Best guinea pig dry food (UK only)?

Question

I can't decide whether to go for a mixed dry food (flakes, biccies, dryed veggy things) or go for a mono mix (one type of complete nutritional pellet). At the moment it's a decision between Gerty Guinea Pig and Supa Guinea pig.
I appreciate I'll have to gradually wean them off what ever the breeder was feeding them before they come to me, but which is best? Is it better to prevent against selective feeding with a single type feed or should I just worry about it if it happens?
Any suggestions for equally good or better dry feeds welcome.

(Please answer q rather than bang on about veggies, I have done my homework!)

Thanks :)

Answer 1

I would definitely go for the Supa Guinea Excel by Burgess. Gerty Guinea pig contains a large amount of artificial colours and preservatives - vets at Edinburgh university school of vet medicine believe this is a contributer to a large number of piggies in the UK contracting diabetes. Gerty is also a mix food and hence promotes selective feeding - you'll notice that the pigs will pick out all the unhealthy bits such as flaked peas and corn - so they won't get any benefit from the little that is good about the food (generally the uncoloured pellet parts). You'll find yourself throwing out a lot too, so it's a waste of money. They also don't state what colours and preservatives are - ethoxyquin, a commonly used preservative that is known to be toxic (cancer causing and an irritant) to humans, so you really wouldn't want to feed them this!

Supa Excel has a balance of everything that a guinea pig needs from pellets. Because it's a pellet the pigs can't pick out the bits they like.

Oxbow Cavy Cuisine is about the best you can buy across the world for your guinea pig. Over here in the UK it is expensive and more difficult to get, but if money isn't too tight then you can buy it online at the likes of SPH supplies or Petlife International. Many UK vets can also order it in for you.

Answer 2

I always use the mixed food, not pellets. My guinea pigs could choose which bits they liked and it was a bit more interesting for them. Out of those two i would choose Gerty guinea pig food but I always go to my local pet shop and get the stuff they make which is pretty much the same stuff, it's just fresher and moister.

As for weaning them off what the breeder feeds them I find that guinea pigs aren't very fussy and they'll eat anything. The change probably won't affect them and they'll get used to it quickly.

Good luck

Answer 3

Of those two foods, I'd recommend the Supa Excel over the Gerty Guinea Pig. Gerty Guinea Pig is one of the worst foods on the market for guinea pigs, IMHO (although I've heard it's great for degus). It's full of seeds, nuts, and grains, which are not what a guinea pig needs in it's diet. (They are foraging grazers, they need a diet based on grasses) Supa Excel is hay based, and is a much better choice.

Oxbow Cavy Cuisine is better than Supa Excel, but my understanding is that it can be very difficult to get ahold of in the UK, so I'd stick with the Supa.

Answer 4

I FEED MY GUINEA PIG GERTY GUINEA PIG FOOD WHICH HE ENJOYS VERY MUCH, PELLETS ARE NOT THE BEST IDEA AS THEY MAY BECOME BORED WITH THESE.
SELECTIVE FEEDING IS VERY RARE, SO FOR NOW I WOULD SUGGEST FEEDING GERTY GUINEA PIG FOOD AS THIS WILL BE ENJOYED FAR MORE.
HOPE THIS HELPS

Answer 5

you should feed Guinea pig excel its recommend by vets it stops your gunieapig getting over weight and it is full of vitamins and minerals this is available in the uk in all good pet shops and vet surgeries good luck

Answer 6

mine love the Tesco one in the purple bag (not the value cheap one). It's about £3 a bag and they eat most of the bits

Answer 7

i feed my guinne pig on gerty and also excel and fresh food and they are thriving plenty of vitiman c

Answer 8

the first one the secong one is complete crap but the best stuff to give them is frsh vegetables
xxx