Purple Cavy Palace

Items for your guinea pig's home. Items for your guinea pig's home.

 
You'll also need a transport container of sorts.
 your new piggies needs a dark, calm place to hide, since he or she is probably going to be a little scared of all the new sounds and smells.

The best place to put your guinea pig's home is in a room that you frequent, but one that is not too loud. Daily contact is a must, and there is no such thing as too much cuddling. Guinea pigs crave interaction. Make sure the cage is away from direct sunlight and direct sources of heat. Guinea pigs can get hot very quickly. Also avoid drafts from fans, old/loose windows and vents. Guinea pigs are very susceptible to colds, which can be deadly. They fare well in warm, but not hot, climates. Generally, your normal home temperature range (usually 65-75 degrees F) suits guinea pigs quite nicely. Guinea pigs tolerate cold better than hot temperatures. Since they cannot sweat to cool themselves down, guinea pigs will stretch out and become lethargic as the heat rises. Heat exhaustion and death are very real risks to guinea pigs, so provide a means for them to stay cool in hot temperatures. A popular method is freezing water in plastic bottles so that they can lay next to the bottles to cool off. Of course, remove all labels, since guinea pigs are notorious nibblers. Anything that you place in their cage should be safe to eat.

You can leave your new guinea pig alone for the first day so that he can become accustomed to the new sounds and smells around him. Guinea pigs are creatures of habit, and this sudden change of scenery is bound to stress them out. However, pick up and cuddle your new piggy often so he can get to know you � your smell, the sound of your voice, the warmth of your hands. They need to learn to trust you and develop a bond.

If you introduce a guinea pig into your home, you must keep it separate from the other piggies until you are sure that the new piggie is free from any illnesses. The average quarantine period is two weeks. Always introduce guinea pigs gradually, on a neutral surface such as the living-room floor. Guinea pigs "know" each other largely by scent, so it's often a good idea to try to get your scent on the new guinea pig. Sometimes a bath will be needed, if the pig has been neglected or if his coat is matted. If the piggy is otherwise clean, rub a dirty t-shirt or pair of socks on your new friend so that he or she smells familiar to the other(s).