r/guineapigs Nov 20 '21

Help & Advice Are you thinking about buying a guinea pig for a child/teenager? Please read.

2.4k Upvotes

If you're planning on buying a guinea pig for a child in your life, these are really important things to keep in mind. Knowing this before purchasing can save yourself from being in a financial situation you can't handle, or a guinea pig that is not getting the care it needs.

  1. Guinea pigs are a life style choice, and not for a child to care for. Care taking for animals isn't a responsibility that should be left for a kid. When you buy a guinea pig, you are taking on all responsibility for yourself and facilitating the experience of living with a guinea pig for your child. They may help care for them, but you will be the one to keep things clean, enrich their lives, and handle them the most.

  2. They poo 100 times per day, meaning that you must clean those 100 poos every day to keep their habitat sanitary. If you wouldn't want to walk around in feces, neither do they. In fact they are extremely hygienic animals with fast metabolisms. I spot clean in the morning and at night, every day.

  3. They are expensive. When you buy a child a guinea pig, you must be vigilant on checking for health issues by weighing them weekly and checking for other signs of illness, have an exotic vet near you and be prepared to shell out hundreds in a time of need. You must also buy fresh vegetables, and give them unlimited FRESH hay every day. Finding somewhere local to buy bales of hay can save a fortune. A child cannot afford the costs.

  4. You need 2 guinea pigs. They are herd animals and shouldn't be kept alone. Imagine living with titan like predatory aliens, all alone in a cage your entire life. Guinea pigs NEED their own kind. We are predators and they are prey. We can and should spend time with them daily, but it isn't a substitute. So x 2 all costs right out of the gate.

  5. Space. They need space, a lot of it. A minimum of 11 square feet for two guinea pigs. Pet store Cages are just that... Cages. If you wouldn't want to live in a space the size of a small bathroom your entire life, neither does a guinea pig.

  6. You need to do research. It will be your responsibility to make sure your child's guinea pigs are eating the right diet, what signs of health issues to look out for, how to enrich their lives on a daily basis, and more. Pigs need stimulation and interesting environmental changes to keep them happy. You will need to get creative and teach your children how to offer that to them, after you have learned it yourself.

  7. GUINEA PIGS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE. They are smarter than you think, and with the proper diet can live 7 years. They are not less work than having a dog. They require a huge time investment for those years. They are dependent on you in the same way your child is.

  8. DO NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE. Scotty's Animals does a fantastic jjob explaining the impact you can have by adopting from a rescue. Adopting saves guinea pigs from euthanization. Covid pets are being abandoned and left to ultimately die unless we start adopting instead of shopping.

I love my guinea pigs and they have done so much for me and my children. My kids have benefited so much mental health wise, and I bust my ass for both the kids and the piggies. I do just as much laundry for guinea pigs as I do my kids it feels like. Just know what you're getting yourself into. They aren't toys, they aren't entertainment only. They're living, breathing beings that deserve love, dignity, respect and proper life enrichment and care.


r/guineapigs 7h ago

Pigtures Buddleia ball

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1.1k Upvotes

r/guineapigs 4h ago

Rate the 🍞

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r/guineapigs 9h ago

Pigtures Spending $20 at the Laundromat every week so he can poop on the floor

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r/guineapigs 7h ago

Pigtures I love my boys

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r/guineapigs 4h ago

cannot BELIEVE they were 500g in February 😭

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happy 10 month birthday to matcha and mochi!!


r/guineapigs 7h ago

Pigtures Waiting patiently in line for the water bottle (even though there’s two 😂)

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191 Upvotes

Every time I refill their bottles Button and Sebbie seem to decide one is better than the other. It isn’t always this one, either. But at least this time they’re being patient and waiting in line 🥺 (also ignore the treat ball they’ve pushed into their water dish for the hundredth time to make pea flake soup 😂)


r/guineapigs 6h ago

Pigtures Gwen Appreciation Post

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124 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 5h ago

Pigtures My rotund beast

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r/guineapigs 2h ago

Pigtures Evolution of orange fuzz c.2026

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r/guineapigs 4h ago

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Crossed rainbow bridge

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73 Upvotes

At 7 years old


r/guineapigs 2h ago

Habits & Behavior guinea pig wont stop licking me

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46 Upvotes

any idea why he does this? im not complaining, just curious if theres a behavioral reason behind it. does he love me? does he just love the salt on my skin?

hes 3 years old, ive had him for about 2 months now, previous owner tells me hes always done this. I've never experienced this with any of my previous 3 pigs or his roommate.

(his name is Smores)


r/guineapigs 11h ago

Pigtures He always so moody

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207 Upvotes

I wasnt getting out of bed fast enough to feed his majesty, he also just teeth chatters alot, at me


r/guineapigs 3h ago

Charcuterie board for guinea pigs

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41 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 11h ago

Pigtures She tried to escape through my legs, then peed on me

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142 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 5h ago

New Pigs on the Block New baby!

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44 Upvotes

Ive had this girl for a couple days now and cant think of a name! Any ideas?


r/guineapigs 2h ago

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Recently crossed rainbow bridge

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25 Upvotes

7 year old baby passed recently her name was Cinnomon I miss her sm


r/guineapigs 5h ago

Pigtures Shrimp!

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38 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 12h ago

Pigtures The size difference is un real😭 between my girls and male

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138 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 1d ago

Pigtures Theodore wants everyone here to know he’s being starved.

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1.2k Upvotes

r/guineapigs 14h ago

squiggles gossip

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150 Upvotes

thank you so much to everyone sending their piggies to gossip about squiggles! i love their funny little expressions

tried to fit every guinea because every guinea deserve a chance to gossip

rest in paradise to all the soul piggies

[credit to every guinea](https://www.reddit.com/r/guineapigs/s/YhduY4IaYYw)


r/guineapigs 1d ago

Pigtures As a reward for beating ringworm they got to try watermelon for the first time!

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1.9k Upvotes

The results were mixed...


r/guineapigs 16h ago

Pigtures There are no thoughts in Honey's lil head

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125 Upvotes

But there is a lot of food in her belly


r/guineapigs 13h ago

Help & Advice Emotional About Older Pigs

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73 Upvotes

My boy Pippin is 6, nearly 7. Anyone have advice just dealing with your own emotions about your older pigs?

Theres been a few times the past few months where I really think he's going to die. He's already had kidney stone surgery before and then he's dealing with a little arthritis now. I have critical care and medication (even if hes stubborn about it lol) but man. I feel stupid being a 24 year old adult crying over a guinea pig but he has nights like tonight where he'll lay with me for a long time or snuggle into my elbow and I just let him as I sleep or until he signals otherwise.

Tonight he kept making sounds of discomfort pooping and then I snuggled with him until he signalled to go pee back in his cage and he stopped making hurt noises. Its 6AM and I'm crying since I feel like he's being strong for me.

That and feeling bad for his cage mate, who's not the brightest pig but and keeps trying to socialize with him still best he can on rough nights.

I know there's nights like today and then he bounces back. And I feel like tonight will be one of those but it's so scary knowing it could not be when a small creature is trying their best for you.

Just wanted to write it somewhere people might get it, thank you.


r/guineapigs 55m ago

Help & Advice Driving 2+ hours with a guinea pig

Upvotes

I’m adopting a guinea pig from a rescue located 2 and a half hours away from my house tomorrow, I’ve never travelled that far with a pig and I was wondering is there any precautions I should take?

I’m planning on taking a plastic box (around 80x30cm) with a bath mat on the bottom and a large comfortable hide. I have hay and water packed too. Is there anything else that I should bring or do yous think he will be okay?

EDIT

Thank you for all the advice! I’m gonna buy cucumber tomorrow just before I leave and I’ve ensured I can secure the box in my car! I will update with pictures of the pig tomorrow :)