EbonyRaven
Junior Guinea Pig
After receiving some guinea pigs from my mother, I was on limited cage space. I had a typical shallow bin box cage( You know, the plastic cages with the cheap wire topping) and a ten gallon tank with a three story ramp system up top.
Unfortunately, I needed three cages, not just two. After all, I had the mother and the baby girls (Whom were weaned, but still stay together) the father, and a baby boy. I figured that the father and the baby boy could live together in harmony, but when that 'macho me' attitude kicked in with the boy, I knew I was going to have problems.
I finally got around to naming the babies... The little boy was eventually named 'Apollo' for being so big and bad- but amazingly awesome at the same time. You'd walk up to the cage and he'd bolt over, sticking his little nose through with those begging piggy eyes. He knew you had something good. (of course, the entire time with the daddy huddling with annoyance in the corner.)
I knew I had to switch up this cage situation. So, while doing a piggy mommas normal duty- cleaning up cages and what not, I let Apollo down to play in the scurry pen. That's when it started to get cute.
My Lionhead rabbit 'Khloe' began pawing profusely at her cage door, sticking her nose through the wires. She wanted to find out what that little creature was! Apollo, hearing the commotion, went to his side of the pen, took one look at her and began showing off. He strut around the cage a few time before going into a flurry of 'popcorning' and 'zooming'.
Finding this completely adorable, I hurried the cage cleaning up, placed apollo back in with Squiggles (The father) and went downstairs to tell my grandmother.
She asked something I didn't even think of 'Can rabbits and guineapigs get along?'
Well, after some research and a quick call to the vet- guess what. They can.
:<>
Khloe is extremely fluffy- her fur makes her about the size of a Pomeranian. However, under her fur- she's a little smaller than a full grown guineapig. Thus, it's not like she could exactly squish him or anything. Her hutch is huge- we went out and bought one of those outdoor ones... But, we keep her inside. She drinks out of a waterbottle, so does he. She wont eat guineapig food, and he refuses to eat anything but his selective tropical fruit guinea pig mix.(In fact, when I offer him anything BUT that, he shuns me. :c )
Everything seemed to be on the right track for a meet and greet between those two.
Thus, finally after a small preparation by myself, I placed Khloe in the scurry pen, then Apollo.
I have never, ever, since I got that rabbit, seen her so happy.
Binkies and Popcorns everywhere, Apollo took off under her fluff, and she jumped straight up in the air, to the side, and landed on the outside of the pen. Once she had done that, she immediately went back in, and the process started all over again. After the initial excitement of meeting someone new had worn down, they proceeded to lay down next to eachother and nibble on some hay.
After about a half hour playing I let the ramp to the hutch down so Khloe could go her own separate way- but as she started up. So did Apollo. I went to pick him up, and he let out a squeal of fright. (Didn't mean to startle him, :... )
To which, my scolding was Khloe whipping around and giving my hand and arms some brutal rabbit headbutts.
I finally , with my tail between my legs, let Apollo go in the cage with Khloe. They get along perfectly! I'm so happy!
For now, Apollo has to go back in the bedding cage (just until I can get him litter boxed trained like Khloe is) and as soon as that happens they're definitely going to be cage mates. Something I'm sure Squiggles will be happy about.
I'm sure there's some kind of sappy moral to this story- but the only thing I got out of it was "Don't mess with a bunji rabbits Piggy" :{
((P.s: New cage still hasn't shipped out yet >
Ordered it two days ago!))
Unfortunately, I needed three cages, not just two. After all, I had the mother and the baby girls (Whom were weaned, but still stay together) the father, and a baby boy. I figured that the father and the baby boy could live together in harmony, but when that 'macho me' attitude kicked in with the boy, I knew I was going to have problems.
I finally got around to naming the babies... The little boy was eventually named 'Apollo' for being so big and bad- but amazingly awesome at the same time. You'd walk up to the cage and he'd bolt over, sticking his little nose through with those begging piggy eyes. He knew you had something good. (of course, the entire time with the daddy huddling with annoyance in the corner.)
I knew I had to switch up this cage situation. So, while doing a piggy mommas normal duty- cleaning up cages and what not, I let Apollo down to play in the scurry pen. That's when it started to get cute.
My Lionhead rabbit 'Khloe' began pawing profusely at her cage door, sticking her nose through the wires. She wanted to find out what that little creature was! Apollo, hearing the commotion, went to his side of the pen, took one look at her and began showing off. He strut around the cage a few time before going into a flurry of 'popcorning' and 'zooming'.
Finding this completely adorable, I hurried the cage cleaning up, placed apollo back in with Squiggles (The father) and went downstairs to tell my grandmother.
She asked something I didn't even think of 'Can rabbits and guineapigs get along?'
Well, after some research and a quick call to the vet- guess what. They can.
:<>
Khloe is extremely fluffy- her fur makes her about the size of a Pomeranian. However, under her fur- she's a little smaller than a full grown guineapig. Thus, it's not like she could exactly squish him or anything. Her hutch is huge- we went out and bought one of those outdoor ones... But, we keep her inside. She drinks out of a waterbottle, so does he. She wont eat guineapig food, and he refuses to eat anything but his selective tropical fruit guinea pig mix.(In fact, when I offer him anything BUT that, he shuns me. :c )
Everything seemed to be on the right track for a meet and greet between those two.
Thus, finally after a small preparation by myself, I placed Khloe in the scurry pen, then Apollo.
I have never, ever, since I got that rabbit, seen her so happy.
Binkies and Popcorns everywhere, Apollo took off under her fluff, and she jumped straight up in the air, to the side, and landed on the outside of the pen. Once she had done that, she immediately went back in, and the process started all over again. After the initial excitement of meeting someone new had worn down, they proceeded to lay down next to eachother and nibble on some hay.
After about a half hour playing I let the ramp to the hutch down so Khloe could go her own separate way- but as she started up. So did Apollo. I went to pick him up, and he let out a squeal of fright. (Didn't mean to startle him, :... )
To which, my scolding was Khloe whipping around and giving my hand and arms some brutal rabbit headbutts.
I finally , with my tail between my legs, let Apollo go in the cage with Khloe. They get along perfectly! I'm so happy!
For now, Apollo has to go back in the bedding cage (just until I can get him litter boxed trained like Khloe is) and as soon as that happens they're definitely going to be cage mates. Something I'm sure Squiggles will be happy about.
I'm sure there's some kind of sappy moral to this story- but the only thing I got out of it was "Don't mess with a bunji rabbits Piggy" :{
((P.s: New cage still hasn't shipped out yet >
Ordered it two days ago!))
