New to the site.

[hoispoer]

Hi everyone, I am a 17 y.o. male from Texas. I just recently bought a guinea pig on the constant bragging of my Fiancee that had one that had pasted away recently. Well we got one pretty young his name is Serj (pics will be posted later). I always liked animals but was kinda scared around them but now I like these cute bundles of joy more than she does . They have so much personality and it is fun to spoil them. Today I bought it a hay wheel, bird toy, and some treats and I am so excited to see him react so well by jumping around his cage. I have been reading on here and it said that they are better in pairs, is that a must? Well I am happy to be apart of this community and hope to post a lot more in the future.

 

[Starbucks]

congratulations on the new piggie and welcome.

getting a second piggie should be done. because you guys wont be home all the time to keep him company, he will need someone else. they are very social animals. also, make sure to get him fixed if you plan on getting a girl (males may fight together and never get along).

also, as far as the bird toys you bought, make sure it is nothing that the piggie can harm itself on. for example hanging bells (piggie teeth can get stuck in it and break) or any small pieces that can come lose from the toy. also try to avoid any bird toys with string or rope because the piggies will tend to chew on it and may even eat some.

same goes with the treats. what kind did you buy? make sure it doesnt contain any type of seeds or nuts because those can be harmful for piggies. also stay away from the yogurt drops that the pet stores make. the best treats to give your piggie is fresh fruits and veggies (actually those are main staples of their diet and you should be feeding him these anyway).

good luck with everything and keep us updated on the new member of the family.

 

[jhoban]

Welcome!! I am pretty new myself. You can certainly get alot of good info here. I know I have.

 

[critterlover]

Welcome! Aren't piggies sooo entertaining! Yes, piggies are better in pairs. We have a single male pig too and are working on finding him a buddy. And about treats...like Starbucks said, the best treats are fruits and veggies. My piggy thinks parsley is candy and eats almost a whole bunch every day One of the best things about piggies is that they eat a wide variety of veggies which you can feed them throughout the day. And they will looove you for it.

Good luck with your new piggy. You'll find everything you need to know to make him a happy piggy on this site.

 

[mncavylover]

Welcome to the forums!

First off, yes, a second (same-sex) piggy is a must. Please read www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm for more information. Please adopt from a shelter, not a pet store.

Next, ditch the store-bought treats. All they need is unlimited hay, daily veggies, and good pellets. The treats you buy at the store can be fatty, dairy, sugary, and if they contain seeds they are choking hazards. Please just feed a small piece of fruit or some leafy green vegetables instead.

Thirdly, toss the wheel into the garbage right away! Cavies have different skeletal systems than other rodents, and their spines are not meant to bend that way. In fact, it can cause sever back problems, and if the wheel has spokes it can injure ro break the cavy's feet.

Thanks for posting, and I hope this answered some fo your questions!

If you need any more info on diet (hay, veggies, pellets, etc.) feel free to ask!

 

[RubyPiggie2]

Welcome to the forums!!!

One thing: mncavylover- he said a hay wheel, not a wheel that the pig goes in, lol.
My aunt has a hay wheel and her pigs love it! Just make sure it's constantly full so that they can get all the hay. I recommend buying hay and pellets at oxbow hay because they have the best nutricious pellets and hay. www.oxbowhay.com IF you can order from the internet, I encourage you to do so. Just as mncavylover said, if you have any more questions feel free to ask!

 

[mncavylover]

Oops, my mistake! I'm really sorry about that, I just saw "wheel" and "hay" as seperate things. Excuse my carelessness please! Thanks so much for catching it Ruby!

 

[RubyPiggie2]

You're fine mncavylover, you were right on about everything else though! (treats, social life).

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Welcome! Hope you have a great time here! Get your piggy a friend, preferably same sex unless you want and have the money to neuter. All of my male pairs get along, but so far haven't tried any trios, going to soon hopefully. Congrats on your new piggy!