What is the best food for guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs were discovered around 500 years ago by English and Dutch traders from northwestern Venezuela to central Chile. It is believed that they were originally domesticated by the Incas in Peru. Traders subsequently brought Cavia porcellus to Europe, where they adopted the name guinea pig from Europeans who believed them to be from Guinea. Cavia porcellus are not known in the wild, but domesticated guinea pigs are now found worldwide in captivity. Cavies are strictly herbivorous. Having been domesticated, they rely mostly on humans for diet. Their diet consists typically of commercial pellets, fruits and vegetables. They will eat almost any type of vegetable, but they prefer green leafy vegetables such as carrot tops and lettuce. Like humans, guinea pigs lack the ability to synthesize Vitamin C, therefore they must get plenty it in their diets or they will develop scurvy. Commercial guinea pig pellets contain the proper amount of vitamin C in order to keep the animal healthy. The
