Saturday, May 9, 2009

Is it a bad idea?

My little princess Kalya gets lonely when I'm gone. She a 7 month old fancy rat. Is she too old to make friends with other rats? I know rats are territorial and will fight other rats as they get older. Is she young enough to be able to get along with other rats? She was raised with other rats till about 3 months ago.
Answers:
yes! females are very open to getting new cage mates! it helps ALOT if her new buddy(s) are young.. like babies, that is what i have found to help, they always fight and take longer to get to know a full grown rat.
*Make sure you have two cages to start out with
*Take out your rattie kayla and your new rat and put them in each others cage every-other day without cleaning the cages so they get very used to the smell of each-other
*Introduce them on neutral ground- couch, bathtub.. whatever
*Before you put them in the cage together to live, make sure they are getting along great outside of the cage, even if they just jump on eachother and stuff it will be 10X worse in their home.
*Make sure you have a big enough cage, rats get VERY territorial if they feel threatened by the other rat when there is limited sleeping places and/or if the food bowl runs out ;)
GOOD LUCK!
Personally, I'd like it to meet my cat, Bootsie!
You are right to be concerned. Many times this is an individual thing. I have had experience with it working to introduce a new one and not working. Make sure the new rat isn't too old as well. Good luck. Watch them carefully, they may be alright at first and start fighting later so don't leave them alone. You will know soon.
put them a dvd player with Ratatouille so they can get inspired and maybe, when you get home.they all have fixed you dinner!
you can introduce Kayla to any other rat you are wanting to get before you buy it, just to make sure they might get along. but it would be best to introduce them somewhere neutral outside of both of their cages.(limits territory issues)
Kayla's age shouldn't be a problem %26 she'd probably love a new gal-friend or 2. Just do the usual quarentine %26 introduce them on neutral territory.
We recently lost our sweet siamese rat, and she had been perfectly happy to meet other rats even when she was over 2 years of age.
oh dear umm...if u think shes old enough then put he inone side of the cage(maybe a bigger cage)and then build a gate
and put another rat on one side(a tall gate so they wont climb over)make sure the gates have hole.

Is it a bad idea to buy a baby chinchilla from PetSmart?

I would get it from a breeder, but I can't find any in my area. Does anyone have a pet store-chinchilla? I hear they can be unfriendly ... is that true?
Answers:
I am a breeder of chinchillas, so i can help you out here. Pet stores sometimes get baby chinchillas from breeders when they dont sell them. When my chinchillas have litters, i sell all the ones i can, then sell the remainder to petco, pet supermarket, ect. chinchillas become unfriendly when they arent handled a lot, some pet stores handle their animals, some dont. Also pet stores WAY over charge. Standard grey chinchillas are normally sold for 85-100$ in the pet store they sell from 150-230$.over priced if you ask me!??! where are you located? if you need ANY more help, contact me at mocha_choca_chins@hotmail.com!... ( i currently have 15 chinchillas in breeding, and adding more!)

By the way, chinchillas CAN be played with, mine hop on my shoulder when i open the cage and would sit on my shoulder all day if they could, they hop from shoulder to shoulder and play hide and go seek with their little tunels, do NOT listen when people tell you they are untrainable and not playful. Believe me, they do ANYTHING for a raisin!!
its bad to buy anything from a petstore. try petfinder.com and use the search on the left.
It's all true, and more. You may have to travel to find a reputable private breeder but it will be well worth the trip. Don't forget, this is a large financial as well as emotional investment.
I would actually prefer to get my chinchilla from a 'large pet store' than a 'breeder' ... and if you are getting a 'baby' then you can 'tame it yourself' fairly easily. The one 'warning' I would give you, though, is that a chinchilla is a 'wild animal' (even those who have been 'bred in captivity' for generations), and you will never be able to 'play with it' as you would a rat, hamster or rabbit. Chinchillas have 'very long sharp teeth' and they need 'extra care' ... so be sure you have a 'good book on Chinchilla care' and READ IT THOROUGHLY before you buy. Petsmart or Petco are both 'excellent' sources of 'small animals' and you should also have the 'option' to 'return it' if you get it home and find you can't really 'keep it' properly ...
It's ok to buy a chinchilla from the petstore. You just may need to work with it a little more to get it use to humans. However, chinchillas are best in pairs. 2 females or 2 males. They do not like to be alone. When I had my first pair, one died and I was getting another one in a week and within that week the other one died of depression. They are also very VERY sensitive to certain things. They can only be fed Timothy hay, regardless of what you hear. My first one died because I listened to a breeder who said to feed alphalfa and he died of bloat.. the vet said it constipates them and they can die. Also they cannot be in very hot areas. In the summer I actually run a fan on them. Just read up a lot before you buy them. They are terrific animals but require a lot of care
you shouldnt buy any animals from pet stores - they are exploiting animals to make a profit...
look in your local newspaper or on bulletin boards or at vet offices.. if you have "odd and unusual livestock" auctions in your area sometimes they have ChinChillias..
( dont know where you are but I attend Innisfail Odd and Unusual Auction 2x a year they always have Chinchillas..) look around for similar in your area...
it isnt bad to buy something from a pet store! if everyone thought that and everyone bought from a breeder than it would be the pet store animals that need help right!! its ok to buy from a pet store, they come in contact and see people alot and they will just need a little extra taming, but make wonderful pets either way!
Please don't buy while shelter animals die!
Petstores get their animals from breeders, as well, and they're usually not well taken care of and have health problems! If you buy from them you're just contributing to the problem.
Look into local shelters and rescues, and keep checking ads/classifieds in local newspapers, etc.
Be patient, there will inevitably be a chin out there who someone is "done with" or is "tired of" or "can't take care of anymore." And you will be ready! : o )
I bought mine from a pet store and it is the nicest little thing ever. Basically in pet stores they do not get alot of one on one attention so at first they are just scared once you give them attention they will warm up to you and be sweet and tame. it dont take much time!! they are great pets

Is is normal for a guinea pig's first litter to be only one?

My guinea pig gave birth last night and there is only one baby. It's pretty big though and it's perfectly fine, as is the mother.
Answers:
You are very fortunate that your mama piggie came through the birth well. Sometimes, if there is only one pup, it can grow too big to pass, thus requiring vet intervention.
I wouldn't say its normal or abnormal. I just happens that way sometimes. Very similar to how triplets might happen for humans--sometimes it just happens.
I'll bet the pup is adorable. Please remember that if the pup is male, you *must* separate him from the mama pig by 21 days or she could be bred again. If the pup is a female, it can stay with mama pig indefinetely. Also, if you have not already removed the boar from the mother, please do so or she is probably already pregnant again. They can conceive again in as little as 4 hours after birth. Back to back pregnancies are very hard on sows.
Have fun with the new baby. They are so cute!
One baby is completely normal but you should take her in to the vet for a check up anyway. And maybe you should read the following article before you think about letting your sow get pregnant again.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/breeding.htm...
It is not common for a first time mother to have one pup - but it isn't uncommon either. It is actually quite risky with just one pup because single pups are bigger than normal - making the birth more difficult. Since the birth has happened now I'm sure both will be fine from now on!
Good luck with the bub!

Is if SfeTo Have 2 Female and 1 male dwarf hamster in the same cage?


Answers:
It is OK if you want to have 20 or 30 or more of them
they bread quickly and each time they have between 6 and 12 babies
I would put a separator in the cage keep the females with the females and the male by him self
No! First of all, Although Hamsters are kept in the same cage at the petstore, it is not a good idea. Little baby hamsters do all right for a while but they are solitary animals and as they get older will fight to the death for their own territory. The thing about a male and female, is that you will have a whole bunch of babies real soon! Hamsters mate and then give birth to 8-16 babies every 2 weeks! Other hamsters in the same cage will eat the babies, even the mother may eat some of the babies! So Unless you want a bunch of hamsters, remove the male immediately, and if you leave the females together, one morning you will wake to find at least one female dead and possibly both females dead! Good Luck!
No, not unless you want fights and babies to deal with.
I can garuntee you, if you put those three hammys in the same cage, it will mean ALOT of hamsters.
Well the hamsters might fight and you will end up with a LOT of hamsters! I really wouldn't put a male and 2 females together!

Is Hand Soap Toxic To Hamsters?

Syrians
Answers:
It is hand soap that you cleaned his cage with? Hmmm... if it was a floor cleaner or anyting toxic to humans than I would say yes, but since that is not the case, I would say no. Hamsters die for many reasons and he could have been old or anything might have happened. So sorry to hear about your hammy. Also, you know that it is not the soap as it was two days later.
hamsters LOVE to chew on things, including their cages. if there was enough residue on the bars for him to ingest, it definitely could have k.o'd the little guy. Sorry. :(
Sad. I don't know but I am SO sorry. I hope you are OK. :(
Handsoap is perfectly fine as long as you rinse it out well and completely dry it before you put the hamster back in...
It was probably not the handsoap, especially if you rinsed it really well. However, I don't use soap on my gerbil's cage--I use Lemon Quat and warm water. It's totally non-toxic to small animals. You can buy it at any pet store, it's fairly inexpensive, and one bottle will last you a long time. Depending on where you go, it may just be called "small pet cage disinfectant." It comes in a spray bottle and it works really well (just don't spray it on your pet--I know this is probably a given, but you know...). Give it a try; you'll probably end up liking it better than soap anyway.
P.S. Always read labels carefully before trying a new pet product!
If you rinsed the cage out propley I dont think it would of been.
But if you are planning on getting another hamster in the future you can buy disinfectant sprays from all pet stores especially designed to clean out all rodant cages. It will kill all harmful bacteria in the cage and is very safe to use.
HE'S GONNA DIE!!
not really
dont ever clean your hampsters cage with any kind if soap! it will kill them! you will just have to scrub.

Is guinea pig urine a carrier of leptospirrosis like rats do?


Answers:
I don't think so. I do know that guinea pigs can contract leptospirosis if they are on grass where there are infected animal droppings.
I own 2 guinea pigs and have never heard of them carring leptospirrosis.
Rodents don't by default have diseases or carry diseases. If there's a reason that you suspect leptospirrosis, you should take him/her to a vet. Otherwise, don't worry.

Is getting a new cage mate for my guinea pig a good idea?

Her other cage mate passed away recently and I think she is depressed. Do you think she'll accept a new cage mate? She's four years old, and got along very well with her other one. I'm hoping a new buddy will cheer her up, but I'm not sure if she'll fight with it or what. Should I risk it? What are the pros and cons? Also, how should I introduce them if I do get a new guinea pig?
Answers:
Yes, getting another guinea pig for your guinea pig is a great idea. A female or a nuetered male would work best, adopting from a rescue/shelter means that the piggy may be about the same age as your guinea pig and they are also very healthy. You can purchase a guinea pig from a pet store but like Ellen S said they are notorious for miss-treatment of their pigs and the pigs will often be riddled with mites and upper respiratory problems, let alone the fact that they often miss-sexed.
In terms of whether they will fight or not, it depends on how you introduce them but first you will have to quarintine the new guinea pig.
This should be done behind closed doors for about 3 weeks. Every time you hold the new piggy you will have to wear gloves and even change your t-shirt before you are able to hold your other one. This will hopefully stop in medical issues going from one guinea pig to the other.
Then the fun bit, introducing. This should be done in a nuetral area like a couch. Line the couch with a sheet (for obvious reasons) and make sure that you have 2 people. 1 person will hold 1 guinea pig and the other person will hold the other guinea pig. Let them find each other in their own time, what follows involves a whole heap of grumbling, but sniffing and mounting as they try to establish the hierarchy. Once this is done they should be best of friends. Only seperate them if blood is drawn.
If you were to introduce them in the older guinea pigs cage (or the new piggys cage for that matter) the owner of the cage may become violent or territorial thus why it is important to introduce them in a nuetral area.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm...
Good Luck!!
yah you should...i used to have guinea pigs. like a month after getting them (2)...one died of a sickness and so we bought anthor one. I am not sure how to introduce a guinea pig..but if i were u i would let them meet out side of the cage to where you can control the situation better. I am not sure if theyll attack eachother or not but if thet do start to fight you could just take it back 2 the store.but realize this, that your 4year old one may not live for very much longer...and once yours passes away ur newer one will be lonley and then it will be the same prob. Hope i helped.
No...you should get a new cage for the new mate. if you introduce them make sure it is out of a cage
try bringing your old guinea pig to the petstore
I would recommend getting a younger guinea pig. That way the younger guinea pig will maybe get used to your older guinea pig. Also, where ever you get your guinea pig, you should let your the guinea pig that you have now, be able to meet with new guinea pig that you are thinking of getting. Breeders, sometimes animal shelters and sometimes your local pet store, that are giving you the guinea pig, let you have the two guinea pigs meet. This way, you know if it's gonna work out!
Thanks for taking this answer, and if you have any questions, you email me at: pethelper4@yahoo.com! Thanks, and good luck!
Check out this link, it has some great info about introductions:
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm...
Getting a new friend for your pig is a great idea! I reccomend adopting a female guinea pig from a local shelter or rescue! Proper introduction techniques is the key to a successful pairing. This site that I linked you to has the BEST info on adding a 2nd pig and introductions techniques. http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm...
Definetly consider getting your pig a buddy. Probably a young female or a neutered male would work best, at her age. If there is a reputable rescue or shelter nearby I would take your pig in for a 'date' to see if she matches with anyone. Don't expose your pig to a petstore pig without a 3-week quarantine, please. Petstore pigs are notorious for harboring mites and upper respitory infections, not to mention they are commonly mis-sexed.
You'll want to do the introductions in a neutral area, such as during floortime. Expect squabbling, as long as it's not an all-out fight with blood drawn. They'll need to work out their hierarchy. Make sure you have a big enough cage with multiple hidey houses, food bowls, etc.
I'll stress it again~make sure to quarantine for 3 weeks if the new pig is coming from somewhere other than a rescue!
A helpful link:
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm...
sure, introduce em with treats ?
well, she should b fine as long as the cage mate is a girl and has been kept with others b4. if u don't get 1, make sure u hold her and cuddle bcuz guinea pigs need a companion and u take the place if it doesn't have a cage mate
i think u should let her have a few weeks to greave go to this website they tell u all about getting a guinea pig for another guinea pig who recently lost its buddy http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm...
srry the part ur looking for is twards the bottom. good luck. if u get another guinea pig please consider the shelter. there are so many animals that need ur help!
when i got my second guinea pig i brought him home and put it in the same cage as the other one and they started playing together right away... there names are pooh bear he is black,,snowball he is white with red eyes and i also have a female black and brown named angel... so i know what i'm talking about