Guniea pig vs Chinchilla?

Question

I've narrowed my pet choice down to either a chinchilla or a guinea pig (or possibly a rat). What are the differences between a guinea pig and chinchilla as far as care/cost/cage size/cleanliness, etc. Which would be friendlier? Im really looking for animal that likes to be held and played with.

Answer 1

chincillas are way better

Answer 2

I raised guinea pigs for a long time and they were good pets, but I've moved on to rats now and they are much more fun! I've had a couple friends with chinchillas, and they are cute and very soft, but not very affectionate (even with lots of attention, in my experience). Piggies are pretty smart, but rats are way smarter and they can be carried around much more easily than guinea pigs or chinchillas (I used to let mine ride around in the hood of a hooded sweatshirt--they loved it!). Guinea pigs are much lower energy, though, which can be good or bad depending on your situation (for instance, a guinea pig will be more likely to just sit on your lap while a rat will want to explore your shoulders and arms and a chinchilla will just jump all over the room). Oh, and guinea pigs can get heatstroke, too (I had a very traumatic experience with this as a young child!).

Answer 3

Both Guinea pigs and Chinchilla's are good pets. Guineas do tend to smell more that chinchilla's. It also depends on how much room time and how long you want to care for the pet. Chinchilla's can live for 10+ years. Guineas I don't' know the life span of.

I have 2 chinchilla's one a supposed male adopted from the humane society, the other is one of his ... i mean her....lol kit. We adopted out the other because 3 were to many for us at the time.

The kits are much more manageable than the adult since we handled them from day one. As to cost I sped less on my chinchillas than I do on my dogs. The rule is the bigger the cage the better for a chinchilla. Food consists of hay and pellets and water. They do need wood chew toys but so do guineas. Chinchillas do love their sand baths the sand isn't that much more expensive than litter.

Go to the petstore and look around... figure out what you need and price it for a month. That is why we went with a Chinchilla.

Chinchilla prices vary and there are so many in need of rescue. I paid $50 to adopt mine and got 3 out of the deal...lol.

Answer 4

I suggest a guinea pig then because the cost of caring for and maintaing the chincillas are more expensive; for instance the chinchillas need volcano ash.

Also I've never been around a chinchilla that liked the really be held or played with.

Answer 5

I've never had chinchillas, but I had guinea pigs the whole time I was growing up.
You can get a guinea pig for about $20.00. Chinchillas cost over $100.00. Guinea pigs are sweet and they'll greet you ever time you walk through the door. Just be sure and keep them out of drafts. Guinea pigs love to get out and play.

Answer 6

Chinchillas are much more expensive to buy and I think they require more care. They also need bigger cages because they like to climb and they need enough space to hold a 12in running wheel (one that's closed in, not wire because wire hurts feet and can catch and break tails) and a dust bath area. I can't vouch for cleanliness though.

I'd say that if you're definitely getting one or the other, get a guinea pig, but of course I'm still rooting for the rats (just remember you need two, not just one. Studies have shown that rats who live in groups of at least 2 live longer and get sick less often. And you don't want your darling to be depressed and lonely when you're at work, do you?)

Answer 7

Guinea pig-$30
Cage-$10 if you buy a playpen. or plastic kiddie pool
food-$3.00 for pellets, $2.00 for timothy hay, and fresh veggies at home. like celery and peppers.
water bottle-$1.00
house- shoebox-free probably at ur house
food dish- probably got some plastic thing at home
bedding-depends on brand and size but aorund $5
Grand Total-Around $50
P.S. you may want to get two females. Males will fight, female and male will obvisously breed, two females are fine. plus one guinea pig will get depressed and lonely.

Guinea pigs are great pets. Anyone who says you can't buy happiness has never owned a guinea pig! They purr and make all sorts of delightful sounds. Their yawns are soo adorable and whenever i am feeling really low, i look at one of their little smiles and i start laughing my head off. They're like hamsters except wayyyy more docile. They don't bite, and you can tell when they're going to pee on you. They're fuzzy and love to be held. You can play a gentle game of tug of war with them or a rampaging game of tag around one of your rooms...but be warned that they are fast little critters and DO NOT let them go outside. They're not able to jump, so be careful when you're holding them on your bed. I rate my guinea pigs 9.99/10. The reason for the 0.001 percent off is because they pee a lot. But in my opinion-best pets.

Answer 8

when it comes to the rodent family between the two it is most definitely the Guinea pig. but rodents are not willing to be lap animals. they have there own ideas on life. if a lap animal is truly what you want they are not it!! a pup or a cat are better for that. but if it is between the two i recommend the Guinea pig. i`ve had both. but i will say this. a skunk makes a good lap pet. i know it sounds silly. but i think they make a much better lap pet than a cat.

Answer 9

.I dont know much about chinchillas but:

Chinchillas-
. they can suffer from heat strokes if left in the sun=fatal
. They should be let out to run every day
. clean out every day
. wooden box to hide/sleep in.
. need knaw blocks to chew on.
. they like tubes
. need a sand bath every day
. they like hay, and chinchilla pellets
. plastic not to be used as it is harmful.
. One chinchilla can be kept in a cage approximately 90cm high x 61cm wide x 46cm deep.

Guniea pigs-

. Guinea pigs are very shy and will spend a lot of time hiding.
. you can buy speicialy designed cages
. they need a fruit tree branch to chew on
. Cardboard tubes, boxes etc. to play with and chew
. Guinea Pigs are vegetarians=dandilions, clover, celery cucumber carrots ect.
. No plastic they will choke.
. they will need a house to hide in
. They will appriciate a run outside to graze in (like rabbits)

Rats-

. They need a big cage with lots of toys to keep them amused.
. They love human attention.
. they give kisses.
. They eat fresh food at rat mix
. They can be litter trained and will only go inside there cage.
. they would love tunnels, obstacle coarses and much more.
. Rats do not smell much at all and clean themselves alot.
. Females can be kept in pairs. Males must be kept on their own.

Hope you find the pet you want!!!

Answer 10

I would say a guine pig, they are less expensive and really nice
I use to have2.. and they would never bite and always let you hold them
Chinchillas are rude and expensive we were gonna buy one until we went to the pet store and it bit the workers hand!! plus they cost so much more to take care of and my friend has one that bites all the time
I wouoold say a guine pig good luck =]

Answer 11

GUinea pigs.