I need an answer to that question and any other information you can tell me about guinea pigs, anything and everything! No links please, I'd rather just read on here. : ) Thanks for all serious answers in advance, any others will be reported.
2007-09-22 05:50:58 · 13 answers · asked by * 4 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Guinea pigs don't HAVE to live in pairs, although it borders on being cruel to just adopt one. This is because guinea pigs are herd animals by nature and as a result are very social. You can talk and cuddle 1 guinea pig all you like but in the end you are not their 24/7 like a cage mate would be and you can not talk in guinea pig language.
Food:
- Guinea pigs need a good plain pellet, unlimited grass hay and 1 cup of fresh produce twice a day
- For the pellets and hay I would recommend either Oxbow or Kleenmama's Hayloft.
- Vitamin c enriched fresh produce or kids chewable vitamin c tablets
- Fresh water
Where to get your pig:
- Not a pet store
- Not a breeder
- But a rescue, the animals here need a loving home to go to. I have numerous links which I could give that would help you find a rescue near you if you wish.
What to house your pig in:
- A C&C cage is the best cage possible
- Pet store cages are too small
- Aquariums provide no/little airflow and are also often too small
Bedding:
- No cedar or pine
- Aspen, kiln dried pine and carefresh are all options
- Fleece is a relatively new bedding, is re-usable and as a result is effective and cheap
Containers:
- You will need 2 containers, one for the pellets and one for the fresh produce
- I recommend clip on containers, these can be purchased at most exotic pets
Toys:
- Keep them simple, scrunched up newspaper balls, 4 inch diameter PVC pipes etc
- You can get pet store toys but I have found that the girls do not use them
- Avoid harnesses, leashes, exercise balls and wheels
Guinea pigs in general:
- Guinea pigs are great cleaners and rarely need baths
- They have no natural odours
- Guinea pigs can live up to 10 years old although the average life-span ranges between 5-8
2007-09-22 12:54:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Guinea Pig Pairs
2016-10-31 04:38:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're able to give your little guy *lots* of time & attention, 1 should be ok but not optimal, from what I've heard.
We only have 1, he's about 2 yrs old & we adopted him from a rescue earlier this summer. Although they had other guinea pigs, ours was in an enclosure by himself & had been for quite some time. We debated about getting him a friend but couldn't find anyone appropriate so @ least for now he's our only piglet. *But* we're home a lot & he's also good buds with our kitten-- he'll actually squeal for the kitten's attention! Also, he gets jealous & squeals for my attention when he hears me talking to our rats.
Give your guinea pig a source of Vit. C every day. A variety of veggies & occasional fruit will keep his interest & if he doesn't seem to like something, keep trying every few days b/c he could decide to give it a try. We give our guy a small bit of veggies several times a day & he's always got pellets, timothy hay & water. They also like toys that can be pushed, pulled or nibbled. We have several toys but just give our guy a couple @ a time & switch them every couple days. He also has a hanging bell & chew toys attatched to his cage, which are always there. They like igloos, boxes or "Chubes' to hide in if they feel the need. If yours is long-haired, he should be brushed regularly & even if he's not, brushing is a good way of bonding with your little friend.
2007-09-22 07:57:53 · answer #3 · answered by Catkin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
guinea pigs (cavys) do not NEED to live with another, however, they are very sociable animals so require attention from another living being, if it isnt you, you need to have them a companion, and i mean attention, if they are going to be alone for 6 hours a day your guinea pig will be very lonely and start to stress. in which case a companion animal, be it a guineapig, or a young neutered rabbit, would be better. if you can give your guineapig alot of attention though, then a companion wouldnt be necessary. only you can determine how much time you have available however.
as for what to say about them, well, it depends on what lines you are after?
cavy care? cavy breeding? cavy history? (did you know that the word guinea pig means "good to eat?" i read that somewhere, the incas used to keep them purely as a food source)
the main think you need to know about guinea pigs is that they are the same as humans in the sense that they cannot make their own vitamin c in their own bodies, it has to be absorped from the food, in other words, they need fresh fruit and veg daily, carrots, apple, cabbage, cauliflower, brocolli, sprouts, spinach, spring greens, all favourites of the cavy, NEVER feed lettuce as it acts as a laxative and can harm your guinea friend
2007-09-22 05:58:49 · answer #4 · answered by animallovinggirlie 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They dont need to live in pairs. Cavy do like attention, to keep a pig amused:-
Have the cage set up in a central position in the house so they can see you, leave radio on when your not home, place a small bird mirror on the outside of the cage they think its another pig; they also like to watch cartoons on TV.
Join one of the many Yahoo Groups for Guinea Pigs.
2007-09-22 11:29:46 · answer #5 · answered by melglen_stud 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Guinea Pigs do not have to live with another pig. they are very social animals and like other guinea pigs, but, dont NEED another.
Guinea Pigs should live in a large cage.
a really good kind of a cage is C&C (Cubes & Coroplast).
you can get these cages at websites like guineapigcages.com (sorry about the link)
they can premake it, or you can make it yourself.
You can also get these items at a store.
coroplast is sold at sign stores and some FedExes.
and cubes are sold at target and other store like that.
you have probably seen the cubes before.
they are connected together and made in to boxes which things could be stored in.
As for Food:
guinea pigs need, Vitemin C, which is in veggies. NO starches or gasy foods (corn, potatoes, spinach, broccoli)
they need timothy hay with you can get for $7 at petco or other places.
they need dry food. DO NOT get fiesta. it has large carrots and other things that can choke guinea pigs.
get the plain kind.
As for living styles:
they need a type of bedding.
Care FRESH is a very good brand.
you can also you hay, little ball things, or you can you fleece.
they also need things they can chew on.
you can get the fiddle sticks that can bend and you can make them into stairs, a cave, a tunnel, or a fence.
they also like chewsticks.
try and get the soft ones, they love those.
they can also have crumpled up paper or outside sticks (make sure they are clean.)
for hutches and other hidey things you can use:
pigloos,
socks,
bent grids (also called cubes, refer to C&C)
blankets hung from the corner of the cage,
make a plywood ledge, clue it to the edge of the cage, then hang a blanket or fleece.
MOST OF ALL...........
BE CREATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!
good luck!!
2007-09-22 06:48:44 · answer #6 · answered by æd∆n 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I've had several singles and my current two males lived in one cage until "puberty" hit and they decided they hated each other. Now they live in seperate cages. From my experience females tend to live together better.
If you spend enough time with your guinea pig it will "purr" when you give it attention. They have to have something to chew on and make sure their nails are clipped. I've never met a guinea pig that didn't like parsley and baby carrots are easy to keep in a fridge and give to a piggy.
Good luck.
2007-09-22 09:25:04 · answer #7 · answered by freetodervish 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They don't have to live in pairs, but they will be happier if they do. Guines pigs are very social animals, and if there are two of them they won't get lonely. They will be much happier if there are two of them. The only way I would say you just have one is if you can devote a lot of time with it. Hours of time a day.
If you get two of them make sure the cage is big enough for them to run around and have fun. Something with a ramp and second level might be good too. Mine love their ramp. And make sure there is somewhere for them to burrow in, a box, overhang or something. They like to get into small, enclosed spaces to feel safe.
Their daily diet should consist of 10% pellets and 90% hay (or alfalfa is 6 months of younger). They hay is good for their digestive systems, if they don't have it they can get colic (like horses). A salt lick is good too. Keeps their teeth trimmed. And they love fresh dark green vegetable. Collard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce. Only dark green veggies though. No fruit, it's too much sugar for them ever though they love it. And fresh water everyday.
If you're going to use shavings, use pine. NOT cedar. Cedar is bad for them. Make sure you spend lots of time with them and talk to them lots. They'll learn your voice. Only 1 in 4 guinea pigs bite, they may give you little nibble type kisses.
They are great pets and lots of fun.
2007-09-22 06:02:33 · answer #8 · answered by hard_corps7 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, they do not have to live in pairs. I had a lone guinea pig, and my cousins have had many, and as far as I could tell, they didn't live any worse lives because of thier lonliness.
2007-09-22 06:40:05 · answer #9 · answered by bride_of_christ728 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I had one guinea pig. he didn't seem to need another with him. make sure he gets enough vitamin C or he'll get a condition like arthritis. I fed mine cabbage every day. he'll need plenty of room to move around and things to play with that he can chew. keep the cage clean. plenty of fresh water, of course. they're very easy to care for. they sqeal when they get excited. mine knew when I was getting the cabbage and would make lots of noise.
2007-09-22 05:59:31 · answer #10 · answered by wendy_da_goodlil_witch 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋