Advise on small pet for daughter

[mayaprana]

Does anyone know if Guinea Pigs are a good and safe pet for a 5 yr old? Or gerbil better? :hmmm:


also does anyone have one for sale or free?
thanks
Maya

[RecycleSonomaCounty]

Gerbils and Hamsters are not great pets as a rule imho.(most tend to bite a lot) We have tons of different critters (13 years experience with small pets) Have raised rabbits and rats... have had pet:chickens, dogs,cats, rats, rabbits, birds,snakes, lizards, turtles, gerbils, hamsters, fish...I am probably forgetting some things. Plus our daughter has been horse riding for 11 years since she was 4 years old. Currently we have 2 fun and sweet guinea pigs (both males) one hand raised,,other found outside. We also have a sweet rat and a cat... Hands down Rats and cats are the nicest pets,but the piggys are cuter and less smelly. Get one really young that way it will be much sweeter and easier to tame. They are very funny, make cute noises and fairly low maintenance. They need a pretty big area to live in to stay healthy,but if you go to: https://www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm
you can build a very cool enclosure for your piggy. Thats what our daughter has done and the pigs are so happy. They dont climb so they cant get out. Also, males tend to be a little less moody. But be careful housing them together. Ours are pretty good,but occasionally go crazy and fight.
Have fun and I think 5 is a perfect age to start getting pets for kids.. Teaches so much and really has given our daughter a lot of compassion, fun, love,responsibility and knowledge. She does tons of research on every pet.
Good Luck and have fun. :)



Does anyone know if Guinea Pigs are a good and safe pet for a 5 yr old? Or gerbil better? :hmmm:


also does anyone have one for sale or free?
thanks
Maya

[iaim2xl]

Does anyone know if Guinea Pigs are a good and safe pet for a 5 yr old? Or gerbil better? :hmmm:


also does anyone have one for sale or free?
thanks
Maya

My son has had various guinea pigs over the years. Still does, and he loves them. I think they're fabulous pets for kids.

I was skeptical at first, but they are big enough to withstand clumsy little hands (unlike hamsters), and they don't bite. The more you handle and interact with them, the more personality they display. I suggest getting two so they have company throughout the long hours of the day when you're not present. Don't plan on mating them unless you learn a LOT about them, since there are a lot of complications. So, two of the same gender are recommended.

If you have more questions, I'll put you in contact with my son (now 14 years old), who has become quite knowledgeable about them.

[Shandi]

My only advise is to realize that you will be doing most of the care,
which involves cleaning the cage, litter box or whatever the animal
uses, feeding, etc.

Many people don't think about the responsibilities beyond getting the pet.
I'd do a little research first.

I work at the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter, and we have lots of surrendered
bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs, and of course kittens, cats, and dogs.

Best to wait until after Xmas, for obvious reasons.