Most of us don’t understand that guinea pigs (or cavy) are very delicate creatures. And the owners of guinea pig even doesn’t know that they are somehow repeating their mistakes. In this article, we will be enlightening you with the tips for the happier and long-living guinea pig. So, before you go to bring this lovable creature to your house, you need to understand a few things about them.
Guinea Pig Owners Should Avoid These Common Mistakes
1. Buying A Guinea Pig From A Pet Store
If you are fond of guinea pigs and want to buy them for the sake of saving them from other cagemates then you need to re-think your decision. Pet store doesn’t take proper care of these small creatures. To save these creatures from the animal cruelty avoid buying any pet from a pet store. Instead, you can adopt a guinea pig. Your local rescue can help you adopt a guinea pig of the same age as you want it to be.
2. Leaving The Guinea Pig Alone Without Any Cagemates
If you have plenty of time to pay proper attention to your guinea pig then it is fine to own a single guinea pig. But there might be a lot of cases out there where people doesn’t have enough time to spend with their pets. In such a situation, your guinea pig needs a companion. Guinea Pig is a very social animal but on the other hand, it is also a prey animal which it will choose another piggy over you.
3. Buying A Small Cage
You need to ensure that these tiny creatures feel comfortable when they are at their home. So, avoid stuffing a pet into a small cage. Your guinea pig needs space to live freely. The happiness of your guinea pig resides in its cage.
| No. Of Guinea Pigs | Minimum Size Acceptable | Preferred Size | In C&C Grids |
| 1 | 7.5 Sq Ft | more | 2×3 grids |
| 2 | 7.5 Sq Ft | 10.5 Sq Ft | 2×4 grids |
| 3 | 10.5 Sq Ft | 13 Sq Ft | 2×5 grids |
| 4 | 13 Sq Ft | more | 2×6 grids |
4. Avoiding Nutrition
You need to provide a proper treatment to your guinea pig by feeding it with pallets (or dry food), hay, fruits, and vegetables. Understand your guinea’s diet and make a nutrition chart for it according to your its diet.
5. Wrong Bedding For Your Guinea Pig
If you are using wood shaving bedding or paper-based bedding then you need to change your guinea pig’s bedding. These types of bedding are not healthy for your pet.
Take care of these common mistakes and you will watch a happy guinea pig growing under your care.
Tiru Dehariya
