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Pocket Pets Choose a link below for more information: Gerbil Care | Guinea Pigs Gerbil Care: The most common gerbil is the Mongolian gerbil with a life span of 3-4 years. Gerbils should be kept in dry an odorless environment. This can be accomplished by putting them, in a wire cage or an aquarium. You should always use a wire mesh top in order for air to circulate. The bedding should always be of the absorbent type. Gerbils are escape artists so their cage should always be secure. The commercial available plastic cages are always a beware because air does not always circulate well . The gerbil's environment should always be kept clean because a dirty habitat can lead to illness. Gerbils like we stated before are very active and like to play. It is important to give them a wheel to play on. You always need to be sure that the wheel is safe. It always advisable to get them out of the cage on a daily basis for exercise. Always make sure that they are supervised. Gerbil food is available at many pet stores, but gerbils can be given sunflower seeds, nuts, alfalfa pellets and fresh vegetables as well. Be sure to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils. It is best to use a bottle with a drinking tube to provide water. Gerbils' teeth grow continuously, just like those of all other rodents. So, it is important that they be given a sterilized bone or twig that has not been treated with pesticides or any other chemicals to gnaw. Gerbils are social animals, so it's best to get at least two. However, since gerbils are prolific breeders, keeping males and females together is not recommended. A gerbil who is ill should be seen by a veterinarian. Additional Information In case of accidental poisoning, call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) 24 Hour Emergency Hotline Numbers: 1-888-4ANI-HELP (1-888-426-4435) ($30 per case; Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express when you call.) 1-900-680-0000 ($30 flat rate will be charged to phone bill.) Guinea pigs Guinea pigs can be very good pets. They are larger than the other pocket pets and are very sociable. They have originated from south America. Their lifespan is anywhere from 5-7 years. The various breeds of guinea pigs are: Abyssinian, Abyssinian Satin, Peruvian, Peruvian Satin, Silkie (Sheltie), Silkie Satin, Teddy, Teddy Satin, Texal, American, American Satin, White Crested and Coronet. They can be found in various hair types and colors. Guinea Pigs like other animals can be frightened and can bite. It is always important that young children always be supervised when handling a Guinea Pig. The Guinea Pig is an animal which young children can enjoy. They do make vocal sounds especially their characteristic whistle. The Guinea Pig should be housed in a wire or meshlike sturdy cage. They should not be housed in an aquarium because the ventilation is too poor for them. They should have ample space to move around in their cage. A wire floor is not recommended because they can get their foot stuck in the wire bottom. The bottom of the cage should be lined with an absorbent type of material or something like sawdust or wood shavings. Do not use cedar chips or pine chips because the oils may be harmful to them. The most important thing is to change the bedding frequent enough so the cage stays odorless and dry. The cage should be kept in a warm dry place so that extreme weather conditions do not occur. Guinea pigs love to hide when they play, so be sure to place cardboard tubes and/or empty coffee cans with smoothed edges in the enclosure. Guinea pigs can be allowed to run free in one room to get some additional exercise, but the room should be carefully checked for any openings from which the guinea pigs can escape, get lost or possibly end up hurt. It is best to supervise these animals when they are loose because they will chew on electrical wires. Guinea pig pellets are supplemented with it, but rabbit pellets are not. Therefore, it is best to buy only guinea pig food. You can add small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables to your guinea pig's basic diet, but please clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils. It is essential for you to provide your guinea pig with vitamin C. You should use a inverting water bottle which should be changed daily. Guinea pigs' teeth grow continuously, just like those of all other rodents. So, it is important for you to give your guinea pig a piece of wood that he can gnaw on to wear his teeth down. It's best to provide a tree branch that has not been treated with pesticides or any other chemicals, but any small piece of unpainted wood not treated chemically will do. Guinea pigs groom themselves, but brushing them on a regular basis will help keep their coat clean and remove loose hairs. Long-haired guinea pigs should be brushed regularly in order to prevent tangles and knots. Guinea pigs are social animals who prefer to live in small groups. Two young males generally can be kept together, but fighting usually breaks out among adult males. Several females can be kept together. Since guinea pigs, like all rodents, multiply rapidly, keeping males and females together is not recommended. If your guinea pig gets ill, you should always see a veterinarian. |
