First Time Guinea Pig Owner

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gigi

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Hi, I'm thinking of getting a guinea pig soon. I'd like to find one which is preferably fluffy and grows large and also likes to sit around on my lap. I'm thinking of getting one in around 5 months so I'd like to get my self some information and stuff before hand so that I can look after it to the best of my abillity. If anyone could give me any information on mild/less hyper active guinea pigs and fluffier/bigger breed ones that would be great. Thank you. Too excited to have one. They are so cute
 
Hello, Welcome to the forum. It's a good place to look for information on Guinea pigs and find out more about them.

Guinea pigs are social animals and need company of their own kind so you need to get a pair to begin with. They are prey animals by nature, so often are very skittish when you first get them and you have to build up a bond with them to tame them and have them sitting on your lap. It is very rare to get a piggie who is completely tame to begin with however I would advise when you are ready contacting your nearest local recommended Guinea Pig Rescue https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/
Often rescues will have piggies available that are used to humans and are already tame so it is worth telling the rescue you are a first time owner and would like a piggie that is used to hooman interaction. Another advantage of rescue is the piggies are already bonded, pregnancy checked and are healthy so you have no worries from the off.

Here are a few links to some ticky threads you may find useful

Diet - https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/
Are piggies for me? -https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-are-guineas-pigs-for-me.36801/
Settling in Piggies - https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/

Welcome to the forum, any questions please ask. Could you also add your location to your profile as we have members from all over the world, this allows us to tailor any advice to your geographical location.
 
Hi and welcome!

Please consider getting two guinea pigs! They are group animals and not wired to be on their own.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-companionship.37654/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-sows-or-mixed-pairs-babies-or-adults.108944/

If you want mainly cuddly, large piggies, I would also strongly recommend that you look for adult ex-pet piggies from a good rescue; they usually have got piggies of various ages and breeds looking for homes.
Youngsters of all breeds are very active and usually have to learn slowly how to sit still. Guinea pigs have an average life expectancy of up to 7 years, so a hormonally settled two or three year old piggy has still got a good while to live!
Personalities are very individual; there is not really a "breed" personality. Any good rescue will match you up with suitable piggies, even if it means that you may have to look around a bit further or wait a bit considering that you have quite specific requirements! You can also be assured that they piggies you are rehoming are healthy, well bonded and not potentially pregnant.

It would help us if you added your country, state (US/Aus/Can) or general area (UK), so we can give you the approprate advice and recommendations straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details/location. We have got a recommended good rescues locator at the top for our UK members. There are good rescues in other countries, too, and I am in process of compiling a list of them, so you may be lucky to be within reach of one of them.
 
Aww thank you guys. I will most definitle consider adopting. I did really want a quite young though however as you have said that theyd be bigger and more mild i may consider it. Could you give me and details on different breeds and possible breeds on long haired one?
 
That's a peru or peruvian. Shelties have all straight long hair and coronets have a crest on top, but the rest of the body is straight. There are more longhair breeds that are originally descended from Rex piggies. Then there are crosses of all kinds... All longhair piggies require very regular grooming (which most are not all that keen on). I have grown up with a succession of perus and I have currently three as well as one coronet.

If I were you, I'd not get fixated on a specific longhair breed, gender or age - it very much depends on what is available in rescue at the time, but generally with the steadily growing flood of unwanted piggies there is a very good chance that you'll find piggies of your liking!

Your closest high standard rescue that we can guarantee for conducting quarantine, pregnancy watch and careful, character compatibility respecting matching is Wheek&Squeak by Southampton. You will be in safe hands there! Wheek&Squeak generally require the same recommendations in terms of housing that we promote on the forum, but it would be good to contact them before you get any cage or hutch to make sure that it will pass muster.
http://wheekandsqueak.webs.com/
 
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