are guinea pigs good pets?

[CathrynRose]

We had 2 Rats for a couple years - Mickey & Donald.

Danny so badly wanted a hamster and when I started researching Hamsters, I kept finding "rats are better" - and I think they were right.

They stayed in a cage, but we'd let them run around nightly - and they'd come when you called them. It was crazy. They reminded me of little cats. If you picked on up on your lap and started petting it, they'd fall asleep!! They were super cute. When you'd come home from work, they'd jump up and stick their noses through the cage and get allll excited.

Theyre also social animals, so when Mickey died, Donald wasnt as chipper. We played with him a lot more after wards, but it took a couple weeks for him to bounce back.

Theyre honestly great pets, truly. (and Im not one of those weird "I love rats, tarantula's and snakes" people... I never thought they'd be as "pet like" as they were.

http://www.ratz.co.uk/petrat.html

 

[famofsix]

Get him a new brother. They should bond quickly and his mood will greatly improve.

Oh my word, I did not read what you quoted first and I thought you were talking to us about getting a new brother That would indeed change my mood but not for the better I have enough kids here (I think getting a pet is crazy with all the kiddos) BUT a pet is a wonderful experience and my kids are at a good age for one.


CathrynRose, We looked at the rats and have heard good things about them as pets. I just don't like rats.Maybe I watched Lady and the Tramp too many times

 

[FireflyfromMI]

We've had guinea pigs for about five years now. I also have four kids and babysit. Guinea pigs are great pets for kids, but they must be supervised and don't plan on the kids doing all the work, obviously. The kids will grow tired of them after a while. Guinea pigs can live a long time, our oldest one is five now. They do need hay, as their teeth continuously grow and this will help keep them trimmed. That can be an issue if anyone has allergies in your home. They also need rather large cages. You can build one that's really cool, check out www.cavycages.com. Also, there are some really good message boards, www.guinealynx.com has alot of very knowlegable people on their boards.

I'm glad your taking the time to research, they live a long time so it's quite a responsibility.

Lisa

 

[mickeyfan2]

Oh my word, I did not read what you quoted first and I thought you were talking to us about getting a new brother That would indeed change my mood but not for the better I have enough kids here (I think getting a pet is crazy with all the kiddos) BUT a pet is a wonderful experience and my kids are at a good age for one.

DH might enjoy the trying to give him a new brother!!!!

 

[famofsix]

DH might enjoy the trying to give him a new brother!!!!

Dh is fixed...that's why were looking for a pet to love

 

[ilovejack02]

I LOVE Guinea Pigs, my mil raises them for a local pet store. SOOO SWEET and yes can be stinky if cage not cleaned, but i help her clean the cages about every 3 days and its not a problem, but that i think is because we stay on top of it.
Some of them get to know us and squell when they see us, its so cute.
You have to give them vitamin c in some form or they dont stay healthy. We give ours oranges and they get Vitamin C drops in their water bottles. Havent really had any problems with biters, but they get played with ALOT!