HELP! GUENIA PIG HELP! plz!?

Question

I might get a Guenia Pig. I have owned one before, but that was when I was little, and the Guinea Pig was evil. It also squeaked every minute of its life. Here are my questions:
1. If I got a Guinea Pig, would it squeak all the live long day?
2. Would a 20 gallon aquarium be big enough for 1 guinea pig?
3. How much are Guinea Pigs from a shelter or from Petco?
4. Names requested.
Thans for all of your help! I know all about the care and stuff.

I love guinea pigs, just haven't had them in awhile.

20 gallons I think is plenty of room, because I would play with it every day.

Answer 1

First, you have to be prepared to give LOTS of attention. The other guinea pig squeaked (probably WHEEKED) because it was begging you for attention...

Aquariums are the worst place to put a guinea pig. They do not have enough ventilation, even without a top. The bare minimum requirement of cage size for guinea pigs is 7.5 sq. feet for one, or 10.5 sq. feet for two. I would reccommend buying two same sex pigs so they can entertain each other. Go to cavyspirit.com for more cage information.

I would also reccommend that you rescue pigs in need of homes. If you cannot find a rescue or shelter in your area, check the petstores as a last resort. They usually run around $20-$30. They are definitely not throw-away pets though. You can't just buy a guinea pig and let it rot in the cage. It requires daily attention, fresh fruits and veggies every day, pellets formulated for guinea pigs, as they cannot manufacture Vit. C themselves, and all the Timothy hay they can eat. This aids both in digestion, and to help wear down teeth that grow constantly and forever.

Answer 2

1. Squeaking is what guinea pigs do. One of my girls squeaks like there is no tomorrow, until she has some food. And then my other girl hardly ever squeaks. Guinea pigs are not evil, they are one of the most placid animals I have ever met, most of the time just sitting there. They hardly ever bite and do not smell so I do not see how yours could have been evil.

2. An aquarium is for fish, turtles and any other water animal, it does not matter how big it is, an aquarium is not for guinea pigs. They easily over heat and the airflow is restricted meaning that the smell is often noticed more. Do not buy a cage from a pet store either, these are wayy to small, a cage with a wire bottom is not appropriate either. Instead try a C&C cage, they are easy to build, modify and clean. This site has all the information you need:
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

1 guinea pig needs a cage of about 7.5sq ft, guinea pigs are herd animals by nature thus why they do better in pairs. Please consider getting 2, in which case you will need a cage of 10.5sq ft.

3. Guinea pigs from Petco or any pet store are often sick with URIs and parasites riddling their tiny bodies. My local pet store sells them for $20. I do not have a shelter near buy but expect that they would cost anywhere from $5 to $15.

4. Not sure what you mean by names requested. I named my girls Lily and Buttercup.

Answer 3

The fact that you say your guinea pig was evil and it squeeked all the time worries me. Guinea pigs are the most docile animals when they are taken care of properly and healthy. Squeeking is what they do. It is how they communicate. You want a silent pet, get a fish.

1. No size aquarium will be appropriate for a guinea pig. Aquarium are for water living pets, notice the word aqua in the word. You would need a cage that is at least 7.5 square feet for one pig. 30" x 36" Aquariums do not provide adequate ventilation. They are airtight b.c they are intended for water. Even w/ no top, it's not good enough.

2. Petco or any other store will cost you about $30 plus a load of vet bills b/c they sell sick animals. A shelter adoption fee can run from about 10- 30 dollars and you will get a healthy pig. However, they will not adopt to a home without an appropriate cage.

http://guinealynx.info

Answer 4

1.If you want a small animal but don't like the vocalizations, think about a hamster or a couple of rats. We find our guinea pig's squeaks quite charming but not everyone might share this opinion.
2.I wouldn't keep any mammal in a glass enclosure, even though they do it @ some pet shops. There's not enough ventilation & 20 gallons seems small even if he's out a lot. Also, it's better for your pig to have a friend (our biggest mistake, which we're gonna resolve as soon as we find ours a buddy) & if you get 2 20 gallons is *really* small.
3. Adoption prices vary. We got ours from a rescue & actually paid a few $ more than pet store prices but we always try to adopt from rescues.
4. You'll probably find it more rewarding if you wait & let your new friend reveal his or her name. Color, personality etc. will give you lots of ideas ;-)

Answer 5

1. Guinea pigs are squeakers! If you don't like the noise, don't get one.
2. Just because a person can live in a jail cell, doesn't mean it is a good quality of life. Same with a guinea pig--he might survive for awile in a 20 gallon tank, but he'll get sick and be miserable, no matter how much you take him out.
3. Rescuing a shelter pig is a good idea, though you won't know how old it is. They live on average 5-7 years with excellent care.
4. Whatever his personality is!

Answer 6

Guinea Pigs are social animals. Unlike Hamsters they prefer not to be alone, and enjoy the company of other Guinea Pigs. This, of course, could lead to more Guinea Pigs, so be sure of the sexes if you do not intend to breed. The good side is that they are not as prolific as Hamsters. Their litter can be as large as 6 pups (an average of 4), with an average gestation period of 65 to 72 days.
They are the most vocal of all small pets. Their favorite sound is an excited whistle coming from an open mouth and laid back ears. This means, "FEED ME!!" If you respond with the same sound it means that you plan to feed it, so plan accordingly before laying your ears back and opening your mouth.

Less excited whistles can mean your Guinea Pig is scared, and teeth clicking tell you it's nervous. You are being rewarded when it purrs but, watch out, deeper purrs accompanied by butt wiggling is a part of the mating game. Your reward for making it feel secure and loved is the sound of a bird, sort of a warbling. And, when your fur ball goes chut-chut-chut, it's looking to get into some kind of mischief (exploring).
I would agree if you dont want a noisy pet most guinea pigs squeak quite a bit. If you do however 20 gallon is enough if your giving him plenty of outside excercise and handling etc, but Id recomend more of one of those nice guinea pig habitats with lots of play room. Im not so sure what they cost usually Id guess between $20-40 max for just the guinea pig . I havent bought one in years! Good luck and make sure you choose the right pet for you. Maybe a ferret theyre quiter lol

Answer 7

Answer to question 1: It would probably not squeak ALL day but it would squeak. My friends have a guinea pig that squeaks all day. Nothing you can do about it.

Answer to question 2: Aquariums are not ideal for guinea pigs. A cage or a very shallow aquarium is fine, but yes, a 20 gallon aquarium can fit 1 guinea pig.

Answer to question 3: Get a guinea pig from a shelter. They are healthier and their genders aren't mixed up as much as they are at a petstore. Price range at a shelter is 6-10 dollars. Price range at a petstore is 20-40 dollars. (Please don't breed guinea pigs!!!)

Answer to question 4: Ringo, Wilbur, Skrinky, Cinnamon, Cedar, Woody, Winsly, Sunny, Mr.piggy, Daffodil, Butterscotch, Caramel, Blaze, Basil, Josho, Stinky, Colby, Einstein, Sugar, Spice, Salt, Pepper, Pepsi, Ritz, Oreo, Enchillada, Mango, Kiwi, Bob, Tim, Lazy and Mimsy.

Hope that helped! Good luck!

Answer 8

A twenty gallon aquarium isn't big enough for an adult rat let alone a guinea pig. The need about 7.5 to 10 square feet of room to adequately exercise in the enclosure.

Answer 9

not all guinea pigs squeak alot but all of them do squeak sometime
A 20 gallon aquarium would be wayyyyy too small. And plus they can't go in aquariums only hutches or cages. Probably 20 bucks at petco

Answer 10

1 Mine at first squeaked alot but once it got used to me it calmed down a bit. Sometimes it still has very loud moments though, especially when in a hectic environment
2 I have no idea what the floor dimensions of a 20 gallon are. The suggested area for guinea pigs is 7 square feet, but I think I have mine in about six square feet (2ft x 3ft) and he seems quite happy
3 No idea for this one, sorry
4 Mine is named George