Hello! Let me introduce myself and Guinea Pigs Journey.
I’m Mark Zen, the proud owner of a lovely family of guinea pigs along with other pets, with a long guinea pigs journey and experience of over 15 years for these lovely pets. Having resided in the UK and exchanging valuable information with my collogues holding these pets, I’ve become deeply familiar with the details of guinea pig behavior, care, health, and most importantly their dietary needs after a long guinea pigs journey.
Throughout my journey, I’ve gathered a wealth of knowledge, and my passion lies in sharing this expertise with new guinea pig parents. My mission is to advocate for the same level of attention and care for these small animals as any other beloved pets like cats, dogs, birds, etc.
Educational Background:
I hold qualifications as an Animal Nutritionist, having completed my education at the honored University of Glasgow. My professional journey includes 20 years as an Assistant Professor in Animal Science, specializing in Animal Nutrition & Grazing Ecology. Despite this traditional career path, my love for pets has led me to retire, embrace the role of a dedicated pet owner, and support new piggy parents through this blog “Guinea Pigs Journey”.
My Pet Family:
Apart from guinea pigs journey, my home is a haven for a varied collection of animals. Currently, my pet family includes a cat, a pair of lovebirds, a playful German Shepherd (Bolt), and a pair of macaws. Over the years, I’ve also cared for rabbits, additional lovebirds, various fish species, a pair of turtles, rats, mice, hamsters, and cats. Due to my age factor, volunteering at shelters and donating my lovely pets in good and responsible hands whom I have guided and inspired in my life and along with some fostering animals have also been integral parts of my journey.
Sharing My Experience:
At the start of my guinea pigs journey with these furry friends, my lack of understanding led to some health challenges and behavior changes for my guinea pigs, being a responsible owner which was very crucial to understanding. Learning from these experiences, I guided others in avoiding common risks and dangers. Through this blog “Guinea Pigs Journey”, I hope to provide a resource where guinea pig parents can enhance their understanding, build a stronger bond with their pets, and save their precious lives.
Blog Purpose:
On “Guinea Pigs Journey,” I have researched into important aspects of guinea pig care, including diet, behavior, nutritional requirements, and general health. My goal is to empower you with knowledge that will contribute to a longer, healthier life for your furry friends. Being a loving, caring, and responsible owner, understanding your guinea pigs’ signals and requirements is crucial, and I’m here to help you understand them.
Let’s join this parenthood together through “Guinea Pigs Journey”. Whether you’re an experienced owner or a new parent, I hope you find this blog both helpful and enjoyable!
My Guinea Pig Family!
Meet my Guinea Pig family! All together make my home a lovely and joyful place to live. From Niblet’s little adventures to Quill, a shy and lovely girl. Bumble is the heart soul and attraction for all guinea pigs like” Bumble Bumble. My other guinea pigs like Zorro, Puddle, Tofu, Zara, and others are unique in their own way. Let’s Talk about their lovely nature, behavior, and way of living that would definitely help you understand their nature and social life.
Niblet
He is 6 years old, He is the elder one in all and loves to spend time with me. He was born in my house. He is the son of Pebble (late) a female guinea pig, who died 3 years back. Niblet is a brave guinea pig with loves to explore and discover hidden corners in the cage filled with his favorite nibbles. He makes jolly squeaks echo through the room as he finds his new treasure i.e. food like Cilantro, Snap peas, Asparagus, and Arugula. He makes himself a very easy presence around other guinea pigs. He also has a girl named “Quill” whom I will discuss in the next paragraph.
Clover, Pistachio, and Zephyr:
Clover is the daughter whereas Pistachio and Zephyr are the sons of “Quill” and “Niblet” They were born in November 2022.
Clover loves and is attracted to the fresh leaves of clover, making her named “Clover”. She is a very sweet girl and enjoys the company of her brothers. She loves to follow Pistachio and Zephyr in spots and jumping. Clover loves to jump on my lap when I give her treats and cuddle.
Pistachio, a guinea pig with a coat of gray and white spots loves to eat and enjoy colorful veggies. He is a little athlete around his siblings and shows off as a jumping star. He is going to be very energetic and a big personality when he grows up. Pistachio is very smart and does quick things like jumping, running, etc. He always squeaks as loud and tries to find new hideouts for him and loves to eat pears in fruits and Mustard greens in leafy greens.
Zephyr, the middle one, is a curious and nervous guinea pig journey friend list among his siblings because he is still a baby, but he loves to learn from his siblings and enjoy their company. He always follows his siblings in every step and does not leave them for a single time except once he is around her mother ‘’Quill”. He has mastered the art of stealing in front of his siblings or dragging veggies and fruits in front of his siblings which makes Zephyr a little naughty guinea pig.
Quill
Quill is a 5-year-old girl with a stylish coat, she is the girl of Niblet, a very shy and lovely natural female guinea pig (Sow) who became the cuddle champion of Niblet. I adopted her from one of my family friends because he was moving abroad. She makes herself a source of fascination for everyone she meets and loves to cuddle with them. She is a foodie and loves to eat zucchini and cucumber and jumps up on my lap once I give her some treats to eat. Niblet, his companion taught him to hide in spots and jump around me.
Tofu, Widget and Zara:
These are three adorable over-a-year-old Abyssinian guinea pigs adopted in Feb 2023. They were born in the house of my close friend and he gifted these furry friends to me for good care. These three are still in the learning process and settling in for curious things, but they are off to a great start as soon as possible.
Tofu, the right tri-color guinea pig with a sleek and smooth coat, displays calmness in every situation. Its peaceful behavior made Tofu the cuddling buddy for moments of relaxation when I see him and tired.
Widget, the middle one with gray and white texture is a guinea pig with a curious nature. He can check every corner and hide in the play area. His curious nature made the cage into a happy place for other guinea pigs.
Zara, a guinea pig with shy behavior, carried herself with grace and little bit trouble a maker. Zara spoils the things in the cage sometimes when she is stressed and nervous. She also loves green veggies like Arugula, Asparagus, Wheatgrass etc.
Bumble
Bumble is a tri-colored chubby guinea pig with a gentle soul and lovely nature. He seeks out me once I am not around and squeaks very loudly. He is very bold and loves to play with everyone around him Bumble slows and reflects pace which earned its cute nickname “Bumble Bumble” which makes him the center of attention for all guinea pigs and my friends and family.
He is also very naughty around other female guinea pigs, purring around them and strutting around to make himself show off in front of female guinea pigs. However, the picture I have captured of him around a shy girl “Quill” shows Bumble purring around Quill.
Pebbles (RIP – May 2018):
She was 7 years and 8-month-old girl in my guinea pigs journey, mother of Niblet. I found her so sick on the road and adopted her which was a good decision. She was much better after a few days of adoption. Pebble was so much a lovely and social pet and loved to attract everyone at home. She was also a good and selective foodie. She loved to run around me and jump on my lap for cuddling. She was so much friendliest and sweet pig I have ever met and I miss her too much. She lost her life suddenly and unexpectedly on 13 May 2018 and left my guinea pigs journey.