Content
- guinea pig food
- Guinea Pig Hay
- Fruits and vegetables for guinea pig
- guinea pig feed
- Young guinea pig feeding
- Adult guinea pig food
Guinea pigs are very good domestic animals, as in general they don't need much care and are very sociable.. In order to feed them and for them to have adequate growth, it is necessary to know the diet well, since it consists of three main types of food: hay, vegetables and fruits, and feed. The guinea pig diet needs these three things to be healthy, so they are all essential.
In this article by PeritoAnimal about the whatdaily amount of food for guinea pigs, we will explain the basic nutritional requirements and feeding needs of young and adult pigs. You'll also find a list of good vegetables and fruits and prohibited foods for guinea pigs, so you have all the information on how to feed your beloved pet.
guinea pig food
From the 3rd week of life onwards, when the guinea pig can be weaned and started to feed, these little animals need a series of essential food for an adequate diet, regardless of age, although the amount of food varies depending on whether they are younger or older.
See below, how to feed a guinea pig with a balanced diet:
Guinea Pig Hay
The guinea pig, in addition to always needing clean water, must also have unlimited fresh hay, as the front teeth of these rodents (like those of many others) never stop growing and the hay will help to wear them out continuously. In addition, guinea pigs do not have intestinal motility unlike other animals and, as need to eat at least every 4 hours, this food helps the digestive system not stop working, so the piggies will not have health problems, as the hay contains a lot of fiber. Therefore, guinea pig hay should always be available as it constitutes about 70% of your daily diet.
Hay should not be confused with alfalfa, which is given only to young, sick, pregnant or nursing guinea pigs, as it is a food that, in addition to fiber, has a high calcium content and can produce bladder stones if consumed in excess.
Fruits and vegetables for guinea pig
Unfortunately, the little pigs are unable to produce vitamin C by themselves, so they need to obtain it externally through a proper diet. For this, you can offer a wide variety of green leafy vegetables that contain a considerable amount of this vitamin, such as Swiss chard, lettuce, lettuce (minus the iceberg), carrot leaves, parsley (albeit in moderation as it is very diuretic), or spinach. Other vegetables, such as carrots or red peppers (more than green), also help with a lot of vitamin C.
At guinea pig fruit Indicated for getting vitamin C are oranges, tomatoes, apples or kiwi fruit, for example, which are also low in sugar, which is interesting for them.
It is noteworthy that it is necessary to wash and clean fruits and vegetables that you're going to give it to the pet so they don't get intoxicated, and if possible, avoid giving them whole fruits, and offer them in small potions, a little bit each day. If you want to know more about this topic, you can take a look at this list of good fruits and vegetables for guinea pigs and also prohibited foods for guinea pigs.
guinea pig feed
Finally, the guinea pig feedmust be specific to him, since they are 100% herbivores and do not tolerate animal proteins that are usually present in other rodent feeds in general. They should also contain an extra amount of fiber and vitamin C, although once the feed is opened, this vitamin evaporates in a short time. Therefore, you should store the ration tightly closed in a cool, dry place and avoid rations that contain a lot of sugars, fats and chemicals, so that the guinea pig will grow as healthy as possible.
Young guinea pig feeding
A guinea pig is considered young up to 15 months of age. As we've said before, the amount of water and hay is unlimited, but it is recommended that fibrous vegetables be offered in small amounts twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. As for fruits, it is recommended to offer a portion every other day since, if they are offered every day, the guinea pig will begin to gain weight quickly. The ideal is to make a small assorted salad with 2 types of vegetables or one vegetable and one fruit, for example.
As for the ration, which should constitute 10% of the diet of young guinea pigs, it is recommended an amount of feed of 20 grams a day (two tablespoons), divided into two parts, like vegetables, for rodents weighing up to 300 grams.
Adult guinea pig food
After 15 months of age, guinea pigs can already be considered adults and therefore you should change the amount and percentage of daily food a little. As in the case of young people, fresh hay must be available 24 hours a day and constitute about 70% of the diet, but for adult guinea pigs, the daily intake of vegetables and fruits will constitute 25% and the ration will rise to around 5%, being considered an extra and being offered only once a day, usually in the morning.
Even so, the amount of guinea pig feed will vary depending on your pet's weight:
- If you weigh up to 500 grams, you will eat 45 grams of feed a day.
- If you weigh more than 500 grams, you will eat 60 grams of feed a day.
It's worth mentioning that once the pig has finished its ration, it shouldn't be replenished until the next day.
Finally, also find out if your guinea pig loves you by watching our YouTube video: