− | Food preferences established early in life and often refuse to eat if their food is changed in type or presentation; expose young to various types of pellets and vegetables | + | Food preferences are established early in life and guine pigs often refuse to eat if their food is changed in type or presentation. It is therfore important to expose young to various types of pellets and vegetables when young. |
− | Recommended diet - '''guinea pellets''' (free choice or measured) and '''grass hay '''(timothy, orchard grass, oat) supplemented with '''fresh vegetables'''. | + | Recommended diet - '''guinea pellets''' (free choice or measured) and '''grass hay '''(timothy, orchard grass, oat) supplemented with '''fresh vegetables'''. Commercial pig pellets contain 18-20% crude protein and 10-16% fibre. Guinea pigs require a '''dietary source of vitamin C''' - 10mg/kg daily, which is found in veggies, fruits or supplemented in the water. Pellets are usually fortified with ascorbic acid but half of it is lost by 90 days after the food is mixed and stored at 22°C. Increased temperature and humidity accelerates oxidation, so it is best to assume that the food has none. '''Leafy greens''' like kale, parsley, beet greens, chicory, spinach; red and green peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, kiwi fruit, oranges contain a good amount of vitamin C. It can be '''added to water''' at 1g/L - open containers lose 50% content in 24hours. The vitamin C deteriorates more rapidly in the presence of metal, hard water or heat and the supplemented water must be changed daily to ensure adequate amounts are ingested. |
− | '''Leafy greens''' like kale, parsley, beet greens, chicory, spinach; red and green peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, kiwi fruit, oranges contain a good amount of vitamin C. | |