There are 9 different breeds of guinea pigs: American, Abyssinian, Peruvian, Silkie, Crested, Teddy, Texel, Coronet, and the Misc variety (unspecified).
Cavies eat a primary diet of hay. Hay is important for piggies to keep their teeth filed down. It makes up about 80% of their diet, as they eat their size in hay per day! 10% of their diet should be a high-fiber pellet. And the other 10% should be providing fresh veggies daily as well as Vitamin C supplement.
Guinea pigs are unable to produce Vitamin C on their own and absolutely need it supplemented in their diet through other means (pellets are not enough). It is always better to provide more Vitamin C than not enough, as any excess vitamin C will be excreted through their urine.
0.5 ml of Vitamin C or 1/2 Oxbow tablet
1/8 cup of pellets
1/2 cup of fresh mixed vegetables (variety of 3-5 veggies)
Unlimited orchard grass hay
Unlimited fresh water
Cavies are herd animals that should be given the opportunity to bond with others. They should NEVER live alone, either having a roommate or a neighbor. Always make sure to keep cavies together in same-sex groups, or if necessary, neuter the boar for mixed herds.
The minimum enclosure ground level should be at least 7.5 square feet for two sows, and 10.5 square feet for two boars. For every additional cavy, you would add 3.5 square feet.
Their enclosure should be located in a part of the house that gets high traffic such as near the kitchen or living room. The room temperature should remain between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. The room should be bright with indirect sunlight and no drafts.
Some bedding options include: anti-pill fleece, unscented paper bedding, aspen shavings, kiln-dried pine shavings, pine pellets or paper pellets. We do not recommend using pellets throughout their enclosure and only in designated litter box areas as they can be rough on their feet. Cedar bedding is unsafe! Litter box training is a bit impossible with cavies but they are a great way of helping contain the mess of hay and waste to one area.
Some enrichment that should be included in their enclosure would be at least one hidey house per cavy and lots of chew toys! Providing them with out-of-enclosure time in a safe area (such as a playpen) is also recommended daily.
We suggest checking your cavy's physical health at least once a month. This should include doing nail trims and brushing their hair out as needed. You should also clip their hair as needed and clean their ears. Boars also may need help with their boy-bits. Do not bathe unless recommended by your vet. We also suggest weighing your pigs every week and tracking any significant changes in weight.
*Limit to 1-2x/week at most.
Romaine lettuce, Green leaf or red leaf lettuce, Arugula, Spinach*, Kale, Parsley, Cilantro, Butter Lettuce, Dill, Zucchini, Radicchio, Peas, Bell peppers, Broccoli*, Green or red cabbage*, Carrots*, Celery, Dandelion greens, Cucumber, Green beans, Summer or winter squash, Basil, Beets, Brussel sprouts*, Cauliflower leaves, Collard greens, Bok Choy, Mint/Peppermint, Radish, Tomatoes, Thyme, Watercress, Mustard greens
Limit at most once/week.
Cherries, Oranges, Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Grapes, Blueberries, Kiwi, Papaya, Peaches, Cranberries, Plum, Pumpkin, Raspberries, Bananas, Apricots, Mango, Cantaloupe, Passionfruit, Nectarine, Peach, Pineapple
Chocolate, Candy, Caffeine, Onions, Garlic, Mushrooms, Iceberg Lettuce, Avocados, Nuts, Potatoes, Seeds, Corn, Peanut Butter, Dairy, Bread, Meat
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