Guinea Pigs - thoughts? (1 Viewer)

[CurlyNight]

yeah, came in  to post that they stink unless you change the cage often.

They themselves don't stink. Not keeping up with daily cleanings, leaving uneaten veggies in too long, using cheap or wrong litter..

GPs can get soiled. Boars have boar glue. Cleaning them is important for these reasons. I'm picky about what I use because I don't use chemicals on myself. I use soap from goatmilkstuff.com and have their pet soap. Very moisturising and very long lasting bars. It's really their bum areas and undersides. If soiled, I'll just wash those areas. There really isn't a need for full baths unless they actually need it. They have cleaning fluid in their eye area and use it to clean themselves. 

 

[Gally]

I still don't understand the desire to have these type pets.  From all that you guys say in here is how difficult they are and have all these special needs and diets and etc.  That is just not something I want in a pet.  Seems like a whole lotta work for not much fun or benefit.   

 

[CurlyNight]

I still don't understand the desire to have these type pets.  From all that you guys say in here is how difficult they are and have all these special needs and diets and etc.  That is just not something I want in a pet.  Seems like a whole lotta work for not much fun or benefit.   

I don't agree with not much benefit, but everyone has their likings. I love having animals not roam my place. I take them out to interact and back they go. This is why people need to seriously research any animal before getting it.

 

[ProstheticRGK]

Thanks.

We prefer to be called Italian-American pigs.

I didn't get past page 1, so apologies if already posted.

My brother asked my dad for $5. Dad asked what it was for. Brother said, "I wanna get a guinea pig."

Dad said, "Here's $10. Go get yourself a nice Irish girl."

 

[Bogart]

I'm in the don't get them camp.

Daughter wanted pets at my house, I'm never home, so we thought guinea pigs would be a good solution. This was about a year ago. Bought two males, because of all the talk of loneliness. Bought the biggest cage possible from the pet store. That means for more bedding, more cleaning. And as cute as they are when first bought, mine tripled or more in size. The cage feels too small now. I clean the cage once a week and it stays in my daughter's room, but I think it still can be stinky at times. Also, when bored, they love to mess with the water bottle until it floods the cage. Bedding I finally found cheap, and the grass that they eat non-stop I'm buying in 10 pound bails from Amazon. Still the cost is more than a cat or dog, especially if you are cleaning a large cage on a regular basis.

I'm counting down the days until they die, and spend too much time thinking of a way to tell my daughter "they escaped, so sorry".

Was able to give the pigs away to a FWB who had two young kids. It's night and day the amount of attention the pigs are now getting and it shows in the pigs' behavior. They are in a much better place and more lively and more fun. I get update videos all the time, and that is all I need.

So happy to not have them anymore.

 

[Nigel]

We had one when my kids were little, big mistake. Still have nightmares about having to clip its nails...trying to hold it still, the squeals it made (and subsequent bleeding) when I'd accidentally cut too low. Really stressed me out. RIP Winks.

 

[moleculo]

We have 3.  All hairless, and new as of Christmas.  The oldest was born on Halloween.  Wife and kids take care of them.  They dont really stink too much, as long as you keep the cage clean.  

ETA: I'm allergic to dogs.  My wife is allergic to cats.  Kids wanted pets, so here we are.

update: my youngest daughter absolutely loves them and takes care of them on a daily basis.    We originally had one male and two females, which meant before long we had one male and two pregnant females, which eventually turned into three males and four females.  At this point we separated the males from the females and were able to re-home two males so we are down to 5.

So - if anyone is willing to drive to Charlotte and wants two hairless female guinea pigs, we have two available.  One is jet black and looks like a hippo.  The other looks like this.  Both have been handled a lot and are very comfortable with it.

 

[CurlyNight]

We had one when my kids were little, big mistake. Still have nightmares about having to clip its nails...trying to hold it still, the squeals it made (and subsequent bleeding) when I'd accidentally cut too low. Really stressed me out. RIP Winks.

I never cut their nails. I have a friend who does it. 

 

[CurlyNight]

update: my youngest daughter absolutely loves them and takes care of them on a daily basis.    We originally had one male and two females, which meant before long we had one male and two pregnant females, which eventually turned into three males and four females.  At this point we separated the males from the females and were able to re-home two males so we are down to 5.

So - if anyone is willing to drive to Charlotte and wants two hairless female guinea pigs, we have two available.  One is jet black and looks like a hippo.  The other looks like this.  Both have been handled a lot and are very comfortable with it.

Please make sure they go to good homes, that people know the proper care especially these skinnies who likely needs to eat more to stay warm. Temperature is big with them. 

Too bad you're across the country or I'd snag them.

 

[moleculo]

Please make sure they go to good homes, that people know the proper care especially these skinnies who likely needs to eat more to stay warm. Temperature is big with them. 

Too bad you're across the country or I'd snag them.

Of course.  My wife is all over the skinny pig facebook groups and working to get them moved.  COVID made things a bit tougher, obviously. 

Skinny pigs can sell for a good price because they are unique and apparently more affectionate, but we would be happy to give them to someone we knew would take care of them.  My daughter is in no hurry to re-home them, she would be happy to keep all 5.