Guinea pig cost?

Question

I'm thinking about buying my longtime boyfriend a guinea pig for his birthday (he's wanted one for years), and was wondering at the average cost of purchasing one, all of the equipment (I can make the cage myself), and the upkeep.

Also, what sex would be best? Does the sex affect their temperament any?

Answer 1

Working backwards here...
Get females they just get along better with everyone

Food
I pay $0.50 a pound and feed about 1/4 cup a day of generic Piggy specific pellets. Skip expensive mixed feeds Piggys don't eat seeds

Also as important as food is Timothy Hay about $5 for a 1 pound bag that lasts 2 weeks though it gets cheaper in bulk (best at $28 for 50 pounds if you got the space).

Fresh veggies are also a must figure 2-4 dollars for a bag of carrots or something a week, obviously you can just take them out into the lawn during the summer.

Special note Piggys will get bored of the same thing every day so a little variety is necessary.


Equipment

Watter bottle, not dish

Food dish, something they can neither tip over or sit in, and they will sit in it if they can.

Salt lick, NO NO NO Piggys get more than enough minerals in their diet.

Vitamin Drops, you are feeding them right anyway. RIGHT?

Small animal Shampoo, not really necessary unless you get a long hair piggy but nice to have.

Toys, don't bother. Piggys will romp for hours with a little origami "watter balloon" ball. Paper bags, cardboard boxes and old phone books are also great free toys.

Plastic "Hamster ball", those are too hard on Plggys backs and anyway they'll just sit and poop in them.

Plastic Potty / Litter tray. Believe it or not a Guinea pig CAN be litter trained if you want a house pig you should get a Litter tray with a high back and sides, maybe even a top if your piggy is shy.

Litter, cheap and non-aromatic if you can smell it through the bag, like pine or cedar, it'll probably give any animal problems not just piggys but other pets and even you even you. Also change the litter as often as you can. One of my dear little piggys got the nickname "the composter" for a reason.

Cage, about 2.5 square feet per pig is good. Any less and they can end up getting fat from lack of exercise. You say you can make one so I'm guessing that you are leaning towards Cubes and Coroplast for a cage. Just be sure that you keep the Coroplast on the outside of the bars, I made my cage with linoleum and it started out with walls 8 inches high and is now at about 2.

And finally the Piggy. You can Pay from 25 dollars on down at a pet store or you can just get one for free from someone who bought a girl piggy at a pet store where they don't separate the females from the males. A female guinea pig can get pregnant at about 6 hours old, take this as a tip and a warning.

Many people recommend getting your piggy from a "rescue" I can't really comment on that being out of the major urban areas I don't have much choice in that. What I can say is that I've seen enough baby piggys being dropped off at certain large chain pet stores that I don't feel comfortable buying from them any more, although those same large chain pet stores usually have a bulletin boards with dozens of notes offering pets with full kit because "it was more responsibility then we expected".

Piggys are a joy but keep anything you value away from their mouthes they can, and will, chew and devourer just about anything with little ill effect on themselves, one of my piggys once ate three Hershey kisses, flag foil and all, and subsequently passed three foil wrapped little poops, another time I was waiting for a call and discovered 2 feet of telephone cord missing.

Also if for some reason you feel the need to breed piggys on purpose, DON'T after 6 months old bones fuse in the pelvis that make it impossible to give birth properly, also the mortality in the mothers is very high even
experienced breeders expect to lose about one in five mothers.

Good Luck and I hope I didn't scare you away

Answer 2

In my area Petco guinea pigs cost $35. Then the cage can be about $60-70 depending on what size cage. Then you need to buy bedding which ranges from $10-15. Then estimate the food to be about $10. Dishes and water bottle might be included with the cage but if not estimate them to be $15-20 total. Those are just the necessities. Toys can cost more too.

Answer 3

Only if he really wants one, should you get him one. Surprise pets are probably the most neglected & dumped animals in shelters.

If you are sure he wants one, think about contacting your local animal shelter & adopting one that needs a second chance at happiness. Any sex is fine with a guinea pig. They are all fabulous!!

Answer 4

in my town like going to petsmart would be good. it costs about 5 to 7 dollars, the cages can run anywhere from 15 to 30 depending what kind you want,

Answer 5

guinea pigs at PetSmart are 29.99. they sell a really great starter kit that comes with cage, bedding, food, hay, water bottle, food dish, vitamin drops and mineral chew sticks for 45 dollars. i have it for my g pig and he is very happy.

Answer 6

Make SURE that he wants one and is prepared. It's not like a tv where if he ends up not liking it he can just return it. Your giving him another life another living thing that need to be cared for.

Answer 7

they are under $25.00 and are freindly little rascals. I love mine both sexes are good, just not together unless you want little ones

Answer 8

FANTASTIC ANSWERS!!!!!!! I LOVE IT WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING OR SEE FOOD...THEY GET ALL EXCITED AND MAKE THEIR LITTLE NOISE...LOL.....