Guinea pigs

There are so many different kinds of guinea pigs - each one cuter and more interesting than the last!

How Much Does a Guinea Pig Cost per Month?

Here's a rundown of what it costs to buy and keep pet guinea pigs.
Before buying, any guinea pig fan should know how much it costs to keep guinea pigs. That's why we've created a handy checklist for you. First, you'll find out which supplies you need and what to pay attention to.

Of course we also researched the costs for everything. These prices are rough estimates and may vary. But they’ll give you a good impression of what you’re getting yourself into.

What Do You Need for Guinea Pigs?

Animals
Guinea pigs can cost between $ 10-35. Monthly and yearly costs for keeping them aren’t too much.

Food and straw
Guinea pig feed is more expensive per month than hamster or bird feed. Guinea pigs need lots of floor space to run. Therefore, you need more litter than for other small animals.

Cage and run
People say: if you buy cheap, you buy twice. If you choose a very cheap but small cage for financial reasons, you will quickly find that the animals don't feel comfortable in it. Of course, that's not appropriate either. When it comes to cages and outdoor enclosures, you should never savings should never skimp on money.

Toys
This is rather cheap and even if you buy some here and there, you don't have to worry about the costs.

Vet
How high a vet bill is always depends on the animal and its health problems. You should also set aside some money for this.

Guinea pig sitter
If you can't find anyone to take care of the animals while you're on vacation, you don't have to stay at home, but of course you have to pay something for professional care.

Guinea Pig Allergy

A guinea pig allergy is sadly one of the worst animal hair allergies to have. The culprit isn’t actually the hair, but the saliva that sticks to the hair. Skin cells are also responsible for allergic reactions. There is an especially high concentration of allergens in the guinea pig’s urine. A poisonous gas called ammonia is also released during urination. So regular ventilation is key.

Allergies to dust, hay and straw are also very common, but these are easier to control. animalfunfacts.net shows you how you can live with a mild allergy. But there’s no guarantee that you’ll be symptom-free.

What to Do if You Have a Guinea Pig Allergy?

Clean the cage every week
The cage should be cleaned by someone who isn’t allergic. In a pinch, you could also try using gloves or a breathing mask. The “toilet corner” must be cleaned every day. It’s best to do this outside. If this isn’t possible, air the room afterwards and clean the floor. Carpets are difficult to clean, so the cage should be kept in a room without carpet.

Get "dust-free" straw and bedding
You can buy dust-free or low-dust straw and bedding at pet stores. The less dust flying around with animal allergens attached to it, the better.

Wash your hands after any contact
After touching a guinea pig, always wash your hands thoroughly. You should also change and wash your clothes regularly.

Don't place the cage in the bedroom
Guinea pigs should be banned from the bedroom if you’re allergic. This applies to the animal as well as the cage. Bedding should be changed often.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Bite?

Guinea pigs are extremely social creatures. They make many different noises or vocalizations to communicate with each other and feel a range of emotions. A guinea pig may occasionally bite as a response to their emotions or environments. Here are some reasons your guinea pig might bite.

Feeling Scared

If your guinea pig feels scared, is startled, or is being bullied by other guinea pigs, it may react by biting you or another guinea pig. This reaction is natural and is an attempt to protect itself or stop whatever is scaring it from happening. It may occur if your guinea pig is being held too high in the air, another guinea pig keeps stealing its food, or you attempt to pick it up while it's sleeping.

Feeling Hungry

Guinea pigs love to eat and even have some favorite foods. If they are especially hungry or are fighting over a favorite food item, they may nip at you or another guinea pig. This behavior isn't unexpected from any hungry animal, but there are ways to help decrease the likelihood of it occurring.

Accidental

If your guinea pig smells food on you or you are holding a chew toy, it may bite your fingers accidentally. Your guinea pig may have gotten confused and thought your fingers were actually its chew stick or snack. It probably didn't mean to bite you and realized your fingers wasn't food as soon as it made contact with them.

Feeling Stressed

A guinea pig may feel stressed for a variety of reasons. In addition to being scared and being bullied by other guinea pigs, cages that are too small, not having a place to sleep, chronic competition for a mate or food, and an uncomfortable cage floor can result in your guinea pig being stressed. This can then cause it to be more reactive and likely to bite you.