Are Guinea Pigs a Good Pet for Children?

As in any pet care, the wild origins dictate a lot of what is important in Guinea Pig care. The guinea pig is a type of rodent sometimes known as the Cacy. They are not in fact pigs, as their name would have suggested.  They come from the moutains of South America, and research has shown they are descendants of closely related species such as Cavia aperea, C. fulgida, or C. tschudii, so therefore do not exist as a wild species.
The guinea pig plays an important role in both the folk culture of many Indigenous South American tribes and more importantly as a food source (how could they?). It was domesticated 5000 years ago for food and have appeared in the history and culture and are frequently used in metaphors.
They came to Europe in the 16th century by European traders and has since enjoyed widespread popularity as a household pet.  In the early days they were seen as an mysterious pet and even Queen Elisabeth I had one. The metaphor “guinea pig” comes from their use in biological testing from the 17th century.
They are extremely docile easy to look after and are easy to handle and feed and are therefore popular with pet sitters. They hate exploring and will not try to escape, even if the cage door is left open (no promises!). Guinea pigs will often whistle when interested, for example when they hear food being prepared or the owner comes near.
There are lots types of domesticated guinea pigs, which vary in color and hair differences. The most normal types are the shorthair (or American shorthair), the Abyssinian with a ruffled coat. More unique long hair types include the curly long hair Texel and the long haired Sheltie or Peruvian breeds.

So should I choose a Guinea Pig?

Guinea Pigs are very friendly pets – so you need to be able to dedicate enough time for them, otherwise they will feel lonesome and this might cause them to be stressed and go ill. This is especially important if you are buying one for the kids, on the understanding that they will care for the guinea pig. Consider carefully that they typically live for about five, but may live for 8 years and the Guinness Book of Records has the record age for a guinea pig at 14 years.
Guinea pigs are particularly large for rodents, weighing between 700 and 1200g (1.5-2.5 pounds), and measuring between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 inches) in length. Which means that you need to have more space for the cage. Though as a robust animal, this could be located in a shed or a sheltered spot outside. They will deal with cold better than excessive heat. Try to avoid wire mesh floored crates, as this can damage their feet and lead to infection.
As for many animals you do not want to put two males together as they will fightfor domination when they are mature at 6 months or so. However you can have as many females together as you want, and they will get along very well. Obviously you do not want to add a male to the group as they breed very easily.

They are grass eaters, which they digest with the help of their long colon. Hay is an alternative to the grass in a domestic situation. Like us they cannot synthesise vitamin C and will need to attain this through their diet,   the guinea pig version of scurvy is deadly. Scurvy is often identified by sluggishness.  So feed them often fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, apple, carrot, celery, and spinach). Alternatively, but not a preferred option through dietary supplements. They are fussy eaters when older, so with a young guinea pig feed a wide variety of foods. They feed continuously, so ensure there is hay available for them to eat.
They, as well as scurvy, may also suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhea,  abscesses due to infection (often in the neck, due to hay embedded in the throat, or from external scratches), and infections by lice, mites or fungus.

They are lively throughout the day and will sleep on and off, waking for some activity. They like to groom themselves and will groom others.