Advice please!

JEMx

JEMx

New Born Pup
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So as of two days ago I received my first hamster, now I got this hamster in secret from a friend when I agreed to help clean her house since she's been down due to a broken leg. She got me a cage, ball, and let me pick out any hamster I wanted which I chose a winter white dwarf hamster that I named Winter. My parents didn't mind at all and in fact think she's adorable. They also said they'd be willing to pay me to clean out home if I do a good job on cleaning my friend's house. I want to get two guinea pigs but the thing is, is that my mom is having a very invasive surgery soon and she thinks it'll overwhelm her even tho I'd be the one caring for them. I found someone on craigslist giving away two two year old female sister piggies with an XL cage, feed, and toys all for a re-homing fee of 10$. I really, really want to act on this deal but I lack knowledge on guinea pigs and I don't want to pester for them since I literally just got a hamster two days ago. Any ideas on how I outta go about this? I'm thinking I let them pay me cash for cleaning the house and having my friend drive me to the pick up the piggies maybe? I hate going behind their backs as I have literally no idea how they'd react to me bringing home two guinea pigs. Help! I really want some piggies of my own and I feel these two darlings would be perfect starting out since they're already bath and nail trimming friendly and are used to being handled. Any tips/suggestion helps, y'all! Thank you! <3
 
So as of two days ago I received my first hamster, now I got this hamster in secret from a friend when I agreed to help clean her house since she's been down due to a broken leg. She got me a cage, ball, and let me pick out any hamster I wanted. I chose a winter white dwarf hamster that I named Winter. My parents didn't mind at all and in fact think she's adorable. They also said they'd be willing to pay me to clean our home if I do a good job on cleaning my friend's house. I want to get two guinea pigs but the thing is, is that my mom is having a very invasive surgery soon and she thinks it'll overwhelm her even tho I'd be the one caring for them. I found someone on craigslist giving away two two year old female sister piggies with an XL cage, feed, and toys all for a re-homing fee of 10$. I really, really want to act on this deal but I lack knowledge on guinea pigs and I don't want to pester for them since I literally just got a hamster two days ago. Any ideas on how I outta go about this? I'm thinking I let them pay me cash for cleaning the house and having my friend drive me to pick up the piggies maybe? I hate going behind their backs as I have literally no idea how they'd react to me bringing home two guinea pigs. Help! I really want some piggies of my own and I feel these two darlings would be perfect starting out since they're already bath and nail trimming friendly and are used to being handled. Any tips/suggestion helps, y'all! Thank you! <3
 
Guinea pigs are a pretty big commitment, they take up a lot more time, space and money than a hamster. Suspiciously cheap animals from an online ad might have problems you don't know about. There are also vet bills to consider- new piggies aquired like this will need a vet check straight away and you have to be prepared to pay for any healthcare they need. I would say be happy with your hamster for the time being and wait until you have the full support of your family before thinking about guinea pigs. Sorry if this isnt the advice you want, but I think most people would agree with me!
 
@JEMx Do you have a steady income to pay for their food, bedding and vet bills?
If not I'd spend some time building up a pot of money for them, researching and learning about pigs and showing your parents that you're a good pet owner by caring for your hamster.

I understand your need to get those pigs NOW. But there will always be many wanting new homes unfortunately so when the time is right there will be pigs out there for you.
 
Unfortunately my parents do not allow me to work as they want me to enjoy my last year before college and focus on school. I've been reading and watching a lot about piggy care and man do I really want some :ple:
 
Absolutely agree with you @PigglePuggle! I would be very suspicious of free piggies and cage and stuff. They will need a vet check from a good vet who knows about guinea pigs (not all do) then you will have to cope with any problems that they have as they will have them cos people in general don't just give away their pets for a "rehoming fee".

I love my 5 guinea pigs. Originally I bought 2 but one was pregnant when I bought her and I felt it was up to me to look after the babies as I made the commitment to look after 2 and everything that came with them, babies or not.

My piggies have the best life I can give them but they do get ill and I have just had to pay in excess of £200 to put one of them through an operation and get him better again. I had to syringe feed him day and night for 3 days. Also the others have all been to the vet at various points throughout the 2 years I have had them. The are a big commitment both in time and money. If they get ill and you are at school who would look after them? Could you afford to put one of them through a big operation? Would your parents be willing to pay or have the attitude that a lot of people have of "its only a guinea pig"?

I know you want more pets and I can see that you would do your very best to look after them all. Guinea pigs are a lot different to hamsters. Stick with your hamster for now until your Mum has got over her operation and then see if you still want them after that. Go to a reputable rescue if you have one in your area. You need to discuss having piggies as a family as you need to have everybody willing to help look after them.

Tell your parents that you would like guinea pigs now but are willing to wait until your Mum is better. They will respect you more for that than if you go behind their backs. If one of my children did what you are proposing to do, I would be absolutely livid! You don't need that at the mo. Your Mum is stressed out enough, not to mention unwell, as it is with the prospect of her operation looming. You certainly don't need to be adding to that.
 
:) thank you both for your advice! I'v been leaning a lot about piggies and I'm inclined to agree I'm not ready for a piggy. I don't have the funds, space, or experience for one yet and I would feel horrible if I ended up harming one because of my ignorance. :) I also didn't even consider that maybe the deal was too good to be true. I'm gonna go with your two's advice and be happy with my hamster. After all, she's adorable and I love her. I can always get a piggy when my situation is better and I can give the proper care and love to them. Thank you! :D
 
Piggies can be very expensive even just hay guinea pig food and veggies can add up. If you dont have a steady income where you can save a little each week for the fluffs needs I would recommend not getting any.
 
You sound like a very caring and sensible pet owner.
You can look forward to guinea pigs in the future when you are in a position to care for them as they need.
You are not the only person on the forum who has had to resist the urge to rescue a guinea pig because it just was not sensible or practical.
Please let us see pics of your hamster - they are such cute animals.
Hope your mum’s surgery goes well
 
I would love another girly guinea pig to make a nice even 6 but I won't cos my 5 are nicely bonded and I don't want to upset that.
 
Merab's Slave said:
You sound like a very caring and sensible pet owner.
You can look forward to guinea pigs in the future when you are in a position to care for them as they need.
You are not the only person on the forum who has had to resist the urge to rescue a guinea pig because it just was not sensible or practical.
Please let us see pics of your hamster - they are such cute animals.
Hope your mum’s surgery goes well
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thank you! It's hard to wait, but at least with this time I can learn more on the lil guys and be better prepared. :) My hamster is in my pfp! She's a lil angel, well an angel that poos and pees everywhere :/ still love her though!
 
Hamsters don't poop half as much as guinea pigs! You put a piggie anywhere and you can guarantee in about 5 seconds there will be a mountain of poop!

If you notice which corner your hammie wees in you can get a hamster "potty" (the corner ones are better than the walk through ones) and put some cheapy paper cat litter in it (far better than the shops try and sell you for hamster "potties" and MUCH cheaper too) and pop some wee covered bedding in it and you will find your hamster gets the hang and goes for a wee in the potty. I have had 7 hamsters and only 1 refused to use the "potty" preferring to push it out of the way and go behind it, in front of it, by the side, decided it wanted to use a different corner you name it he wee'd anywhere but the "potty"!:doh: Mind you Archie was a very antisocial hamster. I think it was just his personality as I didn't treat him any different to the others. I would love another hamster but the OH says 5 piggies is enough.:(
 
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