Cavy Helper
Your go-to guide to guinea pig help.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
First Getting Your Guinea Pig
Welcome to the first part of our guide for guinea pigs! So, you've decided you want a guinea pig, and you're doing a bit of research. First, let me state clearly:
If you think owning a guinea pig is gonna be easy and cheap, think again.
Please, before you actually get the guinea pig, realize that they are not the pocket pets you may think. The monthly cost of Aela is around: 20-30 dollars for bedding, 15 dollars for food, 15 dollars for hay, occasional treats and toys vary costs.
Before you get your guinea pig, find out how you're gonna get your guinea pig. I would recommend getting a rescue guinea pig. Pet stores treat their small pets and reptiles cruelly, but i won't get into that. Another alternative that is easy is going on Craigslist and seeing if anybody is adopting out baby guinea pigs or even adults.
Usually i would recommend two guinea pigs of the same gender, because they are herd animals and can get very depressed if they live by themselves.
To start, you need a cage. If you're starting off on a budget, an indoor rabbit cage with the right measurements should do. I would recommend making a C and C cage (cubes and chloroplast) to the size of how many guinea pigs you have, according to this chart:
If you follow this chart, you should be able to provide the space your guinea pigs need to live a healthy life, since they get obese quicker than other rodents.
Next step is to have a place for "floor time" with your piggies. Usually a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room will do. You'll wanna go around that room and look for any places your guinea pig could fit through, chew on, or generally hurt themselves in. I like to call this "Pig Proofing".
Next, find a place for the cage. If you have dogs or cats, i would recommend either 1.) Putting in a room where your larger pets won't get to unattended or 2.) Make a cover for your C and C cage.
Aela's cage is on the floor of my bedroom, and my dogs are only allowed in when i am in there. Here is her ever so messy cage, with her sitting on the inside: (i just cleaned her cage, and she makes it her mission to spread bedding everywhere, oh and the pink bedding is actually just stained from strawberries :P)
Now,you're pretty much ready to be one step closer to bringing your guinea pig home! Go ahead and go through ALL of our guides, to make sure you know you're doing everything right before you take your cavy home. If some of it seems like too much work, or it seems like you can't afford some items, please reconsider actually getting a cavy. They need just as much love as dogs and cats, and while they may be easier to care for in some cases, they can require quite a bit of time and love.
Next, check out taking your guinea pig home for the first time!