The guinea pig, also known as a cavy, is neither a pig nor does it come from Guinea. A guinea pig is a rodent of larger size native to the country of Peru in South America. Guinea pigs originated in the Andes mountain range and are considered to no longer exist in the wild. Primarily seen as a pet in North America, the guinea pig is commercially farmed in South America for both the pet and food trade. Guinea pigs are a delicacy in South America, fetching top dollar at restaurants.

Guinea pigs are herd animals and usually do well in community housing but as with all rodents you should house males and females separately. Housing several males together is not advisable as they are prone to sparring, neutering your males may prevent this behavior to some extent. Some breeders and vets suggest having a cage or tank for each animal to sleep in, allowing the animals communal time only during socialization times.

Despite popular belief guinea pigs are not nocturnal, which gives them an advantage over other rodents as pets. Plan to give your guinea pig plenty to do during the day if you are not home. You can purchase inexpensive rodent toys and chew sticks or you can make your own from cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes, cloth scraps and paper bags. It is important to provide a nest box for each individual, they can be plastic or woven. You can provide bedding if you wish but most guinea pigs will make their own from the items in their cage.

Guinea pigs will do well on a diet of prepared guinea pig food and should be given Timothy hay as a supplement. Prepared guinea pig food can be found at pet stores, many mass retailers and feed stores. The wild diet of the guinea pig is grass, which you can purchase safely at a pet store. You can grow your own pet grass, look for seeds that are specifically for pet use and do not use pesticides, manures or growth accelerators. Instead of serving grass you can serve your guinea pig fresh leafy greens, organic greens are best. Do not be alarmed if you see your guinea pig eating feces, this is completely normal behavior in guinea pigs and is to be expected. Ingesting feces is a method the guinea pig uses to recycle certain vitamins and nutrients.

In addition to fresh food, hay and grass, your guinea pig should always have a supply of fresh water. While a heavy water dish is acceptable most owners recommend hanging water bottles as the water dishes can quickly fill with cage substrate, feces and food.

Plan to change your pet’s cage substrate weekly. To clean their home, remove your animal, all of their belongings and dump the substrate and feces into a bag which will be tied and disposed of. Clean the tank or cage with soapy water, rinse and dry completely. Clean food and water dishes completely, you can run them through the dishwasher. Clean the nest box with soapy water or wash in the dishwasher or washing machine. Add new substrate only when the tank or cage is totally dry or it could become moldy.

Guinea pigs are popular pets for children as they are quite gentle and if handled from an early age will most likely be very docile and enjoy human contact. Guinea pigs make high-pitched squeals and “popcorn” (jump into the air and twist) when they are content or excited. The larger size of the guinea pig makes it more comfortable in the hands of a child and a bit hardier. Guinea pigs can carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, though it’s not common in animals that have been purchased from a reputable carrier. To ensure your child’s safety help them clean the animals home weekly and supervise hand washing after handling.