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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21 July 2008
4 guinea pigs for sale, 2 males and 2 females, males are not related to the females, so can be used for breeding purposes, handled daily, used to children and other pets. 07779779687. .
£5
ST19
19 July 2008
Brand new critter trail cages for sale save up to 20% off rrp *critter trail one. 16" x 10. 5" x 11". (rrp £26. 49). save 12%. now £23. 31. *critter trail two. 16" x 10. 5" x 16". (rrp £41. 99). save 15. 5%. now £35. *critter trail thr. .
CV11
16 July 2008
I have two litters ready for re-homing, one is a pure rex litter, the other is a coronet / peruvian cross litter. in total i have three baby boars and three baby sows for sale (boys are 2xrex and 1xlong-hair, girls are 2xlong-hair and 1xrex). all are now eight weeks ol. .
£15
TN23
14 July 2008
Five week old guinea pigs for sale,both sexes available. rex,abbys,smooth coats. £10 each. contact alison for up to date info. 01277656749 .
CM11
13 July 2008
I am based in kent & have some rather gorgeous longhaired texel male guinea pigs available to breed or pet homes one is a satin texel & the other 2 are satin carrier baby texel boys from imported dutch/german lines & 3-4 generation pedigrees are available. .
£20
ME12
10 July 2008
Green bottom hampster cage for sale - only used for a month. good condition - bottle and feed bowl included. .
£20
MK44
03 July 2008
Baby guinea pigs, pretty colours, both sexes available, smooth and rex coated, ready now, advice can be given. lots of colours to choose from, well handled pets and purebreeds. males £10, females £12. 01822 840686 .
£10
pl20
01 July 2008
I have baby guinea pigs for sale,rex,abys,smooth coats,both sexes available contact alison for up to date info. 01277656749. prices start from £5-£12 .
£5
CM11
28 June 2008
I have 2 female guinea pigs,6 months old that need a kind loving home. hutch and accessories included. free to a kind home. .
RM10
22 June 2008
Baby guinea pigs for sale in a variety of colours (sorry no long haired pigs only smooth haired) all are 6 weeks old before being offered for sale and are well used to being handled on a daily basis and advice on keeping the guinea pig offered males £8 females &. .
CO12
20 June 2008
Hamster cage bought it 30 pounds. only 10 pounds now. free delivery to manchester, leeds, york please contact eva on 07738562582 kluivert7671@hotmail. com .
£10
M20
Really big and luxury castle for your hamster. only used two month. free hamster food, beding, bow and etc. free delivery to manchester, leeds, york. please contact eva on 07738562582 kluivert7671@hotmail. com.
£25
M20
18 June 2008
Hiya, i have baby gerbils all white and all brown also 2 baby robiski hamsters available, they are soooo cute conatct me any time for details or viewings. .
£2
TA6
17 June 2008
I have baby guinea pigs for sale contact alison 01277656749 for details £5-£12 each. .
£5
CM11
15 June 2008
I have 4 boars that will be ready for sale from the 25th june. 1 tri coulor (lilac, tan, white) aby coat (sold) 2 black n tan aby coats (1 sold) 1 black n tan smoothish coat. come with care sheet and change over food. £5 a pair. 07717341458.
£15
PE15
I have a rex roan sow ready to go to her new home from the 23rd of june. baige n white. (sold) i also have a rex roan boar 12 wks old ready to go now. blue roan and tan noise. both will leave here with care sheets and food for the change over. £7 each.
£10
PE15
I have baby guinea pigs available most of the year. please contact alison for up to date info. £10 each. .
£10
CM11
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