1. Guinea pigs can be purchased at a pet store, breeder, or rescue center where you can give an adult piglet a home. they are very cheap to buy anywhere.
2. Wherever you buy your pigs, make sure they are fit and healthy. Babies are ready to leave their mother at around 6 weeks of age. Look at all the pigs before choosing. Look for a healthy one that is both active and inquisitive. All small animals are a bit nervous around people they don’t know, so leave them alone when they run away.
3. What to look for when finding your perfect guinea pig friend: – A smooth, shiny coat with no bald spots or scabs. – Clean and bright eyes. – A clean nose. – Calm breathing. – A plump, rounded body resembling a brick with rounded corners! – A clean mouth without dripping. – The face should be smoothly rounded, not ragged, with a flat nose, large striking eyes, and large, petal-shaped ears that droop.
4. If you’re around during the day to spend quality time with your guinea pig, only get one, or more if you want. Guinea pigs are sociable and it’s probably best to get 2 to keep each other company when you’re not there.
5. The choice of a man or a woman is again up to you. If you want to mate them, obviously make sure they do it first! A mix of female and female or male and male can be great, but only introduce them at a young age (siblings are better with children) and then they will grow up together.
6. There are 13 recognized breeds of guinea pig including Abyssinian, English Smooth Coat, American, Crown, Peruvian, Sheltie, Teddy, Texel, and English Crested. Peruvian, Silkie and Teddy are available in Satin breeds. Satin refers to the sheen or shine of animal fur. Satin animals must have shiny coats to be successful in the show ring. All breeds have the same basic guinea pig characteristics, such as medium length with high shoulders. The Texel is the exception that has a short cobby body.
7. If you want to show your guinea pig, make sure you buy the right one to do so, as you may have to detain it for judging. There are shows going on all the time, but they are rarely advertised outside the pages of trade publications. It would be a great place to find the perfect show guinea pig if that’s what you’re looking for. The Abyssinian has to have 8 rosettes to have show quality, for example.
8. If you have a young child, say under the age of 7, it may be best to keep a guinea pig as a family pet until they are old enough to take care of it on their own. It is the ideal child’s pet to hug and kiss. So just when they can tell this is the real thing and not a toy, as a parent you will know the right time.
9. Depending on the breed you select, it may have straight and short hair. Or it may have a curly coat or crooked cow lick. Her hair can be beautiful long flowing locks. Short-haired guinea pigs are easier to care for if that’s more of a priority for you, with just a brush now and then. With long-haired guinea pigs, you’ll need to make sure they don’t tangle every day.
10. If you are buying a full size guinea pig instead of a baby it will be around 1.3kg, just a little more than a bag of sugar. If yours feels heavy, ask the store or breeders to weigh it. A healthy pet is what you want and what your pig wants too! They can live around 6 or 7 years or much longer if they are well cared for…it’s time to go and choose your pet now, you can always tell me which one you choose.
