How Much Food?

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Emma85

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all

So little Graham has settled on very well with us.

This last week his eating habits have changed and he is becoming more verbal!

I'm concerned that I am not feeding him enough, but my husband is concerned that he is being over fed!

I vary his food, but do feed at the same time each day. I'll give today as an example; morning feed was fresh bowl of nuggets and a bowl of veggies consisting of 1 full leaf (chopped) of tenderheart cabbage, 3 chunky slices of carrot and red pepper (2 thumb size slices). The red pepper was left. This is a new thing too - when I bought him from the pet shop I was told his favourite food was red pepper and he always gorged on this first. Now he won't eat it! His new favourite being celery.
At 5pm I gave him a fresh bowl of veggies including celery chopped into 3 sticks of little finger sizes, 1 grape cut in half, roughly 6 Strawberry leaves. All demolished. Still leaving the red pepper.

He tends to eat his nuggets and hay between 7.30 through to 10pm! He also has a guinea pig stick of seeds and dandelion that he gnaws on throughout the day.

He has been quite verbal (lots of wheaking), we take him out for a cuddle but when he is put back he starts again until we give him a bit of food. Is he hungry? Surely if he was then he'd eat his nuggets? We have tried to ignore him but he began biting on the bars until we gave him something. Picture attached. It prompted us to pop out and buy him a stick. It has helped a little.

It's just in the back of my mind whether he is being given enough food each day. When I bought him I was told to feed him twice a day at the same times but not how much is the right amount.

Also, why has he suddenly turned his nose up at red pepper? Is it because he prefers the other food I am giving to him?

Apologies for the length of the post!

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Firstly he is a very cute guinea pig.
How old is he, and how much does he weigh?

Guinea pigs are masters at convincing you there are starving and literally about to lay down and die if they are not given more of their favorite food RIGHT NOW!

Overall it sounds like you are feeding him a reasonable amount.
Does he have unlimited access to good quality hay? This should make up 80% of his diet.

The fresh you are giving is ok, but maybe try and limit the amount of sweet things you offer. Things like carrot and fruit are best given rarely (once a week).

Also have you checked the ingredients on the seed stick? Guinea pigs shouldn't really have seeds, and those sticks are often filled with lots of unnecessary sweeteners (sugar, honey, etc).

If he is chewing the bars he may just be bored.
Does he live with a companion?
And does he have lots of things to do in his cage?
Activities don't need to be complex or expensive - there is a thread on here about guinea pig toys, and it includes lots of ideas on making your own toys using toilet roll tubes, cardboard boxes, etc.
Maybe he just needs more to do?

Hope some of that helps and good luck being strong - it isn't easy!
 
Thanks for your reply. He is 9 months old.

He doesn't have a companion. The pet shop would only sell him on his own. He fought over food often, not sharing. He got into a fight and had to be treated for a city on his face. After this he was petrified with companionship and thrived on his own. He is happy!

He has lots in his cage that keeps him happy. Picture attached.

I've photographed the sticks ingredients too. I will be careful with these and offer as a treat.

He has fresh Timothy hay that I fill up each day to the top. He enjoys a good munch on it.

I will definitely look at the guinea pig toys as I'm sure he'd love those!

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Emma85 said:
Thanks for your reply. He is 9 months old.

He doesn't have a companion. The pet shop would only sell him on his own. He fought over food often, not sharing. He got into a fight and had to be treated for a city on his face. After this he was petrified with companionship and thrived on his own. He is happy!

He has lots in his cage that keeps him happy. Picture attached.

I've photographed the sticks ingredients too. I will be careful with these and offer as a treat.

He has fresh Timothy hay that I fill up each day to the top. He enjoys a good munch on it.

I will definitely look at the guinea pig toys as I'm sure he'd love those!

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Could I just ask what size his cage is, it looks too small in your pic but I could be wrong x
 
They need lots of room to run & popcorn, does he get lots of floor play, no criticism just maybe trying to give you ideas
 
We put him outside in the garden, but put his cage lid outside incase he escapes. We're looking at bigger runs for outside but not sure where to start really.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
They need lots of room to run & popcorn, does he get lots of floor play, no criticism just maybe trying to give you ideas
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It's too small Hun. Pets at home would sell a cardboard box for crocodile if they could. They make me so mad all there cages are to small for what there say they are for. Sorry you got caught, I'd demand a refund, but I doubt you'd get it.
 
Oh my word, really?

What type of cage size do I need (could you provide links please.

I'm going to phone pets at home and demand a refund. It cost me £65!
 
Can't dad or hubby make one, if they go round & look a pre made one, then copy it make sure one end is covered so they can get out of the sun.
 
Lol

No my husband is hopeless. I'd have to buy one. It's not a problem to buy one, I just want to ensure its the right size!
 
Emma85 said:
Oh my word, really?

What type of cage size do I need (could you provide links please.

I'm going to phone pets at home and demand a refund. It cost me £65!
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Ring RSPCA & find out what size cage they should piggies should have then ring head office & say it doesn't meet there standards.
 
Emma85 said:
Oh my word, really?

What type of cage size do I need (could you provide links please.

I'm going to phone pets at home and demand a refund. It cost me £65!
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There is a sticky thread in the housing and enrichment section I think.Its recommended to get 120cm for 2 girls and 140cm for 2 boys but as you have 1 boy I would say get the 120cm.If you go on zooplus.co.uk they sell cages for great prices x
 
Tiamolly123 said:
Ring RSPCA & find out what size cage they should piggies should have then ring head office & say it doesn't meet there standards.
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I shouldn't say this but always complain when in a queue, or when people are around you. If they want to talk to you over here where it's quiet just say, no we can chat here you will get more response, they won't want everyone in the shop to here your complaint. Just ring the RSPCA or a animal rescue place to check the specifications so you know what your complaining about. Good luck!
 
I agree with the others on here - sadly they have sold you a cage that is far too small for your boy.
If you complain loudly enough they should offer to let you upgrade it for a greatly reduced fee.
he will be much happier if he has more space to run around and play in.

And whilst they have advised you he will be better on his own, this really isn't the case.
it is actually very rare that a guinea pig would choose to be alone over having a companion.
Maybe use the rescue locator at the top of the forum to find a good rescue nearby and call and ask if they will help you find him a friend.
Many good rescues will do the bonding for you, and only send him home once they know he is ok with another guinea pig.

You sound like a very committed owner - your boy is lucky to have you.
 
I think everyone above has given some very good advice.
A larger cage would definitely be better, and if you can get a friend that would be even better (boar-dating is definitely the best option to make sure they get along and like each other).

Regarding the red pepper - try changing it for a week or two. Give green or yellow or even orange pepper. Sometimes they just like a change.
 
Emma85 said:
It's the starter cage from pets at home, specifically for guinea pigs.

Dimensions are L95 x W57 x H46cm

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Hi! I have the same cage as you with my two new baby girls in. What I did was took out that higher level as I wanted to be able to see them more but instead put a slightly smaller hidey in the same place that has exit either side as they sometimes fight. One of the girls doesn't like to climb either so the level would have been pretty useless to her. Anyway the best idea I had and if you have enough space you could try is I bought a metal play pen you can get on amazon for reasonable price and as it comes in separate panels with rods to join them you can make it how you wish. I hook one on each end of the cage and add a couple more. It gives them more space if they need it and also my adventurous girl loves to climb over the cage base and into it now and again for a wonder around which is good that she can incase she feels she needs to get away from the other sometimes.
Here's what I've got. I leave the cage door open for them to go as they please and it means my daughter and I can sit in it while we do a spot clean or be able to catch them without them escaping into the living room. 20160831_201444.webp
We still need to get a few more toys for them but they seem really happy in the space they have and are always popcorn ing.
 
Completely agree with everyone else. Unfortunately pets at home (in my experience) aren't very knowledgeable about cage sizes etc and it's much too small. And as @Swissgreys has said, it is very rare for a guinea pig to actually be happy on their own. Chances are he just didn't get on with the pigs in his cage in the shop and they took this to mean he wouldn't get along with any other guinea pig. Such a shame because they really do need company, it's just how they're wired. Sorry you've been so misinformed, you seem like a very dedicated owner X
 
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Hey, little graham is adorable! :luv: As everybody else has said the cage is definately too small unfortunately, I myself have been walking around pets at home listening to them advising people on cages that are just inadequate I really wish that they took the time to gain knowledge on the little piggies that they are selling, I sometimes feel like donning a green shirt and advising them myself :D if you have the room I would definately opt for c&c I got my first grids from wayfair, only one of my c&c had the correx all the others were simply placed on top of a shower curtain with puppy pads towels and fleece this has worked really well! I have however got a ferplast 120 cage that I don't use anymore if you want it? It is practically brand new I only used it for a week it has got everything apart from the water bottle. I see your about an hour and half away from me if you fancy a drive? I also agree with everybody else little graham needs a friend, you would be seriously amazed by how much they change when they have a buddy. My Oakley was a single boar when I adopted him but we took him boar dating to BARC and he met Ollie they are so close now it's unbelievable! Anyway it's good your on here getting plenty of advice it shows your a caring piggy mommy :D xx
 
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