Dh has ok'd us getting guinea pigs! But I don't know anything about them.....

[saythatagain]

....all I know is that its better to get two so they're not lonely but I would really appreciate some more details i.e. 2 males or 2 females. Long haired or not? All input will be greatly received!

I'm not sure whether there is much difference between male and female gps. I have 2 males and they are very docile and have never bitten { except for a slight nibbling when we are cutting their claws which they really hate.} Definitely get at least 2 as they like company. Ours live indoors in a large hutch which I have to clean out every 3 days but have an outdoor run and hutch that they love to go in when the weather is nice and dry.They shouldn't ever be put on damp grass as they are prone to catching cold apparently,but ours never have in their 5 years with us.

I think they are amongst the more interesting of the small pets, for children as they are very good natured and will happily sit on a lap and be stroked as long as there is some food available to nibble.

We have 2 males. Males are prone to fighting unless they have been together from an early age. Ours are brothers, they live outside all year. They have a hutch for the night and are out in their run on the lawn most days, unless it is really raining hard. They are lovely MUCH easier than rabbits and although they can be a bit shy and hard to catch once you hold them they are really lovely and love to sit on the dc's laps munching carrot or apple.

Mine have worked out that I am the soft touch in the house as they always squeak like mad whenever they see me as they know I am the most likely { ie it works every time !} to go and fetch them a treat.

I mentioned the thought of guinea pigs at work and someone said they would attract rats if kept outside and smell if you kept them inside!!!! True or false?

I have two indoor and they don't smell at all unless I forget to clean them out for a while.

Load of rubbish about the rat thing it they are outdoors - everything attracts rats these days, feeding birds, composting etc etc I have kept guinea pigs outdoors for many years and never had a rat problem. If you plan on keeping them outdoors all year round then you'll have to make sure their hutch very insulated for the winter months- they aren't as hardy as rabbits but far more siciable and handleable.

We have two brothers who live together (always preferred boys for some reason ) they are lovely but have learnt that the carrots live in the 'fridge so every time I open the fridge they squeak for england! btw - if you feed them carrots or veg from the fridge you should let it warm up before you give it to them or they can get tummyache.

Be warned that they eat a ridiculously large amount of hay for their size! Don't give them straw as bedding. If you have space to store a small bale-size amount of sawdust that will keep the cost down a lot (not that they are expensive) - bale of sawdust is about £6 but a small bag that lasts a few changes (depending on cage size) is about £3.

Long haired guinea pigs are great if you want to groom them every day (I found it very therapeutic but then I didn't have DCs to look after then so had more time). If you don't think you'll have the time for that then maybe stick to short haired breeds or abysinnians(sp?). The latter are very hardy and quite bizarre looking . You don't have to bath them but I found mine have all like a 'swim' in some very shallow water in the bath.