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Pets

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Original poster

Guinea pigs, hamsters or gerbils?

22 replies

wohmum · 21/05/2008 23:28

which make the best pets for 2 DSs - 9 and 5?
we have a largish garden and could have an outside run, but not lots of inside space for winter

have found a few threads on GPs but not much on hamsters/gerbils..

OP posts:

WendyWeber · 21/05/2008 23:35

Hamsters sleep all day and are grumpy little sods on the whole.

Gerbils are much better tempered but ideally need a big tank full of peaty stuff to burrow in, with a cagey part on top.

Both are indoor pets. Guinea pigs can live in or out and are very rewarding if you handle them a lot - very sweet - do get at least 2 though, same sex, and if they are female be aware that they could be pg on arrival (our first one was and the birth of the babies was a huge shock )

cornsilk · 21/05/2008 23:39

I've been talked into a hamster for my ds. They are quite delicate and only live for 2 years. I think out of your list guinea pigs make the best pet. Have you thought about rabbits? House rabbits are fab!

Purplepillow · 21/05/2008 23:43

We used to have pet mice which are also nocternal but dd played with them on an evening.

If I was to get anything now I would probably pick guinea pigs out of your choices.

mumoftwo37 · 21/05/2008 23:46

We have got 2 guinea pigs who are absolutely gorgeous. We had a rabbit before but as a pet for a child a guinea pig is much better as they are less likely to scratch and jump.
We also have 2 hamsters in seperate cages. They were bought from a small local petshop so had been handled prior to us getting them. They are brilliant pets but can be difficult to handle.
If I was you I would go for a pair of guinea pigs.

pigsinmud · 22/05/2008 08:22

Don't get a pair of boys! Mine have been together since little and were fine together, but now one has attacked the other resulting in huge wound and £130 vet bill. We've seperated them now and the bullied one is thriving.

I think it was just bad luck, but it's put me off getting 2 males together again.

pigsinmud · 22/05/2008 08:25

Oh - we had gerbils a few years ago and tbh the children found them a little boring after a while. Too small and quick to be handled much by them and made a racket at night!

We had 2 females ... and then lots of babies as one was obviously pregnant. Shock horror they proceeded to eat the babies - all a bit traumatic for the children.

MrsTittleMouse · 22/05/2008 08:35

Hamsters are very terratorial (sp?) and each individual should have their own cage well away from other hamsters (the hamsters kept together in the pet shop are very young - as soon as they grow up they start fighting). They are also nocturnal and so wouldn't be active when small children are up. Generally speaking they are really good tempered, but they hate being woken up, and it's difficult for small children to resist!

Gerbils are very lively and can be very difficult to handle as they can jump surprisingly high distances. They are generally good tempered though. They like to burrow a lot, and so can make lots of mess if kept in a wire cage.

Guinea pigs are usually the easiest for small children to handle. Hamsters and gerbils hate being picked up around their middles (it feels like being carried off by a bird of prey) and that's the way that most children tend to grab them. GPs are naturally much bigger and so easier for children to get their hands around. But they obviously need more space!

Bridie3 · 22/05/2008 08:38

Hamsters are gorgeous. We've had Syrian and Chinese and get a lot of pleasure from them.

Original poster

wohmum · 22/05/2008 11:19

looks like a guinea pigs get the thumbs up!

now - best place to buy them? independent pet shop ? chain (pets r us etc) or rehomed (if any?) and what sort of cage do I need?

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CoffeeCrazedMama · 22/05/2008 11:32

Don't want to mention names but there is a large chain of petstores and both the people I know who have bought piggies there have inadvertently bought pg ones (I know its not a wide survey - four guinea pigs involved - but still...) It is how we got our little darlings, surprise bogofs!

If you are in South London, Dr Dolittle's at Streatham are a great pet shop and they sell them.

A friend bought hers from a breeder and they are gorgeous and really healthy. I would expect a specialist breeder would be better at both separating the sexes and being aware of any interesting conditions.

RubyRioja · 22/05/2008 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tortoiseSHELL · 22/05/2008 11:34

We've had rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, but the best pets ever are our chickens. They are interesting, sociable (they like watching the kids play football), they come and say hello, are tons easier to look after than above animals and produce eggs! And are lovely and soft to cuddle!

WendyWeber · 22/05/2008 11:35

Our pg one came from the local independent pet shop who are usually pretty good - trouble with piggies is that they are sexually mature so young.

We loved our BOGOFs but they were both boys so had to go

fransmom · 22/05/2008 11:35

hamsters - only buy one, they are nocturnal and territorial.

gp's and gerbils are similar to pack animals so you wil need to ahve more than one.

FloriaTosca · 22/05/2008 11:42

get a couple of female gps..with handling they make lovely pets and live for more than a year or two...animalrescue societies are often on the look out for good homes for young gps
gerbils are too quick and slippery and hammys as well as being nocturnal can be bad tempered and never sit still to be petted and both only last about 18 months.

CoffeeCrazedMama · 24/05/2008 13:22

Maybe best bet is what we did - get them from someone else who has inadvertently bought a pg gp! Get them at 4 weeks, just old enough to leave mummy and too young for any hanky-panky!

christywhisty · 24/05/2008 17:48

Depends on the hamsters, we had roborovskis. They are not easy to handle as they are so fast, but the are very entertaining to watch. My DS was the best at handling them, even though he was only about 8, but he has a way with animal. This bread can live together if they are from the same litter, but our two girls started squabbling when they were about 8 months and had to be seperated.

Also robos don't bite and are happy to be woken up in the day. They were so cute I do miss them.

Now have 2 boy gps. Think its there 1st birthday this week. They get cuddled all day. DS 12 gets his out as soon as he gets up and it snuggles in his dressing gown. They are lovely but a bit more work than the hamsters.

Original poster

wohmum · 28/05/2008 06:19

we've done it - 2 gorgeous girlie guinea pigs! they are lovely , but just settling in ( we got them monday) so have held them a litle yesterday and looking forward to more play with them today.

we got an indoor cage which is great for this week as the weather is so awful and the boys can get used to them (and them to us!) but will prob plan to have them outside later (for the summer at least).

Still under discussion on names - ds2 is disappointed that they are girls so his is currently being called Spike!

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northernrefugee39 · 28/05/2008 15:28

Oh great decision! We've had/have guineas, gerbils, hamsters, rats. The guineas are by far the most rewardinmg and nicest, tho rats are very bright, they smell a bit.

Original poster

wohmum · 30/05/2008 22:21

our new guineas are now 4!

no, not an unexpected pregnancy, but DH thought that we had seperated 2 friends when we selected ours so went back the next day and bought 2 more! they have all settled in well , starting to make a lovely noise when handled gently and with occassional scrabbling and high pitched squeaking in their hidey hole . there's a still a frantic scramble for cover when we come into the room if they are all out or feeding, but then they gradually come out agin and wach whats going on.

they are so sweet and I'm so pleased we got them (even if i am teh only one who has cleaned then out yet!) .

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northernrefugee39 · 31/05/2008 15:03

Oh how lovely, your dh must be a softie....they'll get used to you and not run for cover after a while.
Melon works a treat, and cucumber. one of ours would do anything for melon.. well almost...

northernrefugee39 · 31/05/2008 15:06

Tortoiseshell, do you think we could have chickens in with the guineas? We have a big run, with a door etc, and would be worried about our new patterdale chiwuawau cross and the chickens....
I might ask on the chicken thread come to think of it...

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