Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs

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The guinea pig’s name does not originate from its geographic origin or its ancestry. The domestic guinea pig comes from the wild guinea pigs of South America, which live in herds. Like the hamster, the guinea pig is considered a small rodent. There are several varieties of guinea pigs. They come in short-haired, rough-haired and long-haired varieties in a wide assortment of colours. The long-haired variety requires a lot of grooming, like a dog or a cat. Even the short-haired variety will benefit from daily grooming with a toothbrush. Guinea pigs usually do not require bathing and it is best not to do it because they can get very cold. If a bath is essential, wash with warm water and keep the animal warm and out of drafts until it is completely dry. Guinea pigs live for 4 to 6 years. The general care is the same as for the hamster.

The cage should be no smaller than 1 meter in length by 50 cm in width by 30 cm in height. Unlike hamsters, guinea pigs are sociable animals and a number of females and one male can be kept together without fear of fighting. Two males, however, will generally fight, particularly if there are females present. The size of cage depends on how many guinea pigs you wish to keep. You should keep chewing wood and roughage (such as hay) available to prevent overgrowth of their teeth because the teeth are continuously growing.

Guinea pigs are strict herbivores, meaning they only eat vegetables. They are very susceptible to vitamin C deficiency, so proper feeding is important. They can be fed guinea pig pellets, timothy hay, or alfalfa. Supplement daily with green leafy vegetables such as kale, lettuce, or carrots for vitamin C. If you purchase pellets, check the milling date on the bag. It should not be greater than 3 months ago because pelleted foods will loose their vitamins as they sit on the shelves.

When compared to hamsters, guinea pigs are more interactive and can learn to recognize family members. They may make squeaky noises to express themselves and they love attention. They are docile, gentle animals that rarely bite or scratch, making it a very ideal pet for small children.

by : Amy Cheung - Pets.ca writer
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Chinchillas : CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS

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Chinchillas are nocturnal (active at night), herbivores (planting eating animal), clean, practically odorless, do not support fleas or other pests and require little housing area. Adults weigh 18 to 30 ounces or more and can live up to 20 years of age. The fur of this animal is incredibly soft and plush. Microscopic examination of an individual hair follicle reveals that it is composed of 80 to 100 hairs. The original fur color of the Chinchilla in the wild was mottled yellow-gray. Through selective breeding, the standard color has been developed into an attractive and appealing blue-gray. Other colors such as Ebony, Silver, Black Velvet, Sapphire, Beige, White and Afro-Violet have emerged as mutations of the original standard color.

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Chinchillas : HISTORY

HISTORY

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The Chinchilla is a native of the Andes region of South America, where it lives in the wild. In the early part of the 20th Century, skins of this animal were shipped into Europe and the United States by the bale. Chile alone shipped over 435,000 pelts in 1899. This mass-trapping nearly lead to its extinction. To save the breed, Mathias F. Chapman, a United States mining engineer, in 1923 caught eleven animals and shipped them to the United States. These animals became the foundation stock for Chinchilla farming in America. Today, this industry is worldwide and there are several thousand ranchers and more than one million Chinchillas. These animals are being raised for fur, for sale as breeding stock and for use as pets. Small and inquisitive, their easy care and simple feeding make them an ideal family memb

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