Both hamsters and guinea pigs make cute, adorable, affectionate pets. The following guidelines will ensure that they live a happy and healthy life.
HAMSTERS
Housing
You may use an aquarium to house your hamster, but be sure it has a secure lid and adequate ventilation. Pet shops sell a large variety of specially made hamster cages. Choose the largest you can afford to give your pet plenty of room. Provide a hideaway for your hamster where it can go to make its nest and feel secure. Beware that hamsters are good at escaping and may even eat their way out of plastic containers.
Handling
Most hamsters will enjoy being handled gently, but avoid waking a hamster from deep sleep, as they tend to bite. Syrian hamsters are more docile than the Dwarf Chinese & Russian varieties. Regular handling from a young age will normally tame your hamster nicely. Always handle your hamster close to the ground to avoid falls.
Feeding
A well-balanced diet is ensures a healthy hamster. The major part of the diet is a dry hamster mix, available from most pet shops. This consists of a mixture of seeds, crushed oats, flaked maize, sunflower seed, locust beans, peanuts, etc., along with some hard biscuit. All of these are good for the hamster's ever-growing teeth and a small handful should be given each day.
Hamsters will not eat all of their food, but will make a food store, usually close to their bed. Feed greens and soft foods in moderation, otherwise uneaten food may go off. Hamsters store food in their cheek pouches, which are particularly delicate. Avoid sticky or sharp foods e.g. chocolate that will melt or cornflakes that will scratch.
Your hamster's diet can be supplemented with green food to keep it healthy, but this must be fed in moderation to avoid stomach upsets. The following fruit and vegetables can be given:
Apple
Banana
Melon
Pear
Grapes
Lettuce
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cucumber
Mushroom
Swede
Sweetcorn
Runner beans
Potatoes
Carrots
Parsnips
Celery
Sprouts
Peas
Beansprouts
Butter beans
Broad beans
There is also a variety of specialist hamster treats available.
As a very special treat, give your hamster a raisin or sultana, but not too often.
Fresh water should of course always be provided, on a daily basis.
Bedding & Cleaning
Use a good quality hamster bedding from your local pet shop, the soft type shredded bedding is best, with dust free woodshavings to cover the bottom of his cage. You may also find that your hamster will use an empty jam-jar as a toilet if provided. Clean out your hamsters bedding regularly and use disinfectant to clean the cage and accessories.
GUINEA PIGS
Housing
A guinea pig hutch should be large enough to accommodate a sleeping area, feeding area & toilet (guinea pigs will use a litter tray). A good size for a hutch for one or two guinea pigs would be approx. 120cm long x 50cm deep x 50cm high. There are many hutches of various shapes & sizes available from pet shops, some with split-levels and separate runs. The addition of tubes & pipes will help keep your pet fit running through them as well as providing extra hiding places.
Handling
Young guinea pigs should be picked up with one hand under their rear to support their weight the other hand over the back to steady. With adults, you will probably need both hands underneath, one under the rear and the other under the chest. Although they can be fast moving, once in your hands they will normally become calm and steady. Careful handling from a young age should ensure a nice tame pet.
Feeding
A good staple food mix guinea pigs is available from pet shops. However, you feed fresh raw fruit & vegetables, such as apples, melon, celery, cabbage carrots etc. In addition, you could go out and collect food for your guinea pig from the countryside such as Grass, Sow thistle, Cow parsley, Vetch, & Dandelion. Beware that some plants can be dangerous to your guinea pig, these include Bindweed, Ragwort, Sorrel & Dock leaves. Always provide fresh drinking water.
Cleaning
The addition of a litter tray makes cleaning out the hutch much easier. You may use a mild detergent or a commercially available hutch cleaner to clean the hutch contents.
Bedding
The bedding should be clean and dry. Straw is ideal for guinea pigs to sleep in, and you can get small packs of this from your pet shop. They also like hay to nibble on. You can use wood shavings to line the litter tray & bottom of the hutch. Prolong the life of the hutch by covering the bottom with "Fablon" or a similar stick-on vinyl.
Health
Guinea pigs are healthy creatures. Heat stroke can be a problem in the summer, so ensure they can shelter from direct sunlight and have fresh air circulating around their hutch. They may also suffer from very cold weather, so in winter their hutch should be in a sheltered position and covered at night. If you suspect your guinea pig is ill (he may be off his food) consult a vet as soon as possible. Slight wounds may be treated with salt water or mild disinfectant solution.
REMEMBER: A guinea pig is NOT a toy; it is a living, loving, breathing little animal, which will be completely dependent on you to keep it alive, and provide it with all the proper care it needs in terms of food, housing, love and care every day. It is also a financial commitment. You will need to carry out regular tasks such as cleaning, grooming, health checks etc. Do not "impulse buy." Think long and hard and discuss your new pet with all members of your family before you commit yourself for the next five years+
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29 July 2010
baby guinea pigs ready now also a couple older ones..
Baby guinea pigs ready now 6 week old weaned and handled from birth by adults and small child so they are tame £10 each or 2 for £18 boys and girls available. tel 07734994473 also 2 16 week old boys £5 each and a 8month old male £5 .
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19 July 2010
GUINEA PIGS FOR SALE..
Good homes wanted for 7 well handled and friendly guinea pigs. 3 male guinea pigs, 3 females and a 8 wk old male guinea pig. .
24 June 2010
Guinea pig babies..
Baby guinea pigs for sale, , rex and smooth coated, google bere-valley cavies for web-site, sows fifteen ponds each/boars ten-twelve pounds each. .
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GUINEA PIGS..
2 male rex guinea pigs for sale. well handled. ready to reserve now. thanks for looking. .
£15
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Female guinea pig for sale. well handled. ready now. thanks for looking. .
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14 May 2010
Small Pet Cage & Play Ball..
Cage bought from pets at home & no longer needed. suitable for hamsters and guinea pigs. sell for £25. transparent play ball about 30cm in diameter; £5. .
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FREE Information about Rotastak Hamster Cages..
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