Looking for a suitable pet for your child? While it is true that guinea pigs may excellent first pets, these little guys require adequate room, a specialized diet, and proper handling, so be careful and be sure to keep an eye out on your little one’s first guinea pig.

Because guinea pigs live in arid areas in the wild, they naturally have a lot of room to run around. They roam and often construct tunnels where ever they stay. That’s why it’s essential that domesticated guinea pigs are given a lot of space and freedom to help sustain their need for activities.

There are also a lot of specialized foods from pet stores made for the needs of guinea pigs. However, their diet also requires natural food to help balance out the right vitamins and nutrients found in man-made and nature-made food. The best choices for guinea pigs are green vegetables, such as collards and lettuce. Fruits are also excellent for guinea pigs, as long as seeds (which could be toxic) are removed beforehand.

Finally, guinea pigs are highly social creatures, so it is often recommended they are bought in pairs. Whether they are of the same sex or not, in pairs, guinea pigs get great companionship. Female pairs are often the best, as they get along without any problems and rarely fight.