can anybody tell me the pros and cons of a guinea pig? i need more than one each please.....?

Question

are they smelly? do they keep you up? should i have more than one? .....i need details please

Answer 1

I answered a question like this a while ago, here's the info I gave them.

"The advantages:
They are cute, they have personality, they're relatively easy to take care of, they don't usually bite (the occasional pig will be a biter, but it's very unusual)

The disadvantages:
They do require more work than most people realize, they have pretty demanding diets, they are prone to some illnesses, especially if not taken care of properly, and it's very hard to find a vet who really knows how to take care of them, you have to monitor they're weight weekly to make sure they aren't getting sick, you have to make sure they have a sufficient amount of vitamin C in their diet, and they require constant timothy hay (which is only a problem if you have hay allergies), and you do have to spot clean their cage daily and do a full clean once a week.

All that said, I love my guinea pigs and wouldn't trade them for anything. It's great fun to see them jumping and running all over the cage when they're happy.
I will say, if you get a guinea pig check your local area for a guinea pig rescue. A good place to look is petfinder.com. Pet store guinea pigs are often missexed, sick, or pregnant, and there are so many healthy pigs out there that need a home. Another thing to check on before you get a guinea pig is a cage. Pet store cages are also way to small, and it's way cheaper to make your own cage using the specifications on www.guineapigcages.com. I made a cage that is 2' 4" by 4' 8" for less than $40, after having spent $60 on one less than half the size in a petstore. Also check out the website guinealynx.com. It has all the information you need to see about guinea pig care and health."

Just to add a little bit, they shouldn't smell if you keep their cage cleaned, but you do have to clean their cage quite often, depending on the bedding used (I use fleece and have to do a complete cage clean at least twice a week with a spot clean everyday).

You should always keep them in a pair, guinea's are much happier with a friend, and make sure it's a same sex pair, unless one is fixed. Pregnancy is very hard on a guinea pig and they procreate very quickly. Also, in my opinion, females are easier to take care of than males, but that's just an opinion.

I'm in a bit of a hurry now, but if you have any other questions please e-mail me! I've had my girls for about 2 months now and have done extensive research on their care, and will be glad to help if you have any other specific questions.

Answer 2

Pros:
-They chat with each other, but are quiet enough to sleep through. Unless, of course, something major happens and they scream, but that can happen with pretty much any pet.
-No smells associated if the cage is kept clean.
-Guinea pigs will occassionally "nip" with their lips (or lightly tapping their teeth), but they don't bite unless you're causing them a lot of pain.
-Though not immediately social with humans, they warm up and become affectionate over time.

Cons:
-Getting just one pig doesn't work. They are social creatures and gather in small herds by nature. They are healthier and happier having a companion. This is so important that scientific ethics requires keeping them in a small herd unless the constraints of the experiment require separation (Sutherland and Festing, 1987, "Social and Behavioral Requirements of Experimental Animals").
-If you have pigs of the opposite sex, they will mate and produce babies. The female goes into heat every 2 weeks, has a horned uterus that can carry 2 litters at once (which is usually fatal), and goes into heat about 2-3 hours after giving birth. The cycle of pregnancy-birth can wear the female to exhaustion.
-Highly prone to mites and respiratory infections. Diabetes is also more common in guinea pigs than in most pets.
-Require a lot of time and maintenance to keep them healthy and happy. This includes a weekly cage cleaning.
-Require a stable source of vitamin C (and you can't use water drops like people think; Vitamin C is a water-soluble compound)
-Require space. A cage that will fit in your car is not going to be a suitable, long-term environment. Look at ~8-10 sq. feet per pig. And that doesn't include floor time to run around. You can't replace room to run around with a wheel or ball because their backs aren't like a rat, mouse, or gerbil; they don't naturally curve the right way, and it can cause back problems later on down the line.
-Lots of food. And a variety of it. You're looking at unlimited hay, plus fresh vegetables twice a day. If you supplement with a high-quality pellet (a good idea), that's an additional cost.
-Easily terrified, often needs to hide (and having hidey-houses and/or tunnels of some sort are a mandatory expense). This can be triggered by anything, and can make trying to catch them to hold them a bit of a chore.
-Guinea pigs can live as long as 8 years. Are you going to make a commitment to have a pet for that long?

Overall, they can be wonderful pets, but you have to put time and effort into keeping them healthy. If you have doubts that you're going to be willing and able to do so, get a different pet.

Answer 3

guinea pigs require alot of care. a cage cleaning once a week. vitamin c drops. and yes they do smell. but if you keep the cage clean and give it a bath regularly this shouldnt be a huge problem. they also squeak. i would only get one to start with. they might keep you up in the beginning but once you get used to the little sounds they make it should be no problem. they also need a place inside their cage to hide like a plastic or wood igloo.

Answer 4

PROS= they are kind; they don't bite; they are cute; they just sit and eat grass; they are sweet.
CONS= they poop like its on olympic sport; they shed; they get to be about the size of a medium rabbit.

GUINEA pigs are really sweet animals, i would reccomend them as a great pet.
THEY are social animals, so getting 2 might be a wise choice.
I HAVE 2 guinea pigs myself, and they are awesome, i love them alot. :D:D :):)
(another thing is that they "whistle", thats their call. If they are thirsty they will "whislte" to let u know. and they drink a lot too. )

Answer 5

i used to have a guinnea pig a few years ago. they are really good pets because they usually keep quiet, but they also need alot of baths nails cut and cages cleaned alot.