Considering A Guinea Pig?

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Hi and welcome! My pigs seldom wheek at night, but they do run around sometimes and occasionally would have a squabble over the pigloo which could involve a couple of loud wheeks. I do not think they are anywhere near as loud as our hamster, who is a constant bar chewer/wheel runner. I also find that they don't smell as much as the hamster does, or else it's just a different odor that I find less 'rodent-like.' Hope this helps a bit!
 
flowerfairy said:
Oooo a herd of four. That answers a question I asked you on another thread lailajane.

I found the best hamster wheels are the silent runner (from exotic nutrition) and the karlie wooden wheel from zooplus (not sure if they do the syrian 28cm size any more though).

Hope your bonding goes well when the time comes!
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I'll have to look up the second wheel you mentioned. Aigis, my daughter's hamster, has a silent spinner already, and it is pretty silent... but I can still hear it! She also likes to gnaw the bars, which is honestly louder than the wheel anyhow! She's lucky she's so cute!
 
Not a silent spinner a silent runner. They are quite pricey but really really good.

Exotic nutrition do them.
 
KLY said:
Hi everyone, I'm just brand new to this forum and have some questions for you experienced guinea pig owners.
Firstly: I am a student nurse and I'm in my last year of study (thank goodness!). Ever since my hamsters died this year I have missed taking care of an animal and I have just started considering adopting a couple of guinea pigs. I've had friends in the past who have had piggies and I fell in love with them! I have done plenty research about them but jist wanted to know if my schedule could fit in with piggies? How long can piggies be left for a day? I'd have my mum around to feel them during the day.
Secondly: I have at least enough space in my room for a 2x3.5 grid c&c cage with a couple lofts? Is that enough? I have a really long hallway so would let them go wild there when I am home. Also I think I can only keep them in my room so was wondering if they are really noisy at night since I'm a light sleeper? The odd rattle of a water bottle wouldn't bother me but do they constantly wheek during the night? I know my hamsters were moved downstairs because Bree and Phoenix loved to bite their bars!
Lastly: do they smell as bad as hamsters? I remember Bree had a sand banh but she'd pee in it rather than bathe in it. I know to spot clean everyday and deep clean once a week.

Thanks
From a very big animal lover :)
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I'm a very light sleeper too so I wear earplugs as I have my boys in my room and any noise like eating keeps me awake lol.Theyre not always noisy though.I wear earplugs just as a precaution x
 
A little update:

Hurrah! Well I finally bit the bullet and rescued 2 3yr old female Absynnian piggies!

Meet Flora and Fauna (previously known as nibbles and ginger... can you tell sleeping beauty is my favourite Disney movie? ) Flora is the tortoise and Fauna is the wee ginger nut :)

I managed 4 days with them in my room (how I managed to wake up at 5am and work a 12.5 hr shift on little sleep I'll never know!) And I had to move them into my sisters old room. They are very skittish so a quiet room, but can always see what's happening was the best option for them to settle in and get accustomed to us.

Their fluffy fur and googly eyes made me fall in love with them!
To me I think they are hard work! I see myself sweeping their cage 4-5 times a day because I'm picky that way! And they do smell a bit but it's not overpowering! I love talking and petting them (Well Flora as Fauna is very skittish!).
I love when they wheek at my mum and I for their veggies! It's rather cute!

I am currently using fleece bedding as sawdust wasn't working and I think I have become allergic to it... I was ok with my hamsters sawdust...

I have one question.. What veggies can you feed everyday for them? Which leads on to what veggies can they have every other day! They seem to be very picky and only like to eat romaine lettuce and raw beetroot! They will eventually eat the other veggies I put in but I can't get the right balance. I would like to know what veggies are safe to feed everyday?

Anyway for the pictures!

20170205_201802.webp

20170217_113955.webp
 
KLY said:
A little update:

Hurrah! Well I finally bit the bullet and rescued 2 3yr old female Absynnian piggies!

Meet Flora and Fauna (previously known as nibbles and ginger... can you tell sleeping beauty is my favourite Disney movie? ) Flora is the tortoise and Fauna is the wee ginger nut :)

I managed 4 days with them in my room (how I managed to wake up at 5am and work a 12.5 hr shift on little sleep I'll never know!) And I had to move them into my sisters old room. They are very skittish so a quiet room, but can always see what's happening was the best option for them to settle in and get accustomed to us.

Their fluffy fur and googly eyes made me fall in love with them!
To me I think they are hard work! I see myself sweeping their cage 4-5 times a day because I'm picky that way! And they do smell a bit but it's not overpowering! I love talking and petting them (Well Flora as Fauna is very skittish!).
I love when they wheek at my mum and I for their veggies! It's rather cute!

I am currently using fleece bedding as sawdust wasn't working and I think I have become allergic to it... I was ok with my hamsters sawdust...

I have one question.. What veggies can you feed everyday for them? Which leads on to what veggies can they have every other day! They seem to be very picky and only like to eat romaine lettuce and raw beetroot! They will eventually eat the other veggies I put in but I can't get the right balance. I would like to know what veggies are safe to feed everyday?

Anyway for the pictures!

View attachment 59307

View attachment 59308
Click to expand...

Welcome! They are gorgeous girls!

Here is our detailed diet guide with a picture of a sample menu. the thread tells you in detail what you can feed how often. Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

Sow Behaviour
 
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Gorgeous girls :) Please note that if you are keeping them in bedrooms, make sure you do not spray perfume/deodorant/air fresheners etc in your room as these can be toxic to g. pigs :)
 
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Gorgeous piggies!

Bell peppers are very good for every day - red, yellow, green, orange, all are great sources of vit C.

Lettuce (all types except iceberg) are fine for every day.

I tend to give green beans once a day as well when I have them, and coriander is also good. And cucumber, especially when the weather is hot.

Tomatoes, carrots and fruits only once (or at most twice) a week.

Kale and spinach are high in calcium so only once or twice a month, although younger than six months they can have it more often as they need more calcium.

Most important is unlimited grass hay. The rest will come with time. Just keep offering the veg. Gradually they will get braver and try it.

A good guide to quantity is one cupful veg per pig per day.
 
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Aww they are gorgeous. If they are in your bedroom you must be careful that you don't step on them when you have been night clubbing. My daughter is a qualified nurse now, but I swear she spent 3 yrs intoxicated. Lol
Have fun with those guinea pigs they are so rewarding.
 
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Haha god no I would never do that I wouldn't step into their cage :)
Bisums were moved into another room because they kept me awake how I managed to get up at 5am for a 12.5 hr shift on little sleep!
 
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