Tag Archives: water

can guinea pigs eat eels

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eels?

An eel is any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and about 800 species. Most eels are predators.

The term “eel”, originally referring to the European eel, is also used for some other similarly shaped fish, such as electric eels and spiny eels.

However, these are not members of the Anguilliformes order. (source)

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eels?

No, they can’t at all, unfortunately. Guinea pigs can’t eat any kind of fish food and it should be avoided as food for them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

can guinea pigs eat fish

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Fish?

Many species of fish are consumed as food.

Fish has been an important source of protein and other nutrients for humans from time immemorial.

In culinary and fishery contexts, fish may include shellfish, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms.

English does not distinguish between fish as an animal and the food prepared from it, as it does with pig vs. pork or cow vs. beef.

Some other languages do, as in the Spanish peces versus pescado.  (source)

Can guinea pigs eat fish?

No they can’t eat fish at all and any kind of seafood. It is just not good for them and should be avoided.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list

can guinea pigs eat goldfish

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Goldfish?

The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish.

A relatively small member of the carp family (which also includes the Prussian carp and the crucian carp), the goldfish is native to East Asia.

It was first selectively bred in Ancient China more than a thousand years ago, and several distinct breeds have since been developed.

Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration and coloration (various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known). (source)

Can guinea pigs eat goldfish?

Unfortunately, they are unable to eat any kind of fish, and so goldfish should be avoided as a food for them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat check out our guinea pig food list

feeding grass to a guinea pig

A Brief Guide To Feeding Grass To A Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are herbivores which means they are used to eating plant life, insects, veggies, and fruit in the wild.

As natives of the Andes mountains, they are used to the rugged and varied landscape which includes glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes, and forest.

They are used to foraging for what they can get.

The need for plant material

As herbivores, they don’t eat meat and don’t tend to go near anything from animals including eating fish.

This means finding foods for them which suit them which they will enjoy and satisfy an insatiable need for plant material.

One of the easiest foods that you can feed them is grass.

Many owners have good access to grass whether it is in their own garden or land or someone else’s property whether public or private.

There are different types of grass, some is wild and unkempt other types of grass is short, manicured and then even sprayed with pesticides to keep moss or other unwanted items growing on it.

Why grass is good for them

There are several reasons why grass is good for guinea pigs.

Grass is good for them to chew.

Guinea pigs love to chew and need to chew.

It keeps their teeth from growing longer and stops them from getting into pain because of this.

Grass, whether fresh or dry, provides an ideal opportunity for them to chew and grind their teeth down

The digestive tracts of guinea pigs are designed to eat lots of forage.

Eating grass keeps their digestive system moving and means that other food can pass through without a problem.

It means that they will poop more easily as a result.

They draw water from it.

Guinea pigs are creatures who do not like going without water but are used to going long periods without it.

This means they have to draw it out of other plant material such as fresh grass which contains water in it.

The more water that they have, the better for them.

It provides good nutrition for them.

Forages such as grasses can provide good nutrients, minerals and vitamin c for guinea pigs.

This is incredibly beneficial for them especially as they do not naturally produce vitamin c.

So eating grass will give them a supplement which they are deficient but which they most definitely need.

 

The downsides of feeding grass to a guinea pig
It can be damp and wet.

Wet grass is not good for them.

In fact, it can make them sick.

If you give them grass make sure it is dry.

Leaving guinea pigs out on grass when it is raining or if it has rained is strongly discouraged as they will be sitting on the damp grass or soaking wet grass.

They are not good at getting themselves dry and so will suffer as a result.

Grass can contain parasites.

If a guinea pig eats grass that contains parasites then this can cause problems eventually for them.

It can cause worms to appear as a result of the parasites and they may need regular deworming since soil and grass can contain parasite eggs.

However, there is no way of stopping this from happening other than banning a guinea pig from eating grass which is unrealistic.

Too much too soon can cause tummy problems and soft poop.

If you put your guinea pig straight out onto grass when it hasn’t been part of their diet it will cause them to have a poorly tummy.

If they haven’t eaten grass as part of their diet give it to them in small amounts on a regular basis increasing it to daily after a week or two.

This means you wean them onto it and cause their stomach to be more settled.

Grass can contain pesticides.

Pesticides are not good for guinea pigs as you can imagine.

Eating anything with pesticides on it can cause a guinea pig problems making them sick and possibly causing much worse damage to them.

It is imperative that you know the grass you are feeding them that it hasn’t been sprayed with any kind of chemical.

Grass can often contain feces.

Grass is often frequented by dogs or cats or other animals can defecate on it.

If you feed guinea pigs grass that has been defecated on by another animal this will cause them to get sick.

This is why it is so important to know about the grass you are feeding them and is why feeding wild grass to them is a risk.

Grass that has mildew, mold or fungus on it.

This is easier to spot on the grass and can be identified by careful analysis.

This is why it’s important to pick grass and go through it before you feed it to your guinea pig. If you spot any that has mold, mildew or fungus on it then throw the bunch away.

If they eat it it will cause problems for them and again they may get sick as they will try and eat the grass no matter what it may have on it.

Grass that is beside a high traffic area.

Grass that is found by the side of roads can be polluted with fumes from cars and lorries.

Some of these fumes are poisonous for guinea pigs and if they are absorbed into the grass that is fed to them will cause problems for a guinea pig who eats it.

What type of grass should be fed to guinea pigs?
Fresh lawn grass

Fresh lawn grass is fine which has been picked for them.

If they can chew it directly from the ground whilst grazing.

Again make sure it is pesticide free and hasn’t been defecated on.

Long grass with no thistles in it.

Again make sure you know where what has been on it.

Feeding them grass from public meadows is a risk but can be done but it is fine at your own risk.

You get to know what types of grass are good for your guinea pig.

Whatever they don’t want they tend to leave anyway so it’s good to experiment.

Obviously, avoid anything which you know to be poisonous such as ivy that gets caught up in the grass.

What about dry grass?

Dry grass which can be purchased from let stores such as Timothy hay or meadow hay. Avoid Alfalfa hay in large amounts as it contains a lot of calcium.

Can I feed only grass to them?

It’s a good question.

But it the answer is no.

It should be part of a balanced diet with fruits and veggies and a good guinea pig mix to give them a balanced diet that nourishes them and gives them the nutrients that they need.

 

can guinea pigs drink squash

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Squash?

Squash is another name for a cordial drink.

It is concentrated fruit juice which is purchased in bottles.

In order to drink, it only a little needs to be poured out into a glass and then water added to it to make it drinkable for humans.

As a water-based drink, it is very popular around the world and drunk in a number of different countries.

It comes in sugared and sugar-free varieties not to mention many different flavours to enhance its popularity.

We drink squash in our household all the time.

Its another name for a cordial which has had water added to it.

It could be blackcurrant, apple, lemon, grapefruit or another type of flavor.

Can guinea pigs drink squash?

So can guinea pigs drink squash?

Although it is a water-based drink, you may think that it is fine for guinea pigs to drink.

Even the sugar-free version could be good for guinea pigs, right?

Unfortunately, this is not the case at all.

They can’t drink squash at all.

It’s just too sweet for them to drink and they won’t enjoy it all.

Squash is more likely to make them sick if anything because they can’t take drinking flavored drinks.

It is much better to stick to giving them water instead, they’ll enjoy it a whole lot more and find it more refreshing than other drink you could give them.

Guinea pigs need water most of all

Guinea pigs need access to water all of the time to nourish and refresh them.

If they don’t have access to it they will find ways of drawing it out of other forage foods so that their bodies get the water that they need to survive.

can guinea pigs drink ginger beer

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Ginger Beer?

Ginger beer is a beverage which is enjoyed by many around the world who live it for its unique taste.

Traditional ginger beer is a naturally sweetened and carbonated, usually non-alcoholic beverage. It is produced by the natural fermentation of prepared ginger spice, yeast, and sugar.

Its origins date from the colonial spice trade with the Orient and the sugar-producing islands of the Caribbean.

It was popular in Britain and its colonies from the 18th century. Other spices were variously added and any alcohol content was limited to 2% by excise tax laws in 1855.

Few brewers have maintained an alcoholic product. (source)

But can guinea pigs share in the ginger beer goodness?

Can guinea pigs drink ginger beer?

Unfortunately, they can’t.

They can drink any kind of carbonated drink as it is far too sweet for them and acidic as well.

So leave the ginger beer to you and your family and give them water instead.

They’ll enjoy it a whole lot more.

For more foods and drink that guinea pigs can and can’t consume check out our guinea pig food list

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Tap Water?

So we know that guinea pigs can drink water and it is the best liquid for them to drink.
But is it okay to drink water from the tap?
Can guinea pigs drink tap water?
Well, the good news is that water from the tap is great to give to guinea pigs. My Guinea pigs drink water from the tap all the time and absolutely love it.
 Of course, you do have to watch that it doesn’t become contaminated but the golden rule is to never give the guinea pigs water that you wouldn’t drink yourself.
So it is always worth keeping an eye on but on the whole tap water is great for guinea pigs to drink
For more food and drink that guinea pigs can and can’t have, check out our guinea pig food list.

Can guinea pigs drink water from a bowl?

We know that guinea pigs can drink water and drink it often. They live to drink water and it is the only liquid that they can really drink.
The most common way do feeding guinea pigs is to give them tweet fro a bottle.
Can guinea pigs drink water from a bowl?
But what if you dint have a water bottle, can Guinea pigs drink water from a bowl instead?
Well yes they can.
Water is fine for them to drink from a bowl.
However the thing is with using a bowl for guinea pigs to drink from is that guinea pigs will very easily step in it, pee in it, excrete in it and anything else they fancy doing in it.
In fact, they don’t really care if they do.
So giving guinea pigs water from a bowl is not as good an option as giving them water from a bottle but still enables them to be fed water without a bottle.
However, the water in the bowl does nee do be changed very often to make sure that any contaminants are removed and that the bowl is refreshed properly.
Once they are refreshed properly then they can be given to guinea pigs again.
guinea pigs water

A Guide to Ensuring Your Guinea Pig Never Goes Thirsty

Having a thirsty guinea pig is never a good thing!

If you want your guinea pig to be healthy and lively then a good supply of water is vital to ensure that they live a long life and you don’t end up killing it off earlier than their natural life intended.

Although guinea pigs get water from the foods they eat in their diet, they still need to be provided with water to ensure they get what they need to quench their thirst and to ensure that they don’t starve.

The usual way to ensure that your guinea pig gets the water they need is to use a water bottle which can be bought from any pet store and attach it to the cage.

Glass water bottles vs plastic water bottles

There are different types of water bottle for guinea pigs;

  • glass bottles
  • plastic bottles

Glass bottles tend to be much easier to clean than plastic bottles.

Another good thing to purchase is a bottle brush so as to clean the inside of the bottle.

Can guinea pigs drink from a bowl?

You can also use a water bowl that can be placed in the cage that the guinea pig can take water from.

There is nothing wrong with doing this although there is a danger that the guinea pig may poo or pee into the water which is why a water bottle is the more preferable way of giving water to your guinea pig.

Which ever method you use, make sure that you refresh the water supply to your guinea pig on a daily basis.

How much water should I feed my guinea pig?

It is never a good idea to limit they amount of water your guinea pig drinks as they do need water to survive. Give them as much as they need.

However, do keep an eye on how much you are feeding your guinea pig.

 What if my guinea pig is not drinking water?

If you are concerned about how much water your guinea pig is drinking then do keep a record of how much you are giving your guinea pig on a daily basis and if necessary consult your veterinarian.

Supplement their diet with foods that are high in water value such as grass, cucumber and lettuce. This will give their water intake a boost.

Another thing to look at is whether you have a leaking water bottle as well.

What types of water can I give my guinea pig?

Normal tap water is sufficient to be used for guinea pigs. Do not attempt to use any other types of flavoured water or sugar water as this wont be appreciated by the guinea pig and may harm them.

How often should I clean my water bottle?

Try and clean the water bottle at least every two or three days, using your bottle brush and some vinegar clean out the bottle before rinsing well with water.

Once you are happy that it has been rinsed well, fill the bottle up again with fresh water and put the cap on before placing it back on the cage.

In order to protect the bottle from algae, then a protective cover will help prevent the sun’s rays getting to the water bottle.

Maintaining water supply during winter

Another consideration to make is that if you keep your guinea pig outside during winter time, then make sure that you keep the water bottle insulated as well.

You can purchase water bottle covers that keep a guinea pig’s water bottle well insulated so that it doesn’t freeze up during winter. A frozen water bottle is a sure way of killing off a cavy, so its a good investment.

image: flickr