Okay so I've had a bunch of guinea pigs before, and I know some of the basics. but I want to try and improve my care habits because I want mine to be happier. I only have one guinea pig right now, a male named Peanut. I know your not supposed to get them from pet stores, but I got him from a Petsmart. That's the only place my mom was willing to go. I really don't want to hear I am a horrible owner, because I'm trying and I'm willing to make changes and take advice. I sound 12, I know, I'm 14 though and pretty responsible at that. So here's my information:
1) Peanut lives in a cage that is plastic (I think) on the bottom and Wire on the top (thick wire, at least that is what it looks like.) It's about 1 foot wide, may-be 2, I'm not great at estimates. And about 3 feet long. I want to get him a bigger cage, and may-be a playmate, but I have to pay for it myself so I need to save up my money.
2) He uses bedding called "CareFresh Pet Bedding" On the front of that bag it read's "Formulated to be Pine and Ceder Oil Free" and "Unsurpassed Odor Control" On the back it says "For Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hampster, Rat, Mouse, Gerbil, Ferret, Reptile, and Birds." Then says how it is "free of inks, dyes, clay and chemicals used in paper making process". It is about 3" deep in the cage.
3) He has a 32 oz water bottle on his cage, I change it every other day or when it gets down to half full.
4) He eats food called "Nutriphase" on the front it says "Guinea Pig Formulated : WITH VITAMIN C!" I knwo they need Vitamin C because they can't produce their own. On the back it says: Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min.) 18.0%, Crude Fat (min.) 3.5%, Crude Fiber (max.) 14.0%, Moisture (max) 12 %, Ascorbic Acid (min) 75mg/1b. He gets 1/4 a cup everyday (suggested on the bag)
5) His house is a shoe box with an entrance hole cut in the front, I change it whenever it starts getting chewed up or smelly, or gets stains. I used to have a palstic hut but my other guinea pig got sick from my brother leaving my window open last fall (he now knows never to do that) and died, we where afriad to pass the hut down.
6) To play he gets toliet paper rolls (suggested on many sites) which I hide his guinea pig treats in like his calcium orange things.
7) I'm cureently finding veggies to feed him on a site, trying to be sure they are okay for him.
8) I ahve 2 cats, and a dog. so I can't let him run in the back yard (with me) because the dog goes to the bathroom back there and it's also cut with a lawnmower and treated. I let him run around my room sometimes, under my supervision, but I ahve tons of things he can get into so it's hard.
Now Here's my question: What can I do to improve my careskills and is there anything I am doing wrong? What else will make him happier? Is the food good? the bedding? If not what are some suggestions?
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