Size:
Guinea Pig sizes are
crazy! They have been from the sizes of a large rat to a
small dog (14 inches long). The average weight of an adult
Guinea Pig is about 2 pounds of cuteness.
Life Span:
Guinea Pigs can live
anywhere from 5-7 years. Some have even lived to be 10. I wish
my first one lived that long. The reason why she didn't is on
the bottom of this page, under "IMPORTANT".
Cage Size
A good height for a
Guinea Pig cage is about 18 inches high. That
would make it near impossible for a guinea pig, grown or new to
you, to get out, (figuring you don't have a 6 inch climbing post
for it in the cage). It should be 3 feet wide and about
2 feet deep. A nice place for the Guinea Pig to be
comfortable and most definitely not cramped. Just think if you
wanted to get another Guinea Pig (which you will because they're
so darn cute) You'll have plenty of room.
Temperature
No lower than 60 F and
no higher than 85 F should the temperature be in the room in
which the guinea pig is being kept.
Substrate
Aspen and Carefresh
seem to work the best. It keeps them smelling nicer, longer.
Feeding
Guinea Pigs can't just
make vitamin C, like most other animals can, so any food you can
find that has something on the bag like, "Extra Vitamin C..." or
"... Ascorbic Acid..."(vitamin c) is good to have. Fruits and
vegetables should make up no more than 10-15% of their diet. A
good vegetable to give them is kale, NOT LETTUCE. Lettuce has NO
nutritional value and can often give them diarrhea. Guinea Pigs
need fiber in their diet. Their food should have 14-16% fiber
and any more fiber should come from Timothy hay, (a snack for
the Guinea Pigs). Many people think they should use it for a
substrate. NOPE.
IMPORTANT:
Guinea Pigs usually die
from Scurvy, or lack of vitamin C. You can supplement them with
crushed vitamin C pills in their water or a handful of Collard
Greens or Kale every day.
