily, and I will never house males together again.
It all depends on the
guinea pig, and the other animal. If you have a friendly and gentle
animal, then it is possible that they can get along with your guinea
pig.
Dogs, cats, and rabbits are the most popular friends of guinea pigs. Rabbits tend to get along with guinea pigs the best, and can even live together. Cats tend to be a bit rough with guinea pigs, and can sometimes veiw them as food, but if you have a friendly and gentle cat, then they can usually make good friends. Dogs can be a bit rough too, but if you have a friendly and gentle dog, then there will be no problems.
Guinea pigs can live
with any kind of rabbit as long as it is friendly, and not aggresive.
Rabbits very rarley kick guinea pigs with their hind legs, and if they
do, it is probabley an accident because of the size of the cage.
Rabbits need a massive cage, as they are very active creatures, who get
angry if not given enough space to exercise. Guinea pigs have been
known to get along very well with rabbits, and sometimes even better
than with another guinea pig. Rabbits very rarley get along with
another rabbit, and they get along with guinea pigs much better.
Guinea pigs and rabbits have the same diet requirements, so you won't have any problems when they are being fed.
Guinea pigs can't be potty trained easily. This is because they are herbivores (only eat plant matter), and they can't control their bowels as easily as carnivores (only eat plant matter and meat). That is why dogs are easy to potty train. However, guinea pigs tend to poo and pee in a particular spot, so try putting extra bedding, or a plastic ice-cream lid, in that spot. If your guinea pig poos and pees on you when you are carrying them, then just wrap a towel around them, and keep it for when you play with them.
