Should I foster guinea pigs?

[onlychildhamster]

I Iive in a 2 bed top floor flat which I own (so no issues with getting permission). I have a space in my spare room for a 140 cm Ferplast plaza so I was thinking of fostering guinea pigs. I have an elderly hamster (who I love) but I am tempted by guinea pigs though I have done a lot of research (and know how much work they can be and how surprisingly expensive esp if you only had a hamster before). So I was thinking of fostering to get my toe in the water and help out 2 lovely piggies in the process.

I am talking to a rescue and the lady was not put off my lack of garden (she said it's too cold anyway for them to go outside) and she OKed my hamster playpen (pop up playpen which measures 140 cm by 70 cm).

Is it a good idea or do I have too little space/resources for piggies? I wonder if she is only saying ok cos fostering is temporary.

To add we don't let Gerbils leave our Rescue as singles. We either find them a partner and bond or wait for an Adopter with a single who will bond.

@Annabelle69 out of curiosity what made you like gerbils over guinea pigs?

@onlychildhamster - this is my opinion only, I do understanding respect why people love their pigs! I'm only answering your question.

Guinea Pigs I found messy, dirty and high maintenance in terms of keeping their housing clean. They crap in their own food bowls I didn't find them interesting in any way.

Gerbils are extremely clean, smell free, and low maintenance. They exhibit a range of fascinating wild behaviours, and build complex tunnel systems. Give a Gerbil some cardboard, some plain toilet roll sheets and something to burrow in and you're rewarded with constant landscaping and nest building.

In short, if I gave guinea pigs some hay they'll crap and wee on it. If I give Gerbils some hay they'll construct something elaborate from it.

@Annabelle69 yes definitely something to be said for clean animals! I was hugely impressed when my hamster toilet trained himself- he pees in his sand bath only. And while his tunnels are not very impressive, he is very good at building up his larder teehee :)

You almost converted me to gerbil, but I would be so worried I couldn't find a companion for a bereaved gerbil. I live in London and maybe this is my impression, but its a lot harder to find small animals here other than from pet shops- there are some breeders and rescues but usually on the other side of London ( I am in north london). I just looked at pets4homes and i can't find a single adult gerbil within 50 miles of London

I have had Guinea Pigs for years and they are filthy and not at all interested in me although they are cute - why not get a rabbit?

@onlychildhamster There's Wood Green rescue who I think are North London. There's ARC in Twickenham (my rescue) and we have 3 x pairs of female Gerbils ( my current fosters are yet to go on the website until theyve been vet checked). I'm really not trying to push Gerbils to you, just giving you the facts!

As a curveball. Have you considered Rats? You get some of the mess and housing maintenence of Guinea Pigs, but Rats are highly intelligent, extremely rewarding, tactile and easy to handle (generally). They can live in mixed (nuetered) large groups or just pairs and its fairly easy to bond new members into the clan. They are like owning mini dogs in terms of attachment and intelligence. Downside: They can get respiratory problems, and have fairly short lives of around 2 years.

Edit: plus there's Gerbil & Rodent Rescue in Croydon. Not close, but Jay who runs it is a Saint and would be my go to for single rodents to bond.

@Annabelle69 I don't really like how they scent mark and also you can't really confine them to a playpen as they are so intelligent so the scent marking would get everywhere. Yes there are pairs of gerbils but what I am confused about is how to get a single when you need one!

@longcoffeebreak rabbits are very destructive and nowadays need to be free roam right?my DH is not a pet person at all but is ok with the hamster cos it is generally in the cage in my study and supervised when out and about. Would be hard to do with a free roam rabbit as DH's rule is no animals where he eats!

@onlychildhamster Gerbil & Rodent Rescue in Croydon, their website shows they are inundated with Gerbils which have been bonded into various combinations, but could easily become singles. Gumtree, Preloved. Advertise yourself for a single. My rescue has 2 single Gerbils not advertised as they're currently being bonded but, depending how it goes, may come back online as singles. Rescues can help as a first port of call. But, yes, Gerbils are by far the most temperamental when it comes to accepting new mates.

We have guinea pigs. My daughter wanted a dog, and we didn't have the time or money, so we got two guinea pigs.

They are very cute, make lots of noises and the children handle them lots. I find the main work is cleaning their cage/hutch. They are messy, and can get smelly if bedding not regularly changed.

I do like having them though. I surprise myself as I'm not an animal person. I think they cost us about £20 per month.

Never considered gerbils before. They sound an interesting option too.

@Annabelle69 thank you. How long does split caging usually take? Seems to vary from weeks to months!

@onlychildhamster Recommended time is 2 weeks, I usually go for 3 to be on the safe side. There are positive signs to look for along the way, but its not an exact science.

I have had both guinea pigs and gerbils. Gerbils are clean and wee and poo in the corner furthest away their nest. Guinea pigs wee and poo everywhere. Handling of guinea pigs is easier and you can pet them. Gerbils are quick and might ran away. We need to wash our long haired guinea pigs bums weekly because wee sticks to the hair. Nail need to be trimmed too.

I would say that guinea pigs are more work and they are smellier but if you want to pet them they are good.

I am actually looked at a fat tailed gerbil! They seem very sweet... and they live alone so no need to worry about fights. Thank you all on this thread...

It made me realize what I really prioritize in a pet!

I have rats and guinea pigs. I’ve had guinea pigs my whole life but rats only 6 months. I adore piggies but they’re expensive, mine cost me around £40 a week (I have 5 pigs and 3 rats). This is not including their vet bills (I’m having 2 spayed tomorrow due to cysts and it’ll cost around £800).

To keep them properly they need a lot of space, unlimited hay for eating, napping in etc. It needs to be kept clean and changed often. They get pellets and fresh veg daily plus vitamin C supplements in their water and as a little vitamin C biscuit (this costs me £3 a day for them.)
In the past they got enough vit C from veg and pellets but since 2 are poorly they need the supplements.

Healthy piggies can be cheap, more around the £5 a week mark if you give them veg you’d be buying anyway. But poorly piggies cost a bomb

Poorly rats often don’t cost as much but I’ve seen you aren’t keen on them.

@RattiesAndPiggies wow that is terribly expensive. But with animals, you can never guarantee you will get a healthy one. I have heard in the past about the very high vet bills. My local vet charges different consultation prices for 'pocket pets' (around the £30-35 mark) and rabbits/ guinea pigs which are around the £50-60 mark (similar to dogs/cats) I imagine

@onlychildhamster
I must admit they’re going to one of the best exotic vets in the country! Consultation was £30 but it’s such a big operation for little animals and they’re not a straight forward spay due to cysts which is how it ended up at an estimate of £800 (for 2!). 85% of female piggies get cysts so that’s something to consider.
Many owners don’t realise and low level pain/grumpy attitude gets brushed off by owners that just don’t know. Lots of general GP vets don’t know either! This is not the fault of the vet in any way, 5 years isn’t long enough to cover exotic species in great depth.

I’d suggest you find a good vet, who is confident, just incase if you decide to go ahead.

Unless of course the rescue would help with vets fees? Then you wouldn’t have to worry as much

@RattiesandPiggies rescue would help with vet fees I think. But I am not sure that I am the best person to take on some poorly piggies as I don't drive. I do live a few stops away from Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital though! But I thought the famous guinea pig vet was in northamptonshire. I have a fb friend who was unable to take his piggie to that vet during the petrol crisis.