a site that has it all wrong

[gpigluver14]

Here's an example of an inaccurate website, most of the information is all wrong...But then again, it was last updated in 99'. For example it says they can be houses on wire mesh, and how you should add vitamin c to the water. I wish I could contact the people somehow...

[seagirl96]

Yikes! did you read size of enclosure?

WRONG= "The enclosure must be roomy enough to allow normal activities and breeding, if the latter is desired. One reference recommends at least 100 square inches of floor area per adult, whereas breeders should be allowed 180 square inches per animal."

100 square inches is 10 inches by 10 inches. 180 inches is 10 x 18, and glass is recommended. So a nice small aquarium.... And 10 inch tall sides for boars! This site goes on to say that guinea pigs have very short life spans and I can see why they think so! How long would one of our piggies live in a ten gallon aquarium, or want to? This is a great demonstration of why we are all so grateful for having found this web site.

[crazywiggy]

I just went back to the home page, and its the University of Minnesota.

You can send feedback about the website to this email address (I'll be doing so when I have the time):

Email address to contact pro-breeding website removed.

[TX_2_Pigs]

This is the email I plan to send them.

I recently visited your web page regarding the care of Guinea Pigs at ... and found it rather disturbing.The information given in this care sheet is so incredibly wrong. Initially I was going to copy the information and point out those items that are wrong but since it is mostly wrong I was going to point out what information was right. I decided to just direct you to Guinea Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home and Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig for more up to date and accurate information.

I am a forum member at Guinea Pig Cages and expect you will be receiving email from many other concerned members as well.

Please update your web page with more accurate information or remove it.

Sincerely,

TX_2_Pigs

[masher]

TX that email looked great and straight to the point.

That site is disgraceful and quite disturbing. People should have known better in 1999.

[Percy's Mom]

While I certainly appreciate that you want to get the message out that there are a great number of sites out there that have inaccurate information, please do not post website addresses for pro-breeding sites on this forum.

[ellenvega]

If I see sites that have wrong info, or people asking questions somewhere about guinea pigs, I always answer the best I can and give links for Guineapigcages and GuineaLynx. I think everyone should do that.

[crazywiggy]

Percy's mom,

Sorry if I was wrong to post that info (the email address not the web addess) but I can't understand what the problem was.

I mean, I totally understand and agree with the policy about not giving links to pro-breeding websites etc because it encourages people to breed, give poor care etc.
But this whole thread is about how bad the site is, and the initial poster commented that she wished she knew how to contact them. I only gave the email address so that people could write and ask them to update the site with correct info. In other words to educate them - surely this is a good thing? (Incidentally I have had some success in the past when asking people to change incorrect info on their sites).

Sorry - I don't mean to make a fuss, I just think that educating people is a good thing and if that means giving the knowledgable, caring members of this forum the means to do so then I don't see the problem.

[Susan9608]

If people want to contact a site to inform them of correct information, then please private message the site info to those people. We do not want pro-breeding links out on display where everyone who stumbles across the forum may see it.

[seagirl96]

Thanks Susan. This seems like a good compromise. I see CrazyWiggy's point but I guess we get people here who are just browsing and not really reading & end up at a site full of misinformation, thinking that someone here recommended it. No one wants that.

Unfortunately it's too darn easy to breed gp's. Lots of people come here looking for information on how not to breed because one of their "boys" is pregnant.

[crazywiggy]

Thanks susan, that sounds good to me.

So from now on, if someone finds a site promoting wrong information they can mention it here (without giving the link) and ask people to pm them for further details?

I didn't want to start breaking rules, I just figured if people knew about it they could do something about it.

[Ly&Pigs]

What we don't allow are links to sites containing breeding/showing information or to breeder/shower sites. If the site has no mention of breeding, breeders or showing then we may allow the link to be posted. You could always pm the link to one of us mods to check out and we can let you know if it's ok to post it or not.

[gpigluver14]

Okay sounds good. Sorry I posted that. I know what you mean, a newbie or anyone could have come along and looked at the thread, saw the link and clicked on it, and would have been exposed to some very wrong info. Gee- I'm still learning after all this time...

[maxyluver43]

100 sq. in. is WAY too small for a guinea pig! I have one piggie and he lives in a 12 sq. ft. cage.

[seagirl96]

So you really have room for one more, right? Hee Hee.