Im going to get a guinea pig soon.

**cowgirl411** · #1 03-01-08, 01:54 pm

Im going to get a piggie soon..........but i have know idea what kind of stuff to get or anything else..............i know how to care for one of course but.........im so confused!

Any help would be much apreciated!

**i-love-nev** · #2 03-01-08, 02:34 pm

You will pick things up along the way but as a basic list:

Food
Bowls
Water bottle
Cage supplies (grids and coro etc or what ever you decide to make!)
A few toys
Hay racks
Hay
Wood chews (natural!)
Bedding of your choice
Hidey house.

Of course, there is always extras but that is just the basics!

**wickedrodent** · #3 03-01-08, 02:37 pm

If you are a minor, I suggest making sure your parents are 100% supportive before even considering adopting guinea pigs. They are A LOT of work- more so even than dogs and cats and it is something that you should think out for months ahead of time. I, personally, waited almost two years to adopt because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the vet bills until I had my own job.

First off, there are many homeless pigs that need to be adopted; I definitely suggest adopting rather than buying from a petstore or breeder. Also, guinea pigs are social animals and need to be kept with a same sex friend.

If you read the main page and all the information off of that, you will learn a lot of information. www.guineapigcages.com

The types of cages that are the best are called C&C. They are made of organization grids and coroplast (a plastic material that can be made in to the base). There is a how-to guide off of that main page, and pictures in the photo gallery. For two guinea pigs, I suggest at least 28in x 56in (2x4 grids). Guinea pigs must be kept inside and not allowed near any other animals.

Their diet is very extensive. On a daily basis they should have unlimited timothy hay, 1/8 of a cup of plain pellets per guinea pigs, and at least 1 cup of fresh veggies (lettuce [except iceburg], 1 baby carrot each, bell pepper, cilantro, 1 cherry tomato each..). For the pellets and hay I suggest Oxbow. Pet store food is NOT good for guinea pigs.

Oxbow Pet Products | Welcome

The main thing you need to consider is vet bills. You should take your pigs to the vet once you adopt them for a routine check up (my vet charges $50 per pig). Also, you should have a large vet fund saved up in case of emergencies. I always keep a minimum of $500 on hand.

Good luck in your search, and welcome to GPC! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

**cowgirl411** · #4 03-01-08, 03:29 pm

Wow! my parents say i can have a guinea pig and i have been looking into it for um i think about six months but thank you so much! Oh also dose the Humane Society sell rescued guinea pigs? Someone else also told me not to buy guinea pigs at pet stores or from breeders and to get rescued guniea pigs. But my parents have offered to pay for one and the starter stuff. And hopefully i should get one in a month or two but thank you for your help!

**Sammy and Peanut** · #5 03-01-08, 03:45 pm

Usually, the Humane Society only has dogs and cats, but occasionally they will get a few guinea pigs. You can go on this website to find a guinea pig in a shelter: Guinea Lynx :: Forum - Cavy Placement Or this one: How To Care for Guinea Pigs - Petfinder Library

For the last one just look at the left and fill it out. You should find at least one shelter around you.

**Sammy and Peanut** · #6 03-01-08, 03:49 pm

Before you even consider getting a guinea pig, make sure that your parents will be willing to take him/her to the vet. I know it can be tough getting them to say yes to things. They say "You have got to be kidding me. You want me to take that thing to the vet? It will be fine!" even if they have a serious conditions that they might end up dying from! I am in the middle of this now. Just make sure that they are going to care enough about it.

**cowgirl411** · #7 03-01-08, 04:10 pm

Thanks! And i have that problem with my parakeets too. Once my bird broke her wing and my dad said she would be fine......... he diddent beleive me or something.......but after a whole bunch of crying and pleading (

) he finally took her to the vet..........i just hope nothing like that happens to my guinea pig!

**Char-x** · #8 03-01-08, 04:28 pm

Glad to see you are asking everyone on here! Best to get as much information as possible, good luck with everything!

**cowgirl411** · #9 03-01-08, 04:30 pm

Thank you char-x! And Sammy and Peanut,i took your advice and went on the Humane Society website and they have one female guinea pig! Now i just have to convince my dad to let me buy her...............

**Jenni_Feathers** · #10 03-01-08, 04:59 pm

You shouldn't get just one, you need to have at least 2 or she will be lonely.

**cowgirl411** · #11 03-01-08, 05:05 pm

Well i plan to get another but maybe for a week or so just her.

**Astrantia** · #12 03-01-08, 06:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowgirl411

Thanks! And i have that problem with my parakeets too. Once my bird broke her wing and my dad said she would be fine......... he diddent beleive me or something.......but after a whole bunch of crying and pleading (

) he finally took her to the vet..........i just hope nothing like that happens to my guinea pig!

cowgirl, no disrespect but your posts are not filling me with confidence that you are ready to adopt a guinea pig, nor are they convincing me that you are in a position where you can provide for a guinea pig.

I simply cannot condone this behaviour.

Please listen to the advice of the experienced cavy owners on this site before adopting a guinea pig.

I highly suggest you do some more reading and get everything you possibly can ready before adopting. Also please consider adopting 2 pigs at the same time. You may be able to adopt a couple of sisters or brothers that have been together since birth.

**cowgirl411** · #13 03-01-08, 06:34 pm

What??? Huh?????? I have been reading about guinea pigs for six months!! That happened with my bird when i was ten. I believe i am ready. And I used to have a hamster and my friend has a guinea pig. I have my mind set to it and thats where it is going to stay!

**Astrantia** · #14 03-01-08, 06:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowgirl411

What??? Huh?????? I have been reading about guinea pigs for six months!! That happened with my bird when i was ten. I believe i am ready. And I used to have a hamster and my friend has a guinea pig. I have my mind set to it and thats where it is going to stay!

Sorry, but you said...

Quote:

he finally took her to the vet..........i just hope nothing like that happens to my guinea pig!

You say you've been reading about guinea pigs for 6 months, but you didn't realise they were herd animals that live in packs?

I'm not trying to put you off adopting by any means, I just want to make sure you have all the information and advice you could need before getting one.

**cowgirl411** · #15 03-01-08, 06:49 pm

Gosh! I do know that they are herd animals! i asked if i should get two at first!! You are hurting my feelings Astrantia. And i hope you know that

**juniormylove** · #16 03-01-08, 07:01 pm

cowgirl411 - you'll be fine. If they're hurting your feelings, ignore them.

if they have a rescue piggie, definitely get that. However, pet store pigs aren't going to be that horrible. Pepsi and Buddy came from a Meijer (or target) :]

You don't need to be a guinea pig expert to get a guinea pig. Haha I saw a guinea pig, decided I want one, read like 5 books on them and a week later we got some at the store (yes we checked rescues first). 4 years later, they're still happy and well.

In all the books I read, it said that you could have only one guinea pig if you were able to spend a lot of time with it. My friend currently only has one pig, but he goes everywhere with her.

Emergency funds are always nice, you never know whats gonna happen. We had to neuter Pepsi!

And the one tip of advice I tell all new pig owners: never let your guinea pigs eat the stringy celery stalk. They can choke on it and die. My best friend lost her pig because of this.

Good luck with your new guinea pigs!

-juniormylove

Thank you wickedrodent for this useful post, says:
i-love-nev (03-01-08)

Thank you Astrantia, for this useful post, say these 2 members:
pigsforlife (03-01-08), Sammy and Peanut (03-02-08)

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