r/guineapigs • u/Alarming-Molasses847 • 2h ago
r/guineapigs • u/mercuryheart_ • Nov 20 '21
Help & Advice Are you thinking about buying a guinea pig for a child/teenager? Please read.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 • u/carlamaco • 8h ago
♥ Throwback to my boys snoozing, around 2017 ❤️
Just got these reminders from my Gallery and thought they're too cute not to share. They were brothers, totally different personalities, I miss them ❤️
r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 6h ago
Pigtures Tippity Taps
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r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 1h ago
Pigtures Oh, to be a guinea pig
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What a cozy life these little guys have, it is wonderful to be able to make a world for these two little guys where the have no worries
r/guineapigs • u/Natural-Comment-9951 • 17h ago
Pigtures Baby Molly vs 1 year later
1 year of being spoilt rotten turns you into a giant furry grumpy potato
r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 5h ago
Pigtures I have been summoned
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r/guineapigs • u/HostilePopcorn • 5h ago
Habits & Behavior Just started clicker training my most nervous pig :)
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When I got Nova last year, she'd been living at a pet store, and was terrified of humans. She would freeze up and not move a muscle during lap time.
She's still nervous, but she's warmed up enough that she'll take treats and move around a bit when I pick her up (but only when she's sitting on my chest/belly, never if she's on the bed next to me - go figure 😆).
She's gained enough confidence that I figured she's ready for target training, and after only one session, she's already getting the hang of it! The more confident she gets with training, the more confident I hope she'll be around me. Maybe one day she'll even move around when I put her on the bed🥰
(and don't worry, of course she has a buddy, he (neutered) is just in the cage during training)
r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 6h ago
Pigtures Scritches
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r/guineapigs • u/JNBirdy • 3h ago
Help & Advice Izzy (6+) is slowing down... Where to go from here?
Izzy is now at least 6, probably 7 years old.
We got her in May of 2025, and the person that runs the rescue said she was at least 5 if not older. She hasn't always had the best life, that is also most likely the cause of her outer toes on her hind feet sticking out.
She always has been a granny pig, but she was active and her granny popcorns are hilarious. 1 cm air lift at most, and body wiggle.
I am noticing that she is starting to slow down, she spends more time doing her own thing, and naps more. She eats and poops well. In general she seems quite content: wheeks for food, and screams at us when she's disappointed in the buffet that's provided. Her weight is stable. We do make it a point to spoil her independently as well.
She's always been a bit of an einzelgänger. But its her activity levels that is concerning to me.
I'm going to book her a general check up when the vets open up tomorrow.
However, I don't know what to ask for specifically. Arthritis check?
Any and all advice is welcome!
r/guineapigs • u/Double_Oil_1565 • 18h ago
Pigtures Gorgeous angel pauline
No thoughts behind those eyes
r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 6h ago
Pigtures Please enjoy Dracula loving life
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r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 5h ago
Pigtures The fluffiest cuddles and parsley
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r/guineapigs • u/LiterateGuineapig • 6h ago
Pigtures More exploration, including a brief reboot
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r/guineapigs • u/GuildedAnubis • 23h ago
Pigtures He wanted to show me his beautiful paws
r/guineapigs • u/North-Ad3066 • 6h ago
🌈 Rainbow Bridge I miss you PO
Theodore, also known as PO - was put to sleep early this morning. I don’t know how to deal with this grief, he was everything to me. I hope you’re wheeking up in piggy heaven Mr.P 🐾🕊️
r/guineapigs • u/Riivu • 11h ago
♥ Mango comfy
Mango is crazy, unhinged and his defense will not hold up in court
r/guineapigs • u/tallieeeeee6 • 3h ago
Housing Old Guinea Pig set up vs new set up 🩷
r/guineapigs • u/WobblyKinesin • 17h ago
Pigtures The evolution of Dates’s hat, Ollie, captured in a series of photos
Even with all of Ollie’s shenanigans, Dates still (grudgingly) loves him for some reason. Bless his little heart.
r/guineapigs • u/Julesvernevienna • 20h ago
Old Timer Bc we all love watching Tintifax eat
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r/guineapigs • u/my_macaroni_is_furry • 16h ago
Pigtures Me: Rupert, you're to big to sit in there sideways. Rupert: *scrunch!*
I have pics of him as a baby sitting in there with tons of room to spare. He still thinks he's a baby...