How to Breed a guinea pig

Choose the right type of cage. Guinea pigs will live most comfortably in a cage that is at least 0.3 square meters, or 76×38 centimeters. The cage height must also be over 30 cm for the wheels to be properly sized, about 25-30 cm for Syrian guinea pigs and 20 cm for Dwarf guinea pigs. Glass aquariums (if minimal or larger) are great homes for guinea pigs. However, its downside is the lack of ventilation, so you need to make sure the lid is made of mesh so that the air can circulate.

• The IKEA Detpf cage is also a great choice. Another option is a “cat litter tray with wire mesh” style guinea pig cage that offers good natural ventilation.
• Make sure not to expose the cage to direct sunlight, as the guinea pig can overheat as the strong light will be amplified as it passes through the aquarium glass. Unless buying second hand, aquariums can be quite expensive.
• You can also buy wire mesh cages, which have very good ventilation, you just need to buy large enough cages.
• Many people like to make their own cages, which is both fun and affordable. The cheapest and most popular option is to use a trash can to make a cage, attaching a net to the lid of the trash can.

Place the cage in a safe place. Ensure good air circulation. Do not place your guinea pig’s cage directly in front of a hot window. Find a quiet place away from other pets in the house like dogs and cats. This helps reduce stress on your guinea pig. A guinea pig should never be exposed to a dog or cat. ^[8]

Make sure the guinea pig doesn’t escape. You will be amazed at the guinea pig’s intelligence in finding a way to escape. Make sure the holes are sealed and there are no parts that can loosen and open the way for the guinea pig to get out. Make sure the guinea pig can’t get through the wire mesh or get stuck. The distance between the cage spokes should not be more than 0.7 cm. ^[9]

Understand the guinea pig’s instinct to occupy territory. The Syrian guinea pig lives alone. Their territorial nature begins to manifest around 5-8 weeks of age, and they will fatally fight another guinea pig if placed in the same place. Many varieties of Dwarf guinea pigs can be caged together if they have bonded from an early age.

• There are three species of guinea pigs (Campbell’s Russian dwarf, Winter White Dwarf, and Roborovski) that can live alone or in pairs if properly acquainted. Do not pair different species of guinea pig. Mating pairs of guinea pigs should not be kept together for long periods of time, as they can fight and cause injury. ^[10]

Prepare the lining in the guinea pig’s cage. The lining should be at least 7.5 cm thick. This number may sound like a lot, but guinea pigs dig huge tunnels in nature. Many will not dig tunnels if the lining is too thin, so you have to put a thick layer. Even if your guinea pig shows no signs of digging, it’s still a good idea to leave the lining in the cage in case it wants to dig.

• Wood shavings such as pine and cedar are not good for guinea pigs because they can cause many health problems. These woods can cause respiratory illnesses and may contain some toxic essential oils. However, the deciduous poplar lining does not contain toxic essential oils and is absolutely safe for guinea pigs.
• Never line a guinea pig’s cage with cotton yarn. Cotton is very dangerous to guinea pigs because they are not digestible, and the cotton fibers can wrap around guinea pigs’ legs, cutting off blood circulation and possibly killing them. ^[11]

Feed the guinea pig every day. Guinea pigs need industrial pellets instead of granules or muesli to ensure adequate nutrition and prevent picky eating habits. Give your guinea pig enough food to fill both cheeks, about 15 g for a Syrian guinea pig or 8 g for a Dwarf guinea pig. Make sure to put fresh food in the bowl every day. ^[12]

• If you want to change your guinea pig’s diet, wait a few weeks after you buy it, then start offering a new food and gradually increase the amount over 10 days. Guinea pigs have a hoarding nature, so they will hide food in hidden places. They will be very stressed if you take away those foods. If you’re concerned about the quality of the food your guinea pig is hiding, replace it with new food where it’s stored.
• Choose terracotta or metal bowls for your guinea pig’s food. Food bowls made of these materials are best, simply because guinea pigs will gnaw on plastic bowls. ^[13]

Always keep water available for rats to drink. Guinea pigs don’t drink a lot of water, but when they’re thirsty, they need water right away. Do not put water in the bowl because it will be very dirty, moreover your mouse can also get wet and die. Instead, you should use a water bottle for your guinea pig. Change the water daily if necessary to keep it clean, or at least every 3 days. You can wash the water tank by putting some rice in the jar with some water and shaking it vigorously. The rice will dislodge the moss clinging to the pot. Be sure to empty all the rice out of the jar before refilling the pot with water and placing it in the cage.

Use fortified pellets or bulk foods. The nut mix made the guinea pig choose something tastier but less nutritious. It is advisable to give your guinea pig pellets or blocks as a main dish, then add a mixture of nuts. Make sure your hamster eats a large proportion of pellets before feeding the seeds. ^[14]

Spread the food around the cage and hide it in toys or pipes. Encourage the guinea pig to search. If you put food in a bowl, your guinea pig may eat to be overweight and lose interest in physical activities.

Avoid feeding rats human food. These include candy, noodles, raw meat/fish, sugar and sweet desserts. Guinea pigs can develop diabetes. Foods that you think are not high in sugar are actually too much sugar for guinea pigs and can be harmful to their health. ^[15]

Treat your guinea pig with a delicious treat. Regularly feed your guinea pig 2 or 3 times a week. Your guinea pig’s favorite foods include carrots, cucumbers, apples, bananas, sweet peppers, lettuce, celery, kale, collard greens, dandelion leaves, and many other vegetables and fruits. Some of the above foods can be included in the daily diet of guinea pigs. Pet stores also sell guinea pigs favorite snacks such as yoghurt cakes, guinea pig chocolates or gnawing logs. Some vegetables and fruits are NOT safe for guinea pigs. Onions, almonds, beans, potatoes, seeded fruits, avocados, chives, eggplants, garlic, leeks, American lettuce, tomatoes and citrus fruits are absolutely to be avoided. ^[16]

Provide gnawing rods for guinea pigs. Snack bars come in a variety of sizes, colors, and flavors. The guinea pig’s teeth are constantly growing, so they have to be worn down. The gnawing rods work well for this activity of the guinea pig. You can try giving your guinea pig a variety of chew sticks until you find the one they like best. Some guinea pigs stay away from all types of gnawing rods. If this is the case, you need to be on the lookout for your guinea pig to nibble on other things around its habitat, such as the slats of the cage.

Leave your guinea pig alone and let it explore its new home. The first day you bring your guinea pig home, put it in a cage with food and water and leave it alone. Cover the cage with a thin cloth so it can comfortably explore its new home. Make sure to have enough food, water, and toys for your busy guinea pig for a few days, as you shouldn’t get close to it at first. If you have small children, friends or guests at home, you need to make sure they don’t disturb your guinea pig. ^[17]

Gradually get used to the guinea pig. Three days after leaving your guinea pig alone, you can begin to get used to it. When approaching the cage, you should speak softly to alert the guinea pig of your presence. It may be intimidating at first, but remember that it’s new to you and don’t be disappointed. Do the things you need to do every day like change food and water, put away old toys, and put in new toys. You should also replace the dirty bedding. The guinea pig will get used to your hand in its cage. ^[18]

Begin the training process. Begin short training sessions the second week after your guinea pig arrives in a new home. Most guinea pigs are active from late afternoon until late at night and throughout the night. You should try to find out each guinea pig’s schedule and train them at times when they are most active. A good way to train a guinea pig is to put the rat in a dry bath and you step into it too. Bring some toys for your guinea pig to play with while it gets used to your presence. Don’t force the mouse to play if it doesn’t want to. Do not punish your guinea pig if it bites or scratches during training. ^[19]

• To train your guinea pig, place your hand in the cage. Let your guinea pig smell and probe your hand. If the mouse nibbles lightly but is not aggressive, gently pull your hand back, but then immediately hold out your hand for it to continue exploring. This will help the guinea pig know that the hand is not something to bite and not to be afraid of. Then you put the delicious food in your hand; Mixed nuts are perfect for this as it is a supplement to pellets and block feeds. Guinea pigs love this food. Your guinea pig will get used to climbing in and out of your palm and will learn that hands are the place to climb in. Gradually move the food to the upper part of the hand, as your guinea pig will become more and more comfortable with this.
• If you see progress, try to get your guinea pig to climb onto your hand and reward it right away. Your mouse will see your hand as a lovely object. This time, let it climb into your palm and slowly lift your hand off the floor. It may be scared at first, but hearing you talk in a low voice and reward your favorite food will make your guinea pig feel more at ease. You need to sit while training, as guinea pigs can jump out of your hands and get injured if they fall from a distance of 15-20 cm from the floor. ^[20]

Pay attention to your guinea pig’s sleep cycle. Guinea pigs are nocturnal, but they can still be a bit active during the day to find food and other things. Although awake, guinea pigs are not interested in playing, unless you see that they seem interested in playing. In addition, you should limit the presence of strangers around the guinea pig. Right now it’s just you who’s attached to it. It will make more friends later, but for now your guinea pig needs to know that you are its friend and never harm it. ^[21]

Buy the right exercise wheel for your guinea pig. The wheels that come with the cage are often too small and harmful to the guinea pig’s back. You’ll know which wheel is too small if you see your guinea pig’s back hunch. It is recommended to purchase a size at least 20 cm for dwarf guinea pigs and 28 cm for Syrian guinea pigs. Don’t be afraid to buy bigger wheels.

• Wheels for guinea pigs need to be specially designed. If the wheel has a gap in it, it will hurt the guinea pig.

Be sure to provide plenty of toys for your guinea pig. They will enjoy toys such as toilet rolls, empty tissue boxes, pipes, tunnels, bird nest boxes, PVC pipes and chew toys. Most guinea pig owners just equip a wheel and a ball for them to play. As a result, they will begin to form bad habits such as trapping or gnawing on steel cage spokes (if they are kept in them). Your guinea pig needs more than just wheels and balls. You should prepare many toys that can change and attract the guinea pig. ^[22]

Install the crib outside. Your guinea pig will be delighted to be out of the cage to explore. An outside playground for guinea pigs also helps when cleaning the cage because you need a safe place to keep them. You can use plastic household containers or small animal kennels available at pet stores. ^[23]

• Make sure your guinea pig can’t reach dangerous objects (like wires that rats can gnaw on) and that the room has no room for it to escape.

Take your guinea pig to a safe place. While cleaning your guinea pig’s house, place it in a ball or in a kennel. You need to take it easy and use both hands. Don’t try to hold the guinea pig in one hand and clear the cage with the other. This will not only clean up but also harm your guinea pig. ^[24]

Wash the cage thoroughly. Use regular dish soap and water. Other soaps (like hand sanitizer), even in small amounts, can make your four-legged friend uncomfortable. Use a soap specifically made for cleaning guinea pigs or rodents that you can buy at pet stores. ^[25]

• You can also use a vinegar solution to clean your guinea pig’s home. ^[26]

Rinse the cage and let it dry. Make sure the water is completely evaporated and the cleaning solutions are rinsed off. Don’t forget that guinea pigs are very sensitive, and the smell of vinegar or soap can make them uncomfortable. ^[27]