What do I need to know before getting a guinea pig?

Question

I've been seriously considering getting a guinea pig for a long time now. What do I need to know before getting one? Could you give me information about cleaning the cage? Are they messy and smelly? Do they like being held?

Answer 1

Guinea pigs are awesome.  I have two.  You should get a pair because they are very social animals and do best in pairs.  I would get two females.  You should socialize with your guinea pig every day so that it gets used to you.  You have to earn its trust.  They are skittish by nature.  Guinea pigs live 5-8 years.  They go to the bathroom in their cage alot but they don't smell.  You should take out the soiled bedding daily and change the bedding and clean the cage once a week.  They are very friendly and don't bite.  They will chew on your hand if they smell food so wash your hands before holding it.  I would get a rabbit cage with a plastic tub.  The tub is high and it keeps them from scattering the bedding.  Don't get a cage with a wire bottom because they will get sores on their feet.  Carefresh is the best bedding but it is expensive.  Get aspen.  They are the best of the wood shavings.  Pine is okay if it is kiln dried.  Don't get cedar because it is really bad for them.  Get an igloo or some kind of hideaway for their cage.  They love that.  It makes the feel safe and secure.  Get a water bottle.  Use a ceramic dish for their food so that they can't knock it over.  I give mine Nutriphase pellets which has Vitamin C added.  Also, put liquid vitamins in the water.  Guinea pigs need Vitamin C.  If they don't get enough they will develop scurvy which is a Vitamin C deficiency.  Give them an unlimited amount of timothy hay daily.  It is really good for them.  You can give them alfalfa occasionally but not too often because they will get fat. You can give them fruits or veggies a few times a week.  Kale is the best because it has Vitamin C and they love it.  Don't give lettuce because it is mostly water and they will get diarrhea. They love apples and carrots too.  Wood chews are a good idea since their teeth are continuously growing and you don't want them to grow out of control.  You should trim their nails occasionally.  It isn't hard to do.  When their nails get long they scratch and it hurts.  Guinea pigs do love to be held.  You could hold them for hours.  I love my guinea pigs.  They make great pets.  Guinea pigs are not expensive.  I disagree with one of the other answerers.  Your biggest cost will be the setup.  To get everything to get started would be around 100 dollars give or take.  After that it isn't expensive at all.  I have never had to take my guinea pigs to the vet.  If you take care of them properly they should never have to go to the vet.

Answer 2

If anyone tells you they don't jump don't listen to them. a friend of mine just got theirs and they put him in a cage so he could run around the garden. However after five minutes or so the guinea pig decided to jump out of the cage and try to escape next door. It was a pretty high cage too, well high for a guinea pig

Answer 3

Number one, you should not just get one, they are very social animals and will get very depressed if they are alone.

Number two, you really should adopt one from a local rescue or shelter. www.petfinder.com

Number three, here is a GREAT website on everything you need to know. www.guineapigcages.com

Hope it helped:)

Answer 4

Important things...

YOU NEED 2

THEY NEED A BIG CAGE (AT LEAST 30 BY 36 INCHES)

THEY NEED HAY

THEY NEED DRY FOOD

THEY NEED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

THEY NEED WATER

THEY NEED A HIDING PLACE (EG, A CARDBOARD BOX)

THEY ARE NOT CHEAP TO LOOK AFTER (ESPECIALLY THE VET BILLS!)

Answer 5

This is another great site http://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.h... in addition to the guineapigcages.com website.

Please adopt. Don't buy http://www.petfinder.com/

Answer 6

Coolio guinea pigs are awesome! I have one named Snickers!

First of all you need a pretty big cage, make sure your soon-to-be furry friend will have enough room to sleep, eat, poo, and drink water.

You also need and hay trouft thing the hooks onto the outside of the cage. Make sure the hay is sticking through cage so he/she can get it easily get it. I recommend TImothy Hay not Alfalfa.

Then I would get to food containers. In one put dry food, then in the other I put veggies and stuff like that. It's good to feed them at least 4 ounces of veggies a day. Some of the veggies Snickers like are: apple(red, yellow, and green), lettuce, carrots, bananas, grapes, and kiwi. :)

You will also need a little house fer your guinea pigs. You should get one thats not to small but doesn't take up to much to much space so your friend has room to walk around. :)

Also its go to hold your little friend once a day and let him walk around a little. :)