SpongeBob the Guinea Pig

**ekfishlover2011** · 11-16-2012, 12:49 PM

My friend at work had to get rid of a guinea pig and my sister's neighbor wanted it, so i have to be the middle man to get it from here the whole way to them. My friend brought him in car to work yesterday an hour before i left (we are opposite shifts) and put him in my car for me so when i left i was all set. Today i take him to his new home. But while i had him i had to test everything to make sure he was suitable for a home with children.

Doesnt bite? Check. Healthy? He has severe hair loss but im told its from using newspaper shreddings instead of cedar. Otherwise, check! He is active but will stay still if hes in a lap? Check. Potty trained? Surprisingly check. He didnt go the whole hour i had him out this morning but ran to his corner when i put him back. He also is relatively still when picking him up/putting him down, so i think hes pretty much good to go!

Here's some pics i took of him during his short stay with me:

He only came with a 10gal tank! O.O So i had put him in here so he had more room. I later filled it with all his cedar. I didnt want to waste it but i was told they have some so its all good so now its bedded down.

My cat loves him. They are buds. Pigs are friends, not food! The dog doesnt understand this...

I couldnt resist the opportunity to have piggy back rides. XD

**seb's fish** · 11-16-2012, 02:06 PM

He looks so cute! Your starting to have a mini zoo at your house, even if the guinea pig is a short term resident!

**~firefly~** · 11-16-2012, 03:26 PM

I'd be concerned about that hair loss and get a skin scrape test at the vet before letting him near your cat. He could easily be carrying mites or have a mange/scabies infection. Wash your hands very throroughly before and after handling him until you get this checked out by a professional.

That tank is no where near big enough in my opinion. Guinea pigs require excellent ventilation (which you won't get in a glass tank - a large cage/hutch is better) and plenty of access to fresh grass, hay (very important in the absence of grass) and a variety of foods. Fresh vegetables are a must as guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own Vitamin C - they must have fresh veggies daily.

Get some large tubes for him to hide in. Guineas are shy and skittish (especially if kept alone) and will thank you for lots of cover and hidey holes. Could you get him some company? Is he neutered?

I used to feed mine apple slices, carrot, cabbage leaves, grapes, apple wood (branches from apple trees - they eat the bark off them), hay, fresh grass, dandelion leaves, as well as a complete food for guinea pigs.

I hope this information helps

He's very cute.

**ekfishlover2011** · 11-17-2012, 03:52 PM

I know everything u said firefly, i used to have guinea pigs. But like i said, i only had him for two days. His old owner left him in a poor empty 10gal tank for his entire life, i decided to put him in my 36gal for the two days he was here so it was at least bigger, but i still kno he needs a lot more space. My sister's neighbor has a very large flat cage ready and my sister's experience will help them with knowing what to do with him otherwise (the tubes and house and veggies. When he was with me he was eating celery and carrots because the owner gave me barely enough food to feed him for one day. :(

I miss Sponge Bob already. He was a nice guinea pig. I tried hinting at my grandma that i could keep his 10gal and hook up my giant 5 story hamster paradise and get a beautiful calico hamster i saw in store... I was shot down, crashed, and burned. She says we are not a zoo and she only let me have guinea pig those two days because she knew he would be gone soon and she didnt have to deal with him. Someday im sure i can convince her. Hamsters are so low maintenance i really dont see why not...

Also the hair loss is from chemicals in the newspaper shreddings they were using. They had him checked out for that, so hes safe with my cat. Thanks for your concern tho!

**Aeonflame** · 11-17-2012, 03:57 PM

Remember that wheels are not substitutes for a suitably sized enclosure... especially for guinea pigs. Their spines do not bend that way like hamsters and other rodents.

**Rue** · 11-18-2012, 02:55 PM

He's pretty cute! I hope he does well in his new home and his hair grows back.

Nice of you to arrange for transport!

**escamosa** · 11-18-2012, 10:40 PM

The cat looks quite unimpressed about having the pig hitch a ride on him!

**ekfishlover2011** · 11-19-2012, 01:50 AM

yup. he just loooved it. lol jk. at least he didnt jump and throw the pig off.

my sister says that Spongebob is really enjoying his new home. Im told he now has a large appropriate guinea pig cage, a bigger food dish, proper bedding, a house, and he seems to love the neighbors kids as they let him roam house all the time. Sounds like a little piggy heaven. :) She also told them to get vitamin supplements for his water and yogurt drops and give him carrots and lettuce. I hope she remembered that it cant be iceberg... Better call her about that.