A you considering getting your first pet guinea pig? Perhaps you are just coming to the realization that you don’t really know what you’re going to need in terms of guinea pig supplies. Or maybe you are in the process of shopping for your first cavy now and are starting to do your research on guinea pig supplies ahead of time so you will be well prepared when your little piglet (technically they’re called pups) comes home. Either way, this article should clear things up and make the acquisition of your newest family member go as smoothly as possible.

Your guinea pig needs exercise but not using either of these items. Your guinea pig does not have a flexible spine and both a wheel and exercise ball will cause their spines to bend. This can result in serious injury.

Pigs do not always play well with others. Piggies actually get depressed if their housing is too small, and most store-bought cages are way too small. Piggies must NOT be kept in drafts, being prone to pneumonia.

You will need either a feeder (which also attaches to the side of your cage) or a food dish. This item will be used to serve feed or pellets to your pet. If selecting a food dish, make sure that it is heavy and stable so that it will not tip when your pet guinea pig decides to stand in it.

Although a bowl is not suitable for offering water to your pigs, it is still a handy item to have. It is a good idea to put a small, heavy dish or bowl directly under the end of the sipper tube to catch excess water. If you watch your guinea pigs drink from their water bottle, you will observe that they do not gently lick the ball bearing end of the sipper tube. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They aggressively attack the sipper tube. They chew on it. They shake it. They chomp, munch and crunch away at it until their thirst is quenched-all the while splashing, slopping and drooling excess water out of the lower side of their mouth because, as I said earlier: cavies can be such what? Right! Pigs.

Almost nothing is better for your pet guinea pig than some form of grass hay. Timothy hay is a great choice-containing both high-quality nutrition and the long strand fibers necessary for good digestion. Timothy hay can be given to your pet directly or as the main ingredient in food pellets.