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Guinea Pigs
These charismatic South American natives are always fascinating people around the world. With their sweet disposition and easy handling, it's not hard to see why. They spend about 20 hrs a day awake so there's plenty of interaction time and living longer than a hamster at 4 to 8 yrs but not as active as a rabbit, guineas are the perfect "in-between" pet.
Guinea pigs require a reasonable amount of space. They are not overly active but do have little spurts and do grow to between 8 and 10 inches in length.
These medium sized critters must be fed carefully. Without a proper diet they can suffer from life-threatening health problems such as vitamin C deficiency, vitamin E deficiency, bloat, constipation or diarrhea. A good diet consists of a Guinea pig pellet as well as plenty of fresh hay such as Timothy hay or Alfalfa hay. A good handful of fresh greens such as parsley or kale helps to provide vitamin C. Don't forget lot of fresh water! Monitor their diet so that they don't become overweight. An average pig will weigh 1.5 to 2.5 lbs.
These little bundles of joy are real communicators! They have a wide variety of vocalizations that they make for different situations. Listen for their chirps, whines, purrs, growls, squeals, whistles and tooth chattering. Guinea pigs also have extremely keen hearing. This is why it's vital to provide them with a chewable home so they can retreat and relax.
These guys are real cuddlers! They enjoy being with others of their species or spending quality time with you. This is a must or they will become lonely or bored.
Remember to groom your pig. Weekly combing is necessary for short haired breed while longer haired breeds should be brushed more frequently.
  
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