Guinea pigs are amazing animals, they are easy to care for, but they can bring a lot of positive emotions to their owner. Thinking about acquiring a rodent, you need to take care of everything necessary for its maintenance, as well as to study some features of behavior. What is necessary for keeping guinea pigs at home?
What is necessary?
To ensure decent living conditions for your pet, you need to purchase the following equipment:
- A cell. It should be spacious, as this is the only home of the animal. For one pig, its size should be at least 90 x 60 cm. It is advisable to start guinea pigs in same-sex pairs, since they need to communicate with relatives, so the optimal cage size for two animals should be at least 120 x 70 cm. Instead of a cage, you can use a rack or a shelter on the floor, but they should also be spacious enough and not reminiscent of a punishment cell.
- A house or a hammock so that the animal has its refuge. Mumps are very shy, so they need a place where they will feel safe.
- Feeding trough and drinking bowl, which should be designed specifically for rodents. The feeder should be difficult to tip over, and there should always be fresh water in the drinker.
- Litter. For these purposes, it is forbidden to use cotton wool, paper or newspapers, as they can be very harmful to the animal. A thick layer of sawdust or pressed granules is used in combination with a PVC mat. You cannot use granules exclusively, as they can cause problems with the paws of the animal.
In the list of necessary things, you should make a carry that you may need when visiting a veterinarian (rodent specialist - ratologist), a comb for long-haired breeds, as well as toys - balls, tunnels. By the way, it is forbidden to use a wheel for hamsters as toys, since the spine of the mumps is rather weak and not designed for such loads. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use leashes and harnesses.
What to feed?
Guinea pigs are herbivores, so hay should be the basis of their diet. It should be in the cage constantly, like water with food. Specialized feeds for such rodents can be purchased at the pet store. At the same time, those containing grain are to be avoided, since it is not absorbed properly in the animal’s stomach.
In addition to dry food, the guinea pig should receive two servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as greens, daily - they are rich in vitamins and minerals and are vital. The optimal dose of succulent food is about 10% of the animal’s own weight daily.
It is strictly forbidden to try to treat the rodent with some delicacy from its table, for example, bread or sausages, as this can cause irreparable harm to the pig.
How to understand?
Regardless of gender, guinea pigs are quite "talkative" animals, unlike other rodents. They make a lot of different sounds, the understanding of which greatly helps in interacting with them. Why does guinea pig squeak?
- A loud piercing squeak of "woo-woo-woo" signals a desire to get a treat. The pigs are pretty smart, so they begin to respond with a squeak to the rustling of packages, opening the refrigerator door. Sometimes the animal is placed on its hind legs.
- Rumble means alertness, usually with such a sound the rodent reacts to sharp and loud sounds.
- The guinea pig squeaks when you stroke it, because in this way it expresses pleasure. At the same time, the rodent is relaxed. If the mumps is tense, then you should stop your actions.
- Also, when stroking, you can notice a slight rumbling, which indicates that the pig is pleased.
- Sounds that resemble the jerky "kut-kut-kut" mean that the animal is very indignant. This is usually a reaction to stroking the abdomen or hind legs.
- Why does guinea pig squeak when pregnant? The nature of these sounds is not completely clear, however, they resemble beautiful bird singing.
- The sounds of "brrrr" can be seen when the male loves the female.
Pigs are very social animals, therefore, to notice the whole gamut of sounds made by them is possible only if they live in same-sex couples.
How to tame?
Why does a guinea pig squeak immediately after it has been brought home from a pet store? In this way, she can respond to a change of scenery and show fear. In the first few days after acquisition, it is very important not to touch the animal, providing it with a large supply of food and water. Gradually, after the pig settles in a new place, it can be briefly picked up and stroked.
Do not expect cat tenderness from a pig, as it does not become attached to people. However, the rodent remembers those who feed it, and allows itself to be stroked. These animals are more suitable for observation than for affection. When the pig is fully accustomed to the new owners and will not feel the danger next to them, she will allow herself to sleep on her knees and lick a person’s fingers.
The sex of the guinea pig does not play an important role in choosing a companion animal, as their habits are very similar. The only nuance is that it is recommended to keep animals recommended by same-sex couples in order to avoid the appearance of unwanted offspring.
Variety of breeds
Species diversity is characteristic not only for dogs and cats, but also for guinea pigs. Photos show that there are both short-haired and long-haired breeds. The conditions of detention are the same for all, with the exception that the long-haired must be combed and, in some cases, trimmed. The most popular breeds are:
- american teddy;
- English selfie
- satin;
- alpaca;
- skinny;
- Himalayan
- Peruvian;
- Abyssinian;
- sheltie;
- texel;
- baptist.
All of them have differences in type of coat and color, as shown by photos of guinea pigs. In addition, there are purebred smooth-haired and rosette pigs. Everyone is equally good-natured, gullible and shy, which makes them incredibly cute.
Conclusion
Why does guinea pig squeak? There can be many reasons for this, but most often the animal requires the attention of the owner and an extraordinary piece of juicy vegetable. Love and care are the main rules for a pig to be happy and live a long life.