Can I just say how my life has changed in the last 3 weeks?

[Karsluma]

About 3.5 weeks ago, I decided to get a guinea pig. I *thought* the pet store was the best place to go and purchased (I know ) my first little guy, along with a petstore cage and accessories.

Then I brought him home and started researching, found this site - couldn't bear returning him, but promised I'd adopt next time. I also didn't think at that time I'd even get him a friend.....

Fast forward one week - I find another male on Craigslist and bring him home - I took both to the vet and introduced them and they love each other.

Well, I have three children who were fighting over which guinea was "their own", so I got this crazy idea to get another one. My husband thinks I have truly lost my mind now.

I go out and get the coroplast, the grids, build a cage, and get our third piggie. He is older and definitely the bully of the group .

Now I spend time cutting up veggies, cleaning the cage, talking and petting them, hand feeding them..... I'm HOOKED!

And I have to say how funny it is to have added the 3rd pig. I didn't quarantine the 3rd pig because I got to know his owner, and I could tell he was well cared for. Anyway "Gramps" as we call him, has taken over the cage - he makes the other two leave the pigloo and will growl endlessly if they invade his space. But he has also taught the other two to eat their veggies - I guess they were worried he'd eat it all up, so they just started eating and eating as fast as they could and didn't realize they were trying NEW foods like green beans, and broccoli.

And in the past 3 days, I've found Gramps curled up with Spike (first pig) - but Freaky (gets his name honestly) won't get near him and prefers to be alone. But is the most adventurous -found and uses the hay loft, sits directly ON the plate of food (the other two grab food and run to the hidey house to eat).

Anywhoooo..........thanks for letting me share how these guys have melted my heart and changed my life

[Haley0489]

My dad thinks I'm crazy to be so in love with my piggies after only a month, but they're truly addicting. I'd have 10 if I was allowed the space in my parents house, !

[paula.m.moore]

About a year ago, I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to get "a" guinea pig. Now I have 12 of them!

So what started out as "a" guinea pig a year or so ago has turned into a dozen of them! Or, as my husband says, a "jury of guinea pigs."

They are quite addicting, indeed, and caring for them properly becomes not so much an obligation but something you truly enjoy and look forward to. They are such kind and gentle little creatures, I think it is impossible not to find them endearing in a very addictive way.

I know in my case, I've more or less changed my life to make sure theirs is the best it can be, and I can't imagine another creature I'd be willing to make such changes for.

You should definitely stay away from Craigslist, Petfinder, and local Humane Society pages, though, unless you want to find yourself with, well, 12 guinea pigs! Trust me.

[Karsluma]

Paula - I can't stop myself from checking craigslist and that's where I found this poor little guy (posted about it in adoptable discussions) hoping someone here may take him in. I canNOT - cage isn't big enough.

Tonight I made my veggie list (printed off the one from here) and am trying to figure out a schedule.

They have such different tastes- tonight I gave them the lettuce and green peppers, a carrot each and put in a taste of turnip. Spike goes STRAIGHT for the peppers, and the other two gobble up the lettuce - once that's gone, they tried the turnip, carrot, and green beans (that they have refused in the past). Spike, though - took a bite of carrot, but stuck to his peppers.

[mikew]

I can definitely relate. I just adopted two guinea pigs about two months ago and I swear I buy more veggies for them then myself. Have they got used to you yet? I'm still working on mine but they are getting more comfortable with me everyday. Have you had any trouble with them drinking from water bottles because I figured out a trick with the coroplast. I stuck a pellet directly about the spout of my water bottle because it sticks through the coroplast. They use their teeth to get it and then I replace it with a new one. Eventually they would bump the sipper or whatever it is called and water would come out. It helped them get used to it. Well congratulations and hope to hear from you soon.

[GuineaAddict]

My guinea is still getting used to vegetables (as she was a pet store guinea pig). I love going to the store and walking the fresh vegetable aisle just to see what they have and I know I look like a snob when I'm picking up every head of romaine lettuce and sitting it back down because it has nasty brown all over it . I've tried green peppers several times with her and she just won't touch them. However she looooooves romaine lettuce and I bought some kale last night that I'm going to try and give her.

[Toadies]

Get to know the people in the produce section of your favorite store. I don't buy kale, corn husks, carrot tops (they save them for me). It helps with the budget. One time I got about a dozen bunches of parsley for about a dime apiece, alot less than the then going rate. They were wilted, so they were going to throw them out. Alot of these people have owned piggs or think that it's neat that you shop for them. Oh yeah, I allow my husband one shelf in the fridge. Gotta feed those piggies, you know.

[GuineaAddict]

Originally Posted by Toadies

Oh yeah, I allow my husband one shelf in the fridge. Gotta feed those piggies, you know.

I'm running out of fridge space too. I get so excited about getting my guinea new vegetables so I've now filled up my grandmother's vegetable drawer and 2/3 of her fruit drawer . Let's just say she's not too thrilled about it.

[fourboys4now]

I'm so addicted, that for my Mother's Day present I ordered a Tupperware set from a coworker that you store your fruits and veggies in and it is supposed to keep them fresher longer. Each container has spouts where you can keep it open or closed depending on the food put in there. I'm so excited and can't wait to get it!

[Haley0489]

Originally Posted by fourboys4now

I'm so addicted, that for my Mother's Day present I ordered a Tupperware set from a coworker that you store your fruits and veggies in and it is supposed to keep them fresher longer. Each container has spouts where you can keep it open or closed depending on the food put in there. I'm so excited and can't wait to get it!

Oooh we used to have these!! I wonder where they went to.

[babyboo]

About the running out of space I have a mini fridge in my room that I keep all of their fruits and veggies in. it works really well.

[GuineaAddict]

Originally Posted by babyboo

About the running out of space I have a mini fridge in my room that I keep all of their fruits and veggies in. it works really well.

I have one too (when I go get my things out of storage) but I'm living with my grandparents so I don't think I'm going to be able to use it as a fridge. It runs up electricity bills like nobodies business and they've already helped me out so much that I don't want to give them anything else to worry about. I think I am going to use it however to just keep unplugged and keep my non-perishable animal food and things in it.

[cavyinhawaii]

I started out with one pig. Two years later I have three. My husband and I will just sit and watch them. I swear we must look like we have lost our minds. We call it watching pig TV. They are so funny and I think they put on a show just for us. I have one that is deffinately the clown of the pig house.

[auburnmare5]

The same thing happened with me, but not with the number of pigs. I have always had one, but in a matter of one month, Coco had a bigger petstore cage, and I was about to get grids to make a grids cage. I still use the same system and it is awesome! But in the time I hav ebeen on this site, so much has changed for th ebetter interms of Coco. He is so much happier and healthier!

[Justin]

Now I always do grocery shopping. My wife calls me and say; "Honey, your piggy babies don't have veges. You better get some on the way home, that is, if you care them."

[Karsluma]

I've gotten even a little crazier since I first posted - now I have taken the video monitor I used for my kids and put it above their cage so I can watch them when I'm not in there.