Do the guinea pigs at petsamrt bite becaues i might raise money and get some and the cage?

Answer 1

cant say they dont bite, any animal that has teeth can bite and will when angry,hurt etc

A guinea pig is for life, not just for Christmas! So think carfully be for you buy one




Here is some info for you to consider before buying one


Lifespan 3 to 6 years typically
Size from about 8 inches to 14 inches long
Breeding up to 5 times a year with litter of 2 to 4 or even more!
Menu Guinea pigs are veggie!
prepared guinea pig food from pet store supplemented with carrot, peas, most green leafs, though not lettuce as this is associated with colic in guinea pigs.
Handling handle often for best reaction with children
Types dutch, coronet, texel, sheltie, agouti, rex, abyssinian, american crested, self black

Diet
A guinea pig can be a fussy little creature, expect likes and dislikes, and a bit like some of us, they don't like change!
Staple guinea pig mix from your pet store is the basic diet, but even here beware! - best choose a guinea pig mix that prevents selective feeding, i.e. they choose those bits they like and leave the bits they don't. The consequences of this is that they may lack a balanced diet and can be prone to illnesses as a result!

Next we come to fruit and veg - and here little often is better than too much which can cause diarrhoea. Guinea pigs need fresh fruit and veg, and are partial to green leafs.
A Vitamin C supplement in their drinking water is recommended, but read the instructions so not to over-dose!

Try beetroot (not pickled), carrot, broccoli, celery, cauliflower leafs, cabbage, but lettuce only very occasionally if at all, as it is associated with colic.
Offer orange, apple, grapes but not the whole fruit, cut or slice and make this a treat rather than constantly available.

Special hang-up treats from pet stores are also good, and encourage the animal to climb up and use their rodent teeth.
Another essential is a daily fresh supply of clean water.
By all means try other things from time to time, ours like cold peas (cooked), and will even nibble small pieces of bread.
Remember guinea pigs are veggie, so no meat or dairy products, and definately no sweets or anything with sugar.

Hay is essential and there should always be a supply of fresh grass hay in their home which should be replenished every time their cage is cleaned!

Maintenance/Cleaning
Maintenance is very important, but not difficult.
Your guinea pig hutch will SMELL if not cleaned on a regular basis!
The floor of the living quarters will need the following procedure carried out every two to three days for a single pig in residence, or almost daily if there are two or more!

Take animal out of home and place where it cannot get back in until you are finished.
remove all existing floor covering and discard hygenically, also old fruit and veg.
spray the floor with a suitable antiseptic cleanser (your local pet store will sell these)
wipe the floor with kitchen paper or a paper towel.
place new bedding on the hutch or cage floor to a depth such that all the wood or plastic is covered, and possibly up to a depth of quarter to half inch.
allow pet to return home, and reward with treat!
Okay, so your guinea pig will not thank you for a bath, but you will probably want to bath him from time to time, say twice a year!
A bathing regime is not difficult, and here are the key points.
Fill a bath or basin to a level where he can paddle but not drown.
Temperature should be lukewarm.
Use a small pet shampoo as sold by pet stores.
Avoid contact with the eyes (both you and the pet!)
Keep him supported as he may try to jump out, and could injure himself if allowed to escape from the confines of the bath/sink.
Wash gently, using your fingers, pressure is neither necessary nor comfortable.
After a final rinse wrap your gp in a clean towel, and hand dry, avoiding drafts especially whilst wet.
A hair drier can be used, but carefully, make sure not too hot, and shield the eyes.
About twice a year should be about right.



Vital statistics!
body weight-adult male 900-1000 gram
about 2 lb
body weight-adult sow 700-900gram
25-32 oz
birth weight 60-115gram
2-4 oz
breeding life 18-20 months 4-5 litters
sow fertility 4-5 weeks
boar fertility 8-10 weeks
sow cycle length 15-17 days
gestation period 59-72 days
litter interval 96 days


Communications
You enjoyed the film Dr.Dolittle?
Of course Guinea Pigs cannot really talk!
- but they can COMMUNICATE! In their own way, they can "ask" for food, tell you if they are tired, want attention, even sometimes if they are ill!
You watch and learn from your piggy friend, and you will be rewarded.


Rabbits
Often guinea pigs are housed with rabbits, especially at pet stores.
It is a common practice, but the advice from most expert sources is - DON'T DO IT!
If kept outdoors, they are often considered as company for each other, as the guinea pig can get warmth from the larger rabbit, but a rabbit has very powerful back legs which often does great harm to the more fragile guinea pig!
Also, they are different species, and in general terms should not be kept together, their dietary requirements differ.




Summer living
Hot weather poses special problems for guinea pigs. As a general rule if we humans feel hot, then chances are so will our guinea pigs!
Here are some quick-brief tips to help keep your pet happy in the summer.

Always keep out of direct sunlight.
Make sure they have a regular and fresh supply of water.
If kept out of doors make sure cats or other animals cannot get in at them.
Guinea pigs do not like drafts, so make sure they have shelter.
And for those cold winter months, a quick tip is to provide plenty hay for your guinea pig to keep warm in! (see also section on diet above)
Living quarters Some ideas on guinea pig accommodation.

What can go wrong!
Guinea pigs are generally fine if well looked after, however look out for the following symptoms. Please note that this author is not qualified as a vet, therefore if you are worried about the health of your pet, seek medical advice from a qualified vet without delay.

Diarrhoea
This might be a symptom of a serious ailment, and professional advice is advised.
Constipation
Might be caused by lack of greens.
Treat with plenty wet veg, or in severe cases, medicinal liquid paraffin. (seek medical advice)
Bumble foot
Swelling in the foot and slight redness.
It is not contagious but treatable with antibiotics.
This is potentially a dangerous condition, so do not delay.
Worms
Seen as white streaks in their droppings usually comes from grazing on grass.
This is a case for the vet however.
Bladder Stones
The symptoms are obvious pain on urination, probably accompanied by unusual squeaking, and arching of the back.
One reason for stones developing could be lack of fluid, and not enough acid in the diet.
Check if your guinea pig drinks regularly, and offer celery, beetroot, apple, but not lettuce.
Lice
White in colour, very small, and crawl about on his fur.
Treat with a suitable shampoo available on prescription.
Eye problems
sore, runny eyes sometimes occur particularly if the pig is kept in a draught.
Treatment is usually by eye drops or ointment on prescription.
Dental problems
We were worried when our Bobby broke his two front incisors, and seemed to be having difficulty in coping with lettuce etc.
However a guinea pig actually has 20 teeth, and will be merely inconvenienced whilst the front ones grow in again (which seemed to happen quite rapidly)
Sometimes the front teeth need to be cut, but do not attempt this unless you know what you are doing!
Lameness
Often caused by lack of vitamin C (see section on diet above)
Guinea pigs are not particularly hardy animals, falls must be avoided in particular, and they should never be left unattended if uncaged, for their own good!
Treating your guinea pig yourself is an option if you are experienced and know what you are about, but advice from here must be always seek professional help if in doubt.
He or a she?
The sexing of guinea pigs, particularly if young, may not be too straightforward. It may be more reliable to ask someone who knows, but you can make your own mind up!
Pet store staff often do not offer advice on the sex of animals they sell, as they employ temporary and part-time staff who may not be trained in such matters.
It is easier in adult guinea pigs, an examination of the genitalia holds the clue. The "triangular" area will reveal in the middle a "dot" or "button" in the male, which will not be present in the sow. Note however that both sexes have nipples.
Male babies can impregnante their mothers as early as 24 days and must be separated therefore at 21 days!


boar sow

Ask a vet - one experienced with small mammals should be able to tell you, and should not charge much.
Get a good book on guinea pigs (preferably by Peter Gurney) and follow the advice given there.
It is often quite difficult with very young guinea pigs but they reach maturity in just a few months, and general advice is that males (boars) should NOT be kept together as they are more than likely to fight. Females (sows) can live together but generally only if introduced at about the same time, or as a mother and daughter combination.
A behavior trait to watch out for in boars is a "stalking" motion usually accompanied by a sort of "purring". In this case he usually senses the presence of a sow, and will attempt to make contact.

Enjoy your Guinea Pig!

Buy one guinea pig on its own only if you intend to make it very much one of the family, keep it in the house, and handle it, look after it well.
If buying more than one, remember that they can be prolific breeders, so check the sex (many pet stores will not guarantee the sex of animals they sell!) and if you intend to breed them, do not expect to make money from this venture, as young guinea pigs have little financial value, and are (in the nicest possible way) common!
They do make lovely pets and are ideal for families with children over the age of about 5

Answer 2

My partner works for Petsmart and one of the posters was correct in saying that the staff of Petsmart does NOT hand-tame their animals---most of the animals they sell are NOT hand-tamed, and they can (and do) bite. It will take a whole lot of work to hand-tame any small animal you purchase from Petsmart (or Petco, or any pet store, really---their goal is $$$ so hand-taming isn't important to them). This varies with each Petsmart location, but in general, NONE of their animals are particularly hand-tamed. (And my partner has the huge bite on this thumb to prove it)

Guinea pigs generally don't bite, even if not hand-tamed, but they CAN and some DO.

If you're very serious about wanting a G. pig, check our your local shelter, or your states' guinea pig (or cavy) rescue. If you can't find what you want, try a REPUTABLE and RESPONSIBLE cavy breeder.

Answer 3

I wouldn't recommend buying a guinea pig from a pet store. They normally mill the animals and have extreme inbreeding going on. Most of the guinea pigs from petsmart / petco (they buy from the same places) only live about six months.

Answer 4

G.pigs don't generally bite, but if they are frightened, they may. You just have to devote time and effort into your pig, holding him often. And please note they do have a detailed diet...not just pellets. Please contact a veterinarian that see's them for an appropreit diet recommendation. Petstores are still giving out poor information, and it is outdated! They can not live a happy healthy life just on pellets...look into this please before getting a pig! They are very social, and fun animals. Good Luck!

P.S. Unfortuanley I used to "volunteer" for PetSmart. The only socializing that any animal gets is being pushed around while being cleaned every 3 days...they are not held every day...atleast in the few I have been in. But the last person could know something different I suppose...but I doubt it...lol.

Pet stores suck

Answer 5

Pets at petsmart are "untrained"... There are so many pets at petsmart that the staff doesnt have time to ''train" it. When you get a new geuina pig you need to go through a 4 week process called training, just like with a dog. It is not used to humans so its going to bite, probably because it is scared. Look it up on the internet, but if your having trouble finding something, E-mail me. (I suggest you get a baby guiena pig, they are easier to train)

Answer 6

Yes. All rodents bite. Either out of fear or hunger or just being in a bad mood. If you get one and handle it daily it should not be bad. but when you put 2 or more they are more likely to bite.

Answer 7

PetSmart is a terrible place to buy a pet - any pet store is. Instead, visit your local animal shelter and adopt a pet looking for a forever home.

Answer 8

PetSmart is a great place to buy a pet. :) all the animals are handled everyday and they don't sell animals that bite or such. :D the piggies from there would be real friendly

Answer 9

no they do not bite if you get money in there cage as long as they are hand trained.