File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey /an/
I'm thinking of buying a guinea pig or chinchilla.
What are your opinions on them; which I should get, what should I feed it, etc.
I'm sure I can accommodate either one pretty well.. Apartment that allows them, with my girlfriend, who might affect my choice overall.. since she wants the chinchilla.
I'm just on the fence here. :(
>> Anonymous
I'll check in later on this thread, if it doesn't die
Work time
>> Anonymous
Get 4 dwarf hamsters instead.
>> Anonymous
If you are getting guinea pigs, get two, they do way better with company.

Here is a website about suitable cages for them
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

I'm not entirely sure what you need to feed them but I think it is somewhere along the lines are good quality pellets, lots of hay and lots of fruit and veg.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>331099

I love my guinea piggies! Highly recommend you get 2 though, so they can keep eachother company while you're gone. They eat grass outside (lawnmowers yay!), carrots, apples, little slices of orange, lettuce, any green vegetable.
>> Anonymous
Get a chinchilla! I have one and it is so cute and soft.

One thing to think about is chinchillas need a rather tall cage where as guinea pigs need a really long one. Also Chinchillas live a long time unlike most rodents, around 15 years, so they are a long term commitment.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/
>> sage
     File :-(, x)
Depends. I have a chinchilla and he's the best pet I ever had. Chins don't have a smell like ferrets or guineas, they pee only in their cage, are smart as two-year-old kids, and have the softest fur in the world. They sleep during the day and are most active at night, making them good pets for people who are out of the house most of the day. Downsides: they constantly chew anything they can get in their mouths, plus need at least two hours out of the cage per day to exercise (which means you have to chin-proof any room you let them run around in), poo constantly (but the poos are dry, small, and odorless, a Dustbuster picks them up easily) and need a much larger cage than other small animals (think 3'x'3x3' minimum, though chin websites will tell you to get one taller so they can jump around more). Chins today are pretty easy to feed, just make sure they have constant fresh water, timothy hay, and the proper pellets, such as Oxbow, Mazuri, or American Pet Diner. Above all avoid giving fresh fruits or vegetables, as this can cause fatal diarrhea, and stay away from feeds like Charlie Chinchilla which are full of unhealthy items like corn, peanuts, and raisins.

Chins have very distinct personalities to go along with their intelligence. Some are just little cuddlebugs, and some are standoffish. The best way to tame a chinchilla is to get a young one, no younger than 6 months old, to socialize it with humans. My Neville will jump on my lap when I tell him, "Treat! Treat!" but he does not like to be picked up at all. And most importantly, make sure you have a vet nearby who specializes in exotics, preferably one who has had a lot of dealings with chinchillas.

The best forum to get information on chins, guineas, hedgehogs, and other small animals is www.chins-n-quills.com
>> Anonymous
Did you consider rats, OP?
>> Anonymous
I've had guinea pigs in the past.. can't say i found them very rewarding pets. They never liked being pet or taken out of the cage. They shat everywhere, and we'd have to trim their claws on a monthy basis.
Chinchillas are much more rewarding and inteligent animals.
Also, rats. My boyfriend has two rats and they're the most amazing creatures. Only had them two weeks and you can already see the results of his training.
>> Anonymous
I use to want a chinchilla until realized that all rodents like to bite humans and chew on computer wires

notnx, I'll stick to kittens and puppies
>> Anonymous
Ah, I forgot about this.

>>331107
Yeah, I was reading up about that.. need a lot of social interaction. I'm sure if we choose a guinea pig, we can get two to satiate that part.
>>331387
No I didn't, should I? The closest thing to any of these animals I've had was a couple hamster who lived to be five years old. R.I.P Sergeant Rape and Gary Coleman :(
A couple rats would be nice as well.
>>331368
Oh, wow.
Thank you for all that info... we also wanted a hedgehog but they are illegal in california :/ Stupid laws..

Not sure she would like the rat idea as much as I do, but they seem like great companions.
>> Anonymous
>>331411
Rats are fantastic; they're intelligent and extremely rewarding pets as far as small animals go. Like little dogs, almost. They're so sweet and loving once they get to know you, too. When I've got my girls on my bed while I'm reading they'll come up to me and lick my face and cuddle against my neck when they get tired of burrowing into the blankets. And they are content to sit on your shoulder and nuzzle you while you're doing shit on the computer or watching TV. The only downside to rats is that they're extremely vulnerable to respiratory illnesses, but as long as you keep their cage clean and take proper care of them, the chances of them getting sick are considerably lessened.

Long story short, if you get a pair of rats you will not regret it.
>> Anonymous
a properly socialized hedgehog
>> Enornymous !!ofcDCsR+KCe
>>331411
Hedgies are illegal here in PA, too. Something about pets possibly escaping, breeding like crazy, and wrecking the shit out of the local ecosystem. You can't even transport them across Pennsylvania from adjacent states, and the game commission hunts down breeders with all the zeal of DEA agents busting meth labs.
>> cichlid !!WhOQyKVA829
Haha! Shit, really?
I used to live in PA, and we had two guinea pigs...
>> Anonymous
>>331422
no you will not regret having rats, i never had

but you will cry like a bitch when they die, they have a very short life span compared to the other types of rodents you are considering 3-4 years on average

ask yourself if your ready for that
>> Anonymous
>>331853
do rats smell / eat wires / poop & pee everywhere?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>331856
Rats poop like crazy when they're nervous, but once they get settled in they will never shit on you. Rats do mark their territory by dribbling urine every so often, but I've found it's the males where it's really intense. My girls almost never pee on me; I think they've done it only twice in the entire time I've had them. The fluid itself is odorless.

Rats themselves don't smell at all, or at least the females don't. I've heard males have distinct odors. My girls smell like clean bedding.

As for the wire chewing, rats aren't as insane about chewing stuff up as other rodents, but you should definitely keep them away from wires anyway. Putting cardboard and chew toys in their cage should satiate their desire to gnaw.
>> Anonymous
>>331916
so they cant live like a bunny or a cat or a dog and just chill with u w/o getting into trouble?
>> Anonymous
>>331921
Females are a lot more hyper than males, so they'd rather climb all over you and burrow into your shirt. I can watch TV or read a book on the couch or bed and my girls behave, but they don't sit and cuddle unless they get tired. Males are a lot calmer and lazier and are more apt to sit with you and snuggle.