How much does a guinea pig (cavy) cost, and what food does it eat?

I wonder if you have seen the animated film "G-Force", in which the guinea pigs, thanks to their cute appearance and good temperament, gradually became popular domestic pets. So how much does a guinea pig cost? What food does it eat?

1. Introduction to guinea pigs

1. The guinea pig, also known as the cavy, the Guiana pig, the Dutch pig, the guinea pig, or the sea pig, belongs to the class Mammalia, order Rodentia, and is a tailless rodent. Their ancestors came from the Andes of South America. Today there are no wild guinea pigs left, and guinea pigs kept as pets are distributed all over the world.

2. Guinea pigs like to live in groups. They have large heads, short necks, round ears, no tails, bodies fully covered in fur, and relatively short limbs. The forelimbs have four toes and the hind limbs have three toes, with sharp, short claws. They have a habit of scratching people, do not like to climb or jump, and are very gentle in temperament, timid and easily startled, sometimes making squeaking cries. They like a dry, clean living environment. Their sense of smell and hearing are relatively well developed, and they react extremely strongly to all kinds of stimulation in the surrounding environment. For example, they are very sensitive to sounds, smells and sudden temperature changes. Whenever there is any change in the environment, they can react quickly and will feel afraid and frightened.

3. After artificial domestication, guinea pigs evolved into four breeds:

(1) English breed: short fur, robust build, with coat colors including pure white, black, brownish black, brownish yellow, gray, etc.

(2) Angora breed: fine, long fur that can cover the face, head and body.

(3) Peruvian breed: fine, long, curly fur, with a constitution poorer than that of the English breed. 

(4) Abyssinian breed: short fur, but when the fur grows out it forms rose-like rosettes of curled hair.

2. How much does a guinea pig cost?

The price of guinea pigs varies according to coat color, fur length, whether the fur lies smooth or reversed or curled, and the location, among other factors. Below is a reference value for everyone; the actual selling price shall prevail.

1. Classified by color, the most common guinea pigs are yellow, black and white, with prices between 20-50 yuan. If the color is rare, the price may be several tens of yuan or even over a hundred yuan more.

2. Classified by fur length and whether the fur is smooth, reversed or curled: short smooth-coated guinea pigs are the cheapest, at 20-50 yuan; short reversed-coated guinea pigs are 40-80 yuan; long reversed-coated guinea pigs should be 80-150 yuan; long smooth-coated guinea pigs, because the smooth fur looks nice, are more expensive, at 100-400 yuan; curly-coated guinea pigs are the most expensive.

In fact, the price of guinea pigs is also related to the breed and eye color. Generally speaking, those with black eyes are more expensive, while those with red eyes are cheaper. If you are keeping guinea pigs for the first time, it is recommended to start with short smooth-coated or short reversed-coated ones, which are cheaper and also relatively robust.

3. What food do guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs are herbivores. The correct diet is: grass (hay + fresh grass (mainly timothy grass)) + guinea pig pellets + an appropriate amount of vegetables and fruits + boiled water changed every day.

1. Vegetables, melons and fruits that guinea pigs like to eat: leaf lettuce, sweet potato leaves, celery, cabbage, various kinds of lettuce and root vegetables such as carrots. Apart from sweet potatoes, they also like corn, cauliflower, cucumbers, and melons such as zucchini, and sometimes they also like to eat bell peppers.

2. Fruits that guinea pigs like to eat: apples, watermelon rind, and so on, but be careful not to give too much high-sugar fruit, and do not give a large amount at one time.

But note that irritating foods such as garlic, chili peppers, onions, green onions, and chives must not be given to guinea pigs, and vegetables and fruits must be fed in appropriate amounts.

The above is the relevant introduction to guinea pigs. When caring for them, be sure to keep guinea pigs in a dry and clean living environment. Because guinea pigs have relatively poor temperature regulation ability, too high or too low a temperature will lead to reduced resistance and cause illness.