by Marnie Reidy, Grade-School Teacher

Why are they called guinea pigs?

Well, we aren’t too sure! Some people think that when the animal was introduced into England, it cost one “guinea,” a type of money. Others think that they were called guinea pigs because people mistakenly thought they were from New Guinea. Guinea pigs are not from New Guinea, nor are they related to pigs! Their scientific name is Cavia porcellus, which is why some guinea pig owners call them “cavies.” They are originally from South America, and most of them live in the country of Peru.

What do guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs eat Timothy hay and pellets every day, along with plenty of fresh water. Unlike other animals, guinea pigs cannot make their own Vitamin C, so they need to eat fruits and vegetables daily. My guinea pigs’ favorites are Romaine lettuce (never feed them iceberg lettuce!), cherry tomatoes, strawberries and zucchini!

How long do guinea pigs live?

Guinea pigs can live from 5 to 8 years, but the World Record guinea pig lived for almost 15 years!

Keep the Cage Pigs-Only!

Only house guinea pigs with guinea pigs —- do NOT mix guinea pigs with animals like hamsters or rabbits. They can seriously hurt one another. If the movie “G-Force” were real, that hamster would be in serious trouble —- a guinea pig can trample a hamster in real life! Don’t ever put a guinea pig in the same cage with any animal other than another guinea pig. Guinea pigs can have up to six babies all at once so it is very important to put a girl with a girl and a boy with a boy so they will not have baby guinea pigs! A boy can only live with a girl if he has been neutered by a veterinarian. Guinea pigs are happier and healthier in groups of two pigs or more. Unless a guinea pig has health or behavioral problems, it should never live without a guinea pig roommate. Pairs work well, and the ideal herd structure is a neutered boy with a group of girls. (We have one neutered boy, age 1 year, and two girls, age 3, who get along wonderfully together!)

Is a guinea pig an easy pet to care for?

No way! A guinea pig can be more demanding and more expensive to care for than a dog or cat! They require lots of food, a big cage (our cage is 4 feet wide with two levels and a ramp —- and that is considered the minimum for 3 pigs!), veterinary check-ups, nail trimming, baths, and hours of daily exercise. They poop —- a lot. I clean my guinea pigs’ cage every week and it takes about three to four hours. You must also find a veterinarian who knows about exotic animals and how to treat guinea pigs. Our guinea pigs’ veterinarian lives in Miami —- almost two hours away! It is incredibly hard to care for guinea pigs and takes a lot of time. You have your whole lives to own guinea pigs. I didn’t get my first guinea pigs until I was 27 years old! If you don’t like cleaning up around your desk at the end of our school day, imagine doing it for a whole hour every day —- that is the amount of cleaning a guinea pig’s cage requires. It is tough work!

How can I help guinea pigs?

You can volunteer at one of our local animal shelters, visit a lonely guinea pig and hold him so he will know somebody cares, or donate guinea pig food to a shelter (Oxbow brand Timothy hay is their favorite!). You can still make a big difference in a guinea pig’s life without buying one. And, if you are old enough and your parents agree to help with taking care of a guinea pig, please consider adopting guinea pigs instead of buying them at a pet store! There are lots of homeless pigs at shelters who need a home.

The best guinea pig websites

http://www.guinealynx.com is the highest-rated website on guinea pigs.

http://www.guineapigcages.com provides information on appropriate cage size and housing.

If you, or your family, have any questions about guinea pigs, you are always welcome to ask me and I will always be willing to help! Last but not least, let’s remember to always show love and kindness to all of God’s creatures!