General: Cavy's General Info Request

[Fatla]

Hello ,
I'm planning to buy my first pet , Guinea Pig .
After goggling , I've created a well background information about them .
Though , I've set of question which they still not clear to me :
1-How many times should I feed them ,Fruits & Vegetables, daily?
2-Is there any kind of harm to them if I give them a lot of fruits daily ?
3-I've read that the hay should be available 24/7 , is that true ? ......If yes is the bread a good alternative ?
4-What's the purpose of putting wood in the floor of the cage ? is the news paper is a good alternative ?
5-@ Winter , should I put a blanket into its cage ?
6- Is that right for them to stay/live in an air conditioned room ?
7- What are kind of diseases that they can transmit to humans ?

Regards.

[akstrohm]

Welcome to the forum! In answer to your questions:

1. Twice a day (or more) for veggies.
2. Yes. Fruit is high in sugar which can lead to diabetes. They can have fruit in small amounts 1-2 times per week.
3. Hay must be available 24/7--no exceptions. By bread, do you mean the pellets? They need high quality pellets daily as well, but in more limited quantities. Pellets are not a substitute for loose hay.
4. The cages recommended here are made from coroplast, not wood. It is a type of plastic. Newspaper should not be used as it is not absorbent and will get smelly very quickly. Loose bedding or fleece can be used on top of the coroplast.
5. They need a stable temperature between 65-75F. So they should not need a blanket. You can give them one if you want though. They always need places to hide.
6. Yes, as long as it is not blowing directly at them and the room is between 65-75F.
7. None, if they are cared for properly. They should not have any diseases. Ringworm can be transmitted to people, but your pig will not have ringworm if you are caring for it properly.

I'm glad you're doing your research first. That said, there is a LOT more to learn. Please read through all the stickies here and do a forum search if you have questions. Make sure you see the nutrition charts so you will know what veggies to provide. Make sure you know the space requirements for a pig. Guinea pigs need to be kept in pairs or groups, and you should definitely adopt a pig, not buy one. Please read this as well: Guinea Pig Care

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Don't buy - adopt from a shelter or rescue.

You can find the answers to your questions by reading through the stickies at the top of the forums.