I'm planning on getting a guinea pig soon and I'm wondering what do I need...
2006-09-23 10:56:17 · 9 answers · asked by Julia 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
A large cage, wood chewes, toys(cat toys work great!), high quality guniea pig food(make sure it's for guniea pigs only or you wont get all the nutrients they need), good dry hay alfalfa or timothy are good, a large dripless water bottle, wood shaving(avoid ceder and pine as they can cause respitory probelms), a hiding place (mini igaloos are cute!), and a care book to read! Have fun I love the little guys!
2006-09-23 11:09:10 · answer #1 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, GREAT choice for a pet! Here are my tips:
1) Give it vitamin C tablets EVERY day.
2) Get a big cage (not just the little starter cages from the pet store - check out http://www.cavycages.com )
3) Give it lots of fresh vegetables and fruit
4) Get it treats and wood to chew on
5) Get animal nail clippers and clip the nails once/month
6) Make sure it always has Timothy Hay (NOT alfalfa hay) and pellet food in the cage at all times.
7) Change it's water daily or bidaily.
8) Clean out the cage often, DON'T use cedar shavings.
9) Don't get it a running wheel or running ball.
10) Give it a house (you can get pigloos in pet stores).
Last, but not least, before you buy a piggy from the pet store, try out your local animal shelter or http://www.petfinder.com
2006-09-27 00:05:45 · answer #2 · answered by Crushgal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
okay you'll need a cage, water bottles, hay, food dishes, guinea pig food, a pigaloo, carefresh, toys, love, an assortment of fresh veggies and fruits, another piggie friend (it has to be the same sex),so it won't be lonely a small salt licker (it can some in a pack of 3 at petco), and a chew toy (fingers doesn't count) i think that's it.
2006-09-24 02:31:59 · answer #3 · answered by i_am_a_evil_twin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water bottle
Cage (wire works best)
food dish
bedding (don't get pine ask the person at the pet store for help!)
food
hut / place where it can hide (get wood it's easier to maintain and helps to keep down the guniea pig's teeth)
chews
small salt block
small vitamin block
hay (comes in little bags)
and they love oranges!!!
2006-09-23 23:12:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a few excellent websites on guinea pigs, have a read and they'll give you some good info -
http://www.russelrabbit.com/languages/suk/36.htm
http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/guineapigbehaviour.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AirfPCC_WDppIZHBxdJD09Lsy6IX?qid=20060911111007AAtjsNF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_pig - this Wikipedia site's page has got lots more links down the bottom of the page, too. Hope they all give you some good advice and more contacts too.
2006-09-24 02:18:42 · answer #5 · answered by Lea 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure to get either a little house for it to hide in. or just toss a hand towel. my guinea pig loved to hide under a small towel!
2006-09-23 18:11:16 · answer #6 · answered by B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A home---instead of the usual guinea pig home get a medium rabbit home here you have a cage floor and a pullout tray where the feces and urine go -can be pulled out for easy cleaning---unless you find guinea pig home that has this-do not get one where the sides are wooden or the urine and feces will get into the wood and bacteria forms for hard to clean. Since the quinea pig needs hay-get from Vet that specializes in exotic animals you need to spread hay on the wie botton qpprox 1inch thick for the guinea pig (or any othr animal should walk on bare wire-very bad for feet)Also guiea pigs need to nibble and love hay or else their teeth will grow and grow-chewing hay prevents that from happening. Paper Litter----DO NO USE Litter that is made for cats-will make the guinea pig eventually sick but Petsmart as does Petco have recycled paper litter that is great.Have even seen it at Kroger but Cheaper at pet stores. A soft brush-again theres acute very softbristle rabbit shaped brush-white with ping in the ears--guinea pigs skin is very sensitive and if bristles not real soft will hurt them. Need to be brushed esp if you get the curly or long-haired silky kind(Like I had and his name was Mickey-also have 2 rabbits)Although you get Pellets that must have Vitamin C in themfor guinea pigs bodie do not make Vitamin C and will get scurvy and very sick without it also although thy sell in petstores do not get pellets that have seeds and nuts mixed in-for have difficulty digesting---Learned all this from VET who only does exotic pets-no cats or dogs- theu also love apple,raisins(but ony 5-6 at a time for if more will make pellets soft(a bit messy then) also eat parsley,Kale,a ltlltle Broccoli and mot fruits that are berries-strawberries blueberries oranges-------------Naturally once you get the guinea pig also get a good how to take care of your guinea pig book for they are very helpful in what to feed esp what Not, the daily grooming care,when to take your pet to the Vet, also locate a exotic pet in your area and make a check-up visit for pets need a checkup if healthy once a year- then get from this vet all the info they have on guinea pigs for the more you know the beter care you'll be able to give. Try getting a small corner litterbox that attaches toi the cage-he'll or she will poop on the opposite side from their food place-also get small heay dishes for the food with HAY and water available all the time. AVOID ALFALFA HAY for too high in protein instead get TIMOTHY HAY. Guinea pigs are very difficult or impossible to litterbox train-so when you hold put a small towel between you and the guinea pig. They are very loing and social-love to be held,mine used to snuggle into my hair. You need to interact with the guinea pig a lot for are very social animals and in the wild-come from S.America-Ecuador-live in large groups but males cannot be in the same cage for territorial and the weaker one has no place to get away as in the wild and will be very hurt or killed by the stronger one. Lonely guinea pigs do not do well but eventuallu pine away from loneliness-if you do not wish to get another guinea pig for have babies very rapidly rabbits make a good companion animal. Its also good to get a play area-interlocking mesh panels and depending on hpow many you get you can make large or small but i would let the guinea pig run around in this play area for they ned exercise or I would attach to the both sides of the cage from the front and left the cage door down-put cardboard over it and secured it for the guinea pig would get feet stuck in the wire of the cage door. Do not get a cage that opens on the top for hen you reach in will scarehim-predators come for above-the sky like hawks and so forth. Gave you a lot of info but fetl i should pass on what I've learned through the years so both you and the guinea pig will be very happy. Take good care-really healthy nutrition for your pet--I always get organic-does not have the pesticide that regular greens have, the least amount of stress----do not have a bunch of kids constantly handling and picking up, guinea pigs also like it Cool-for very uncomfortable if hot--kept the Bunny Room(my 2 bunnies live in this special room and so did Mickey until he died of old age and the cat goes in -my cat loves the bunnies-never trusted her alone with the guinea pig for smaller-the size of a squirrel that she'd hunt if given the chance-so be careful and esp of dogs. Why I always had my pets in playareas that way can't get where they shouldn;t be in the house and I know they are always safe. Your guinea pig with good care should live 5-6 yrs. Also to clean use white vinegar kills the bacteria and the minerals that form on cage from urine and it is totally safe
2006-09-23 18:42:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
cage
food
that water bottle thingy
the lineing for the cage
toys : )
2006-09-23 18:01:40 · answer #8 · answered by .:♥ Fire Within♥ :. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
vitamin c!!! definetly get that first
2006-09-23 20:38:46 · answer #9 · answered by Bri 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋