I'm thinking of getting a guinea pig any tips

Handsome_Chris

I just want to say now that I am against guinea pig male genital mutilation, which is how I see it. It may be wrong to you cavy pro's out there, but this is how I feel on the subject. 

Are there any health benefits to this op?

mikeyrob73

we have just acquired 2, Piglet and Jelly, kids love them. they dont do much apart from squeak and shit. The Guinea Pigs are pretty cool though :-) 

Handsome_Chris

mikeyrob73 said:

we have just acquired 2, Piglet and Jelly, kids love them. they dont do much apart from squeak and shit. The Guinea Pigs are pretty cool though :-) 

And you complained about Kong: Skull Island being boring. Lol

mikeyrob73

yeah man, if they had made it with giant Guinea Pigs that would have been much better 

scrumhalf

mikeyrob73 said:

yeah man, if they had made it with giant Guinea Pigs that would have been much better 

Ever seen a capybara?

TheBlueWolf

Don't skimp on the seasoning....

Handsome_Chris

scrumhalf said:

mikeyrob73 said:

yeah man, if they had made it with giant Guinea Pigs that would have been much better 

Ever seen a capybara?

Ever seen the South Park episode Pandemic?

Handsome_Chris

I've just been to the local pet superstore and had a look at one .  I did not care for the way it looked at me.  I wanted to pull it's whiskers off

snakemanStoo

scrumhalf said:

mikeyrob73 said:

yeah man, if they had made it with giant Guinea Pigs that would have been much better 

Ever seen a capybara?

Rodents Of Unusual Size

Handsome_Chris

snakemanStoo said:

scrumhalf said:

mikeyrob73 said:

yeah man, if they had made it with giant Guinea Pigs that would have been much better 

Ever seen a capybara?

Rodents Of Unusual Size

Inconceivable!

snakemanStoo

Handsome_Chris said:

snakemanStoo said:

scrumhalf said:

mikeyrob73 said:

yeah man, if they had made it with giant Guinea Pigs that would have been much better 

Ever seen a capybara?

Rodents Of Unusual Size

Inconceivable!

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

holnrew

Whenever I had boars I kept them intact, they liked to rest the balls on my neck. It can make it tricky to pair them up that way, but if you go to a rescue they often have them already in pairs.

I wouldn't pair one with a rabbit, it's not ideal for either of them as their dietary needs are very different, but the guinea pig in particular can get bullied. 

Handsome_Chris

My local rescue expects you to get them decobbled, they also want access to the adoptees.

Is this standard?

Grunfeld

Handsome_Chris said:

My local rescue expects you to get them decobbled, they also want access to the adoptees.

Is this standard?

Yep, standard. 
Tbh they're not likely to make a visit but I've never had any problems with agreeing to it.  It shows good faith.
And I really agree with neutering.  (See if they can recommend a vet -- prices for neutering vary enormously which is crazy.)

The last three guineas I got from a rescue were cos someone thought she could make a few quid, bred 400 (which guinea pigs can do by tomorrow lunchtime), found she couldn't cope and suddenly 400 poor little sods need a home. 
So yes, neutering and agreeing to a check, pretty standard.

EDIT -- you asked it there are health benefits to neutering.  Not as far as I know BUT....
Most of my male guinea pigs have been neutered and apart from the immense feeling of fucking guilt that I feel as I take them along to the vet I haven't noticed any detriment either. 
Here's the thing:  the neutered guineas still want to shag the females when the females come in season.  Nothing stops them, not even having their balls cut off.
And the massive, massive practical and pragmatic benefit is that you can have male and female guinea pigs together and the guys don't fight as much or with as much ferocity, and the girls don't get pregnant. 
And guineas hit sexual maturity within WEEKS so it's not an issue to drag one's heels on.
Basically, although it makes me feel like shit to have to do it, it's just way more practical and after it's done EVERYONE'S happier.

Handsome_Chris

Grunfeld said:

And guineas hit sexual maturity within WEEKS ...

Shouldn't that be WHEEKS?

57Deluxe

you'll never get it to talk...

Handsome_Chris

57Deluxe said:

you'll never get it to talk...

Pardon!? 

Strat_a_tat_tat

57Deluxe said:

you'll never get it to talk...

Yeah... they're really well trained. Under interrogation, they'll only give you their name, rank and number.

Handsome_Chris

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

57Deluxe said:

you'll never get it to talk...

Yeah... they're really well trained. Under interrogation, they'll only give you their name, rank and number.

I did get the joke then. Lol

Handsome_Chris

Grunfeld said:

Handsome_Chris said:

My local rescue expects you to get them decobbled, they also want access to the adoptees.

Is this standard?

Yep, standard. 
Tbh they're not likely to make a visit but I've never had any problems with agreeing to it.  It shows good faith.
And I really agree with neutering.  (See if they can recommend a vet -- prices for neutering vary enormously which is crazy.)

The last three guineas I got from a rescue were cos someone thought she could make a few quid, bred 400 (which guinea pigs can do by tomorrow lunchtime), found she couldn't cope and suddenly 400 poor little sods need a home. 
So yes, neutering and agreeing to a check, pretty standard.

EDIT -- you asked it there are health benefits to neutering.  Not as far as I know BUT....
Most of my male guinea pigs have been neutered and apart from the immense feeling of fucking guilt that I feel as I take them along to the vet I haven't noticed any detriment either. 
Here's the thing:  the neutered guineas still want to shag the females when the females come in season.  Nothing stops them, not even having their balls cut off.
And the massive, massive practical and pragmatic benefit is that you can have male and female guinea pigs together and the guys don't fight as much or with as much ferocity, and the girls don't get pregnant. 
And guineas hit sexual maturity within WEEKS so it's not an issue to drag one's heels on.
Basically, although it makes me feel like shit to have to do it, it's just way more practical and after it's done EVERYONE'S happier.

@Grunfeld , at least if I get their cobblers pulled off then they won't be trying to shoot over each over.