Guinea pigs are probably the only rodent pet that is not likely to escape from a cage without a lid provided the walls are around 10 inches high. There are three common varieties of guinea pig and they will live 5-7 years on the average.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider with guinea pigs is that they require vitamin C. Feeding rabbit food to guinea pigs without supplemental vit C will result in scurvy and ultimately death. Rabbit food also has an improper amount of protein to maintain a guinea pig. A commercial guinea pig diet will contain 20% protein and between 9 and 18% crude fiber on a dry matter basis.

The herbivorous nature of guinea pigs allows a small amount of timothy or other grass hay to be fed. Feeding fresh grass clippings or grazing should be done in limited manner to help in the prevention of diarrhea and other gastric upset.

©2001-2004, WetNoses.net.  All Rights Reserved.