Care and feeding -Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are herbivores and thus need fruits, vegetables, and grains in their diet. Carbohydrates and fibres are the basis of their diet. They have a high Vitamin C and folic acid requirement and unlike most mammals, they cannot manufacture their own vitamin C. It must be provided in their diet. A good staple food is guinea pig pellets, found in pet stores, and provides all these essential nutrients. Rabbit pellets will not work as they are not equivalent in nutritive value.
Even with the guinea pig pellet though, much of the necessary vitamin C is lost in a short amount of time. You should supplement their pellets with a vitamin C supplement either by offering a small piece of a chewable tablet or a small amount of liquid drops; alternatively a handful of kale, cabbage or other dark leafy greens high in ascorbic acid.
Other additions to the guinea pig's diet should be made carefully. The majority of their diet should be pellets along with the Vitamin C supplements mentioned above. The balance of their diet includes the addition of fresh greens, timothy / grass hay, and small amounts of fruit. Some of these supplements can include such things as Romaine lettuce (no iceberg), carrots, apples, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley, endive, kale, cucumber, strawberries, and grapes. An excellent food for them is bell pepper (especially red bell pepper), because it is high in Vitamin C. Grass can also be given, but make sure it is pesticide or spray free.
Always remove any non-eaten greens at the end of the day. Food should be put in heavy china or pottery dishes (making it harder for them to spill the contents) and should be thoroughly washed with hot water at least twice a week.
Also make sure that a constant water supply is available, as water is very important. Gravity-flow water bottles, which can also be found in pet stores, are a good idea.

Grooming needs vary depending on the breed and the activities of the guinea pig. Guinea pigs with short or smooth fur only need to be groomed a couple of times a week, and this is only in the spring and fall during shedding season. Those with long fur need to be brushed daily. Guinea pigs rarely need bathing.
The nails of caged guinea pigs will grow faster than they can be worn down, so will need to be clipped occasionally. Proper nail clippers are available at pet stores. Be safe and only clip the tips, as the nails further in have nerves and blood vessels. Clip at a slight slant from the front of the nail to the back.
Guinea pigs teeth grow constantly. Be sure to provide hard chewables to give your pet something to wear its teeth down on. These can include hard bread, twigs from willow, birch or fruit trees, as well as chew sticks and chew toys from a pet store,