Toys? A waste of money?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Monty

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 19, 2013
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Swansea, Wales, UK
I have had my two for just over a week. They are not remotely interested in their loofah teddy bear, hanging loofah toy or brightly coloured wooden ball.

We were advised to buy them to help them keep their teeth down and to keep them active.

The only things they get excited about are food!

Should I remove the toys or leave them be in case they do notice them one day?
 
The best way to keep the crucial front teeth down and the guts well balanced is unlimited hay - it should make up to 80% of the daily food intake. The front teeth are self sharpening and don't need interfering with as long as the molars are evenly ground down by fibre.

Toys go through a piggy's tummy, but the most effective and well loved are made from cardboard or brown paper; most shop toys end up totally ignored, I am afraid! Wicker balls that you can fill with hay or herbs are one of the few shop things that are worth buying. Please also stay off any shop treats that contain seeds, sugar/honey, dairy (yoghurt) etc. Rather buy dried forage as a special treat for now and then.
You can find a collection of tried and tested toy tips in this thread here. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?43520-Guinea-Pig-Toys
 
I've given up with most toys as generally they're a waste of money & space. The best things I ever bought were 2 metal balls that you fill with grass of other goodies & hang from the cage top. This makes them work for the food & they're all out straight away every time I fill them. The other shop bought items that get plenty of use are those cardboard tubes you get from Wilkinson's. A lot of other members must find the same as I've seen them in several pigtures posted on here. Apart from the bought items it's things like cardboard boxes, paper bags & cardboard rolls of any shape or size.
 
I bought a Living World bunny puzzle for them, but I only use it every now and then and enjoy watching them grabbing the treats out. It's got 3 levels and they have no issue with it at all. It's fun, but it isn't used often.

As far as toys go: mine enjoy a treat egg. It needs to be rolled around to get the low calcium treats out.

I also hang up a sock laundry carousel with vegs, that is a success.
Rilakkuma2_zps866acdf8.jpg


I tried all the rest but they don't like any of them, besides a paper ball with a treat inside. What they do like is a change of scenery in their cage and mazes. Feel free to be inspired with many cage ideas on my YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/Pigjes
 
I love loo rolls filled with hay - my guys all love them and wears their teeth down on the cardboard too.
 
wow Pigjes what a great idea. I am always looking for ideas for the piggies to keep them entertained...that looks great :)
 
I would keep some of them.
Have you tried treatballs?
My boys used to have two but they kept putting them in their water bowl, they don't have a bowl now but i only have 1 and don't want squabbles. Frankie loved his treat ball (i just put their muesli in it).
Mine don't particularly like toys but they still have two bridges, a chube (need a new one as they have chewed it) and two wicker balls. The bridges at least i see as a hiding spot for them.
 
I bought a 'Chew & Roll' last night. Think it will be going to the gerbils. I like the mobile with lettuce idea!
 
Sock laundry carousels can be bought for a few dollars here and there. I bought mine online at Rakuten. Amazon sells them too.
 
you can make balls out of cardboard tubes too and put treats in them See youtube Mine dont bother with toys either
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top