First time owner!

[weeksl08]

Hello! My name is Lesley, and this ours either Rupert, or Melvin (social media is still helping me decide.)

I have a 2 year old and am 16 weeks pregnant, living in a small apartment so for now a pet store cage was the best option for mostly safety reasons. We are using pine pellet horse bedding covered with non-pill fleece.

He is very very young, only about half the size of the others in the cage. The pet store clerk said he was just a few weeks old but couldn't give me an accurate estimate. They were feeding him Oxbo pellets and Timothy hay, so I've currently got him Oxbo and a mix of Timothy, Alfalfa, and Oat grass. I have vitamin C drops in his water.

He has two hanging wooden toys, a salt lick, a wicker ball, two chew sticks, a tunnel, and a bed.

Am I forgetting or missing anything that he needs? He has a treat bar and some dried fruit at the moment and when we have fresh fruit and veggies I plan to share. My toddler gave him a grape but he's not interested.

I've had ferrets and parrots but this is my first cavie! We've ordered
The Guinea Pig Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks) and it should be here soon. I'm actively researching and learning as well.

Any tips, tricks, or advice is appreciated!

Attachments:

[Orlaith]

He's a cutie. Let us know when you choose a name!

I wouldn't put vitamin C drops in his water. If he's on a good quality guinea pig pellet and getting a variety of fresh vegetables then he won't need it, plus the taste can put some pigs off drinking. Here is a great list by our own Kayleigh that shows the wide variety of things you can feed your piggy.

You don't have to feed alfalfa hay if you don't want to. In fact it's only recommended for pregnant/nursing sows and young babies as it has a very high calcium content compared to other pigs, which can lead to problems. Timothy or meadow hay is ideal. Just make sure it's nice and fresh-smelling and available 24/7.

Have you considered getting him a friend? Guinea pigs are very social and communicate with a wide vocabulary and are almost always happier with a piggy friend to play with.

[weeksl08]

Thank you so much for all of that!!

We do plan on getting RUPERT a friend once we feel like we know what we're doing, and can provide a bigger cage. I feel like the cage we have is ok, but of we added a second we would need more floor space.

I had no idea about his diet and supplements so I appreciate that! I felt like that was too much sugar and was unsure of the drops but trusting the pet shop clerk.
Also, I have some extra fleece and a sewing machine, but little knowledge of how to use it. I'm trying to figure out how I want to do it, but I'm going to make some sort of fleece contraption to go over his bed to make it a hide out. He has been spending a lot of time in his tunnel so I figured he was missing his igloo from the pet store.