Do guinea pigs make good pets?

animal_lover14 · 12-08-08, 22:08

i really want a guinea pig but do they make good pets?are they friendly, easy to handle? do they get scared easily? are they too shy and scared to pet and hold?what do i feed them? are they expensive?

Trina · 12-08-08, 22:10

They make excellent pets.

I have had over 50 and never been bitten. As babies, yes they do get scared easily and run away from you. But as adults they will sit still and let you pick them up.

They are THE most friendliest small pet I've had. I've had rats and rabbits and they were nothing compared to my guinea pigs. They can be a little expensive (especially the vet bills) but there are ways you can reduce this. If you can get a hold of shredded paper for free for their bedding, for example. DO NOT get guinea pigs if you are short of money.

They eat hay, dry food, vegetables and fruit. Examples of fruit and vegetables that they like are apples, carrots, cabbage, kale, celery, grass, tomatoes, and cucumber.

Some one · 12-08-08, 22:16

Guinea pig's make awesome pets! I have one and my sister's and I love her. They may resist being picked up but once you have a good grip on them they are easy going. They are social animals, and it depends on what you buy which equals the total. You can feed them nutriphase which is what i feed my guinea pig LuLu.

blackheart · 12-08-08, 22:37

guinea pigs are the best rodents there are. they are always happy to see you never bite and are the freindliest creatures there are

Amanda S · 12-08-08, 22:56

they're not expensive at all. like all other animals, everyone of them has a different personality so some are more shy and less friendly than others.. but i think for the most part they are great pets. the only thing i would warn about is making sure you buy one that doesn't bite cause that can hurt... not bad enough to be scared of it, but you don't want a pet that bites regardless.

good luck.

darksong17 · 12-08-08, 23:13

They are not low maintenance pets but they are enjoyable. Please get two guinea pigs of the same sex, as they are highly social herd animals. Also, adopt, because they are terribly overpopulated: http://www.petfinder.com/

Read up on them!:

http://www.petinfopackets.com/guineapigs/guineapiginfopacket.html
http://www.guinealynx.com/
http://www.cavyspirit.com/
http://www.guineapigcages.com/
http://cavymadness.com/
http://guineapigs.info/

teenage drama queen! :) · 12-08-08, 23:13

If you treat the gunea pig well then they will be very friendly to you and a lot more easier to handle!Gunea pigs will get scared in some ways but they don't get scared easily...I t actually depends!When you first meet the Gunea pig they might get scared if you pet them or hold them but pretty soon they'll get used to it!Maybe they might be expensive it depends what store you're in and a lot of more different reasons!Gunea pigs eat lots of hay and drink lots of water!

Riley · 12-08-08, 23:15

Guinea pigs make awesome pets. I have two whom I love very much. They are so sweet. They are skittish by nature because they are prey in the wild. They will run around the cage at first when you go near them but once you earn their trust they will be so happy to see you and it doesn't take long at all. I have had both males and females and they are equally friendly. It is best for guinea pigs to be in pairs because they are very social animals. Two females will do better than two males and of course, don't keep a male and female together unless you want a litter. If you get just one then you have to make sure that you spend lots of time with it. They are easy to handle and they love to be held. You could hold them for hours. They eat guinea pig pellets. The best brand is the Nutriphase. It has vitamin C in it. Vitamin C is very important for guinea pigs and if they don't have enough of it in their diet they will develop a deficiency called scurvy. Also, I put liquid vitamins in their water. They should have timothy hay every day. You can give them veggies two to three times a week as a treat. The best is kale because it is high in vitamin C. They aren't expensive to care for. Your biggest expense will be the set up. A guinea pig costs around $30-$35. A cage is another $30 or $40 depending on the size. I would actually get a rabbit cage. I like them better for guinea pigs because guinea pigs tend to scatter their bedding around and the rabbit cage has a high bottom so it contains the litter. Never use a wire bottom cage for guinea pigs because they will get sores on their feet. The best bedding is carefresh but it is very pricy. Aspen bedding is fine and so is kiln dried pine. Never get cedar bedding because it is bad for their respiratory system. Guinea pigs live 5-8 years. Make sure that you take out the soiled bedding daily and that you clean the cage and change the bedding once a week. If you take proper care of your guinea pig it shouldn't have any health problems. I find guinea pigs to be the friendliest of the rodents. I have had guinea pigs for eight years now and they have never once bitten me. They will chew on your fingers if they smell food on them so always wash your hands before holding them. Also, never give them baths. Guinea pigs are like cats and they will clean themselves. Guinea pigs can go into shock easily and a bath would really stress them out and could give them a heart attack. My dog frightened one of my guinea pigs to death so now I never let my dog anywhere near my guinea pigs. Their nails can get pretty long so you can clip them occasionally. It isn't hard to do at all. Make sure that the temperature where you put them is comfortable. Never let it get too cold or hot. The heat can kill them. Guinea pigs make great pets. Just make sure that you are really up for the responsibility because guinea pigs live up to eight years so it is a big commitment.

Riley · 13-08-08, 00:25

Guinea pigs make awesome pets. I have two whom I love very much. They are so sweet. They are skittish by nature because they are prey in the wild. They will run around the cage at first when you go near them but once you earn their trust they will be so happy to see you and it doesn't take long at all. I have had both males and females and they are equally friendly. It is best for guinea pigs to be in pairs because they are very social animals. Two females will do better than two males and of course, don't keep a male and female together unless you want a litter. If you get just one then you have to make sure that you spend lots of time with it. They are easy to handle and they love to be held. You could hold them for hours. They eat guinea pig pellets. The best brand is the Nutriphase. It has vitamin C in it. Vitamin C is very important for guinea pigs and if they don't have enough of it in their diet they will develop a deficiency called scurvy. Also, I put liquid vitamins in their water. They should have timothy hay every day. You can give them veggies two to three times a week as a treat. The best is kale because it is high in vitamin C. They aren't expensive to care for. Your biggest expense will be the set up. A guinea pig costs around $30-$35. A cage is another $30 or $40 depending on the size. I would actually get a rabbit cage. I like them better for guinea pigs because guinea pigs tend to scatter their bedding around and the rabbit cage has a high bottom so it contains the litter. Never use a wire bottom cage for guinea pigs because they will get sores on their feet. The best bedding is carefresh but it is very pricy. Aspen bedding is fine and so is kiln dried pine. Never get cedar bedding because it is bad for their respiratory system. Guinea pigs live 5-8 years. Make sure that you take out the soiled bedding daily and that you clean the cage and change the bedding once a week. If you take proper care of your guinea pig it shouldn't have any health problems. I find guinea pigs to be the friendliest of the rodents. I have had guinea pigs for eight years now and they have never once bitten me. They will chew on your fingers if they smell food on them so always wash your hands before holding them. Also, never give them baths. Guinea pigs are like cats and they will clean themselves. Guinea pigs can go into shock easily and a bath would really stress them out and could give them a heart attack. My dog frightened one of my guinea pigs to death so now I never let my dog anywhere near my guinea pigs. Their nails can get pretty long so you can clip them occasionally. It isn't hard to do at all. Make sure that the temperature where you put them is comfortable. Never let it get too cold or hot. The heat can kill them. Guinea pigs make great pets. Just make sure that you are really up for the responsibility because guinea pigs live up to eight years so it is a big commitment.

12-08-08, 22:08	#1
animal_lover14 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1	Do guinea pigs make good pets? i really want a guinea pig but do they make good pets?are they friendly, easy to handle? do they get scared easily? are they too shy and scared to pet and hold?what do i feed them? are they expensive?

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12-08-08, 22:10	#2
Trina Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20	They make excellent pets. I have had over 50 and never been bitten. As babies, yes they do get scared easily and run away from you. But as adults they will sit still and let you pick them up. They are THE most friendliest small pet I've had. I've had rats and rabbits and they were nothing compared to my guinea pigs. They can be a little expensive (especially the vet bills) but there are ways you can reduce this. If you can get a hold of shredded paper for free for their bedding, for example. DO NOT get guinea pigs if you are short of money. They eat hay, dry food, vegetables and fruit. Examples of fruit and vegetables that they like are apples, carrots, cabbage, kale, celery, grass, tomatoes, and cucumber.

12-08-08, 22:16	#3
Some one Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6	Guinea pig's make awesome pets! I have one and my sister's and I love her. They may resist being picked up but once you have a good grip on them they are easy going. They are social animals, and it depends on what you buy which equals the total. You can feed them nutriphase which is what i feed my guinea pig LuLu.

12-08-08, 22:37	#4
blackheart Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2	guinea pigs are the best rodents there are. they are always happy to see you never bite and are the freindliest creatures there are

12-08-08, 22:56	#5
Amanda S Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 27	they're not expensive at all. like all other animals, everyone of them has a different personality so some are more shy and less friendly than others.. but i think for the most part they are great pets. the only thing i would warn about is making sure you buy one that doesn't bite cause that can hurt... not bad enough to be scared of it, but you don't want a pet that bites regardless. good luck.

12-08-08, 23:13	#6
darksong17 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 173	They are not low maintenance pets but they are enjoyable. Please get two guinea pigs of the same sex, as they are highly social herd animals. Also, adopt, because they are terribly overpopulated: http://www.petfinder.com/ Read up on them!: http://www.petinfopackets.com/guineapigs/guineapiginfopacket.html http://www.guinealynx.com/ http://www.cavyspirit.com/ http://www.guineapigcages.com/ http://cavymadness.com/ http://guineapigs.info/

12-08-08, 23:13	#7
teenage drama queen! :) Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1	If you treat the gunea pig well then they will be very friendly to you and a lot more easier to handle!Gunea pigs will get scared in some ways but they don't get scared easily...I t actually depends!When you first meet the Gunea pig they might get scared if you pet them or hold them but pretty soon they'll get used to it!Maybe they might be expensive it depends what store you're in and a lot of more different reasons!Gunea pigs eat lots of hay and drink lots of water!

12-08-08, 23:15	#8
Riley Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 47	Guinea pigs make awesome pets. I have two whom I love very much. They are so sweet. They are skittish by nature because they are prey in the wild. They will run around the cage at first when you go near them but once you earn their trust they will be so happy to see you and it doesn't take long at all. I have had both males and females and they are equally friendly. It is best for guinea pigs to be in pairs because they are very social animals. Two females will do better than two males and of course, don't keep a male and female together unless you want a litter. If you get just one then you have to make sure that you spend lots of time with it. They are easy to handle and they love to be held. You could hold them for hours. They eat guinea pig pellets. The best brand is the Nutriphase. It has vitamin C in it. Vitamin C is very important for guinea pigs and if they don't have enough of it in their diet they will develop a deficiency called scurvy. Also, I put liquid vitamins in their water. They should have timothy hay every day. You can give them veggies two to three times a week as a treat. The best is kale because it is high in vitamin C. They aren't expensive to care for. Your biggest expense will be the set up. A guinea pig costs around $30-$35. A cage is another $30 or $40 depending on the size. I would actually get a rabbit cage. I like them better for guinea pigs because guinea pigs tend to scatter their bedding around and the rabbit cage has a high bottom so it contains the litter. Never use a wire bottom cage for guinea pigs because they will get sores on their feet. The best bedding is carefresh but it is very pricy. Aspen bedding is fine and so is kiln dried pine. Never get cedar bedding because it is bad for their respiratory system. Guinea pigs live 5-8 years. Make sure that you take out the soiled bedding daily and that you clean the cage and change the bedding once a week. If you take proper care of your guinea pig it shouldn't have any health problems. I find guinea pigs to be the friendliest of the rodents. I have had guinea pigs for eight years now and they have never once bitten me. They will chew on your fingers if they smell food on them so always wash your hands before holding them. Also, never give them baths. Guinea pigs are like cats and they will clean themselves. Guinea pigs can go into shock easily and a bath would really stress them out and could give them a heart attack. My dog frightened one of my guinea pigs to death so now I never let my dog anywhere near my guinea pigs. Their nails can get pretty long so you can clip them occasionally. It isn't hard to do at all. Make sure that the temperature where you put them is comfortable. Never let it get too cold or hot. The heat can kill them. Guinea pigs make great pets. Just make sure that you are really up for the responsibility because guinea pigs live up to eight years so it is a big commitment.

13-08-08, 00:25	#9
Riley Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 47	Guinea pigs make awesome pets. I have two whom I love very much. They are so sweet. They are skittish by nature because they are prey in the wild. They will run around the cage at first when you go near them but once you earn their trust they will be so happy to see you and it doesn't take long at all. I have had both males and females and they are equally friendly. It is best for guinea pigs to be in pairs because they are very social animals. Two females will do better than two males and of course, don't keep a male and female together unless you want a litter. If you get just one then you have to make sure that you spend lots of time with it. They are easy to handle and they love to be held. You could hold them for hours. They eat guinea pig pellets. The best brand is the Nutriphase. It has vitamin C in it. Vitamin C is very important for guinea pigs and if they don't have enough of it in their diet they will develop a deficiency called scurvy. Also, I put liquid vitamins in their water. They should have timothy hay every day. You can give them veggies two to three times a week as a treat. The best is kale because it is high in vitamin C. They aren't expensive to care for. Your biggest expense will be the set up. A guinea pig costs around $30-$35. A cage is another $30 or $40 depending on the size. I would actually get a rabbit cage. I like them better for guinea pigs because guinea pigs tend to scatter their bedding around and the rabbit cage has a high bottom so it contains the litter. Never use a wire bottom cage for guinea pigs because they will get sores on their feet. The best bedding is carefresh but it is very pricy. Aspen bedding is fine and so is kiln dried pine. Never get cedar bedding because it is bad for their respiratory system. Guinea pigs live 5-8 years. Make sure that you take out the soiled bedding daily and that you clean the cage and change the bedding once a week. If you take proper care of your guinea pig it shouldn't have any health problems. I find guinea pigs to be the friendliest of the rodents. I have had guinea pigs for eight years now and they have never once bitten me. They will chew on your fingers if they smell food on them so always wash your hands before holding them. Also, never give them baths. Guinea pigs are like cats and they will clean themselves. Guinea pigs can go into shock easily and a bath would really stress them out and could give them a heart attack. My dog frightened one of my guinea pigs to death so now I never let my dog anywhere near my guinea pigs. Their nails can get pretty long so you can clip them occasionally. It isn't hard to do at all. Make sure that the temperature where you put them is comfortable. Never let it get too cold or hot. The heat can kill them. Guinea pigs make great pets. Just make sure that you are really up for the responsibility because guinea pigs live up to eight years so it is a big commitment.