Guinea pigs are very popular pets. They do not take up too much space, can easily be left alone and do not cost too much in terms of maintenance. Because purchasing guinea pigs is so easy, sometimes wrong conclusions arise about certain things, people do not study the animal well enough.
Guinea pigs don’t like to be cuddled
There are many people who think that guinea pigs would rather not be taken out of the cage to be cuddled, but this is not true in many cases. It is completely different for each guinea pig how he likes to sit on your lap. Some animals can sit happily on your lap for minutes, while others run away when you want to grab them and then sit on your lap, frozen with fear.
It is true that if you approach your guinea pig calmly and let him get used to you, he can often still be tame.
Guinea pigs can be fed the same food as rabbits
Guinea pigs absolutely cannot be fed the same staple food as rabbits. Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, to ensure that they get enough of this, an extra dose must be present in the food. When a guinea pig does not get enough vitamin C, it can suffer from diarrhea, paralysis and emaciation, among other things.
Guinea pigs are like enlarged hamsters
Many people who have guinea pigs at home will have heard that their guinea pigs are like enlarged hamsters. Yet guinea pigs and hamsters are absolutely not alike. Hamsters are omnivores, are very good climbers and in most cases live in solidarity. Guinea pigs, on the other hand, are herbivores, absolutely not climbers, and are used to living in groups. Walking wheels for guinea pigs are also available in some pet stores. It is anything but wise to purchase these. 99% of the guinea pigs will not run in this and if they do it is disastrous for their back. Balls to sit in and run around the room with are also unsuitable for guinea pigs for the same reasons. Your guinea pig will be much more fun with a good amount of hay and tasty vegetables.
Guinea bears can be kept together well
In some pet stores and some breeders, two guinea pigs (males) are rehomed together. In 80% of cases, this goes wrong after a few weeks or months. In nature, guinea pigs live in groups of a bear and a number of sows. In some cases the combination of two bears will go well, it is completely dependent on the characters of the guinea pigs. To avoid the risk of arguing, it is wiser to bring in a neutered boar and a sow or two sows.
Guinea pigs need a perfectly balanced diet
A perfect diet is not necessary for guinea pigs. It is not necessary to keep track of exactly how many grams of hay, pellets and water your animal ingests in a day. However, it is advisable to keep an eye on whether your guinea pig is eating enough. If you give your guinea pig enough vegetables such as paprika and good quality food, the vitamin C requirement will usually also be met.
Guinea pigs jump on top of each other, this means that they are male and female
When two guinea pigs jump on top of each other, this does not necessarily mean that they are male and female. When females are in heat, they will sometimes jump through the hormones on any guinea pig they come across. It also works with bears, when they are horny it makes little difference whether there is a sow or a bear in front of them.
My guinea pigs are not sleeping together, which means they are not happy with each other
Some people have a kind of picture perfect when they buy guinea pigs and are therefore quite surprised when it turns out that the guinea pigs do not sleep, eat and play together every time of the day. It does not necessarily mean that they are not happy with each other, guinea pigs just like a little privacy.
A mineral stone is good for guinea pigs
Many people think that a guinea pig needs a mineral stone in its cage in order to wear down its teeth. However, this is incorrect. If you give your guinea pig enough hay and hard vegetables, the teeth in healthy guinea pigs will wear out naturally.
It has been shown that when a guinea pig uses a mineral stone, this increases the risk of bladder stones. Bladder stones can then cause cystitis.
A rabbit is a great friend for my guinea pig
A rabbit is definitely not a great friend for your guinea pig. These two animal species have different needs, including a completely different diet. Guinea pigs have a higher energy requirement than rabbits and they cannot produce vitamin C themselves. Guinea pigs also communicate in a completely different way. Guinea pigs make extensive use of different sounds. Rabbits mainly use body language, for example, they stomp their hind legs when they feel that danger is imminent. A guinea pig does not understand this way of communication and will be seriously affected.
My guinea pig is very focused on me, the boss, for this reason he doesn’t need a boyfriend
A guinea pig should never be kept alone, a person does not feel like one of the same kind to him. The reason he is very focused on you is because you are his only moment of attention and contact in his life.
