There were a lot of reasons why last weekend was awesome, obviously one was the race (Pacific Crest), but the rest of the reasons had to do with my cousin and his family. They hosted me while I was in Bend for the race, and we had so much fun… A birthday party, lots of soccer (with me on the “audience” side of things), floating on the river, pizza, a go-kart race, and Guinea Pigs!
The two littlest members of the family are Wilbur and Everest. They are guinea pigs, and despite what their names might indicate they are both girls. Wilbur is pictured here. SO CUTE!!!!!! I WANT ONE!!!!! Here is what I learned from my very well-informed little second cousin once removed who is 9 years old:
- Guinea Pigs live in the wild in South America.
- People and carnivores eat them.
- This is why they eat fast and are very fearful, their instinct tells them they are constant targets.
- Boy pigs smell worse than girl pigs (appropriately), that’s why Wilbur and Everest are girls.
- They do best if you get 2 at a time and they have to be the same gender.
- Guinea Pigs only cost $24.
- However their cage costs $100.
- Lettuce is their favourite treat.
- They squeak.
And for your viewing pleasure (btw it’s EVEN BETTER on MUTE!!!):
Comments
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 am and is filed under cool stuff, family, four-leggeds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I had a Guinea pig growing up; George. Super cute but their cages have to be cleaned pretty regularly (they smell after a week or so). Probably “or so” because I was 7 or 8 when I had George.
The other thing to remember about guinea pigs is that you Have to give them something to chew on that will grind their teeth a little. Their teeth keep growing and if they don’t keep them short enough they can’t eat (Sorry George).
the “or so” part is like every other day mind you. I lived with guinea pigs for the last 5 months, they are annoying and that “cute” noise becomes aggravating. They aren’t cuddly for long.
get a couple of dwarf hamsters, way cuter, way smaller cage.. but you need 2 as well.
I had a guinea pig once. His name was Tallie (don’t know where that came from) and he bit me a bunch of times and that hurt. so when he died prematurely I wasn’t too upset. Somehow it was decided that we would stuff him, so he was put into the freezer to await my enrollment in a taxidermy class. This never happened, so ten years later when we moved I found my frozen dead guinea pig at the bottom of the basement freezer. Not cool. If you have kids, don’t ever tell them they can keep their dead animals in the freezer.
Oh, and if you have dwarf hamsters (my sister had two), don’t put a running wheel in the cage. When your little brother decides to help one dwarf hamster run faster, and then the hamster gets his head stuck in the running wheel and dies, you’ll be left with only one hamster, and they don’t live long once they’re separated.
What do you think Kitty would think of a Guinea Pig though?!
he’d probably want to cuddle with it… i swear, i have the LEAST predatory cat in existence!
also, ben: AHAHAHA regarding your frozen guinea pig. traumatic, i know, but the mental picture of you finding it was pretty darn funny.
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ben’s story was awesome. don’t get a guinea pig, it’s like a giant rat
C, I am a few blogs behind, but CONGRATS on your awesome race at Pacific Coast! WOO HOO!!!
Jen H. Happy 4th!
Ben…that was more than I ever wanted to know about you and your pets.
Court…that guinea pig video is SO FREAKING CUTE!!! I agree though…they could get smelly. I had two rats growing up. They were both so awesome and then one died and the other got mean. I think he was really sad/upset. Sigh…
Pets are great, aren’t they?