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Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 2:41:57 PM   
Aileen68


Posts: 6091
Joined: 8/2/2005
Status: offline 		Easter is right around the corner and I'm debating whether to get my wee ones two Holland Lop Bunnies
or two guinea pigs.
They will be housed in the same cage so I know that I'll need two females.
Does anyone have any experience with either animal?
I'm leaning towards the bunnies at this point because I heard that they can be litter trained.
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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 2:46:30 PM   
Quivver


Posts: 1953
Joined: 11/27/2004
Status: offline 		My Vote is for the Bunnies. Very litttertrainable, they make less noise then the large rodents do at feeding time, easier to find if they decide to play hide and seek after breaking out of their jail too. Just remember, theycan bite just like those large rodents do.


Q

edited cause I cant spell!!!

< Message edited by Quivver -- 3/13/2006 3:44:34 PM >

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 2:49:17 PM   
windy135


Posts: 437
Joined: 10/17/2005
Status: offline 		I don't know much about animals but I always wanted little chicklets for easter.. cute little yellow fluffy birds... :) good idea I wish my parents would have gotten me a bunny or something.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 3:07:54 PM   
windchymes


Posts: 9410
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline 		I'm more partial to guinea pigs. My sister had bunnies for several years, and, while they're adorable and cute, they don't really do anything. I found them kind of boring. Guinea pigs seem to have a little more of a "personality". And I happen to love that little "ooweet ooweet ooweet" noise they make.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 3:34:56 PM   
Vancouver_cinful


Posts: 1911
Joined: 2/3/2004
Status: offline 		I had a lop bunny, and I loved him...Now for the reality...

Yes, they can be litter trained...but mine insisted on marking territory by peeing on my sofa, on my bed...They do jump, the little buggers! LOL

They need lots of excercise, so if you wanted an animal more cageable...pick me...errr...the guinea pigs. ::giggle::

Think of a bunny as needing more work than a cat but less than a dog. I found that mine did not take well to changes in routine, and responded by getting diarrhea and being grumpy. A grumpy bunny can/will nip, stomp its back leg loudly and annoyingly, and throw things like water dishes, and food around, so be prepared. Consistency and routine, are very necessary to their health.

I did find I was sweeping up bunny droppings, even though my rabbit used the litterbox to pee (when he wasn't marking the damn sofa).

They also CHEW!!! Electrical cords, plants that make them sick, and other things must be kept away from them. My bunny was stubborn, and intelligent, and enjoyed making a game out of circumventing my measures to protect him and my property.

That being said...They are extremely fun when well-socialized, and cute as can be. Mine was not a cuddler though, not all bunnies are, so you take that risk.

The joke amongst my friends was that I had a dom-bunny before I ever had a dominant boyfriend. It's funny because it's true!

Cin



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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 4:05:59 PM   
RiotGirl


Posts: 3149
Status: offline 		i'd go for the guinea pig. Bunnies die to easily. Had two bunnies a year or so ago. One response said they dont do much. Kind of true. Kind of boring, frighten to easily.. but it could of just been the fact that my 2 year old terror introduced them to the family by wacking them with hairbrushes. (i was grabbing carrots when she found this great amusement) Could of had a lasting effect.. ya never know. Plus, one disapeared and then the other decided to starve its self to death.

i've a guinea pig now and it absolutely delights my little one. We call it Squeaky (but privately i call him Bandit) the masked Bandit! He sqeals just to squeal i think. Grabs food.. runs around.. he's a cute little thing and he does have a personality. He's new and still settling in. Completely unfraid of my 3 little hunters that continuoesly stalk him. Been captured once by my Tigger kitty.. yet he still shows no fear. He eats Grits too. The dog absolutely loves the guinea pig and i think the feeling is mutal. Bandit hides in the dogs stomach or chest.. or whatever.. the dog lays down near it.. keeps an eye on the guinea pig (least a cat capture it) and even chases the cats away when they get too close. i think the kittens are miffed as my dog used to be THEIR stand in mother. Guinea pig is great. Tough little fellow he is.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 4:39:16 PM   
MstrssPassion


Posts: 2444
Joined: 1/1/2004
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Status: offline 		Far more cons than pros with those two choices... maybe expand your choices.

Keep in mind... a pet is for life

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 4:53:08 PM   
Vancouver_cinful


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quote:

ORIGINAL: RiotGirl

i'd go for the guinea pig. Bunnies die to easily. Had two bunnies a year or so ago. One response said they dont do much. Kind of true. Kind of boring, frighten to easily.. but it could of just been the fact that my 2 year old terror introduced them to the family by wacking them with hairbrushes.

My impression is that bunnies have very differing personalities. I have heard of bunnies like you describe, but my bunny was exactly opposite. He was fearless, played games on me, and even appeared to have a sense of himour. (Most bunny experts will say that some bunnies love to play tricks and mine did.)

I'm not sure how you'd go about figuring out which type of personality you are going to get, mine seemed very cuddly and passive when I got him and he grew out of that fast! LOL He hated being held, and it was a 3 man job to clip his nails!!

He was aggravating at times, but he was also awesome company. He knew how to get me out of my computer chair, by pulling my pant leg, knocking things off the coffee table, throwing toys in my direction...He even had a game where every time he saw me head to the bathroom he'd race me to get there first, and he'd be sitting in front of the toliet when I got there, with a tilted head and a humorous glint in his eye. Stupid humans are sooo slow, it seem to say!! LOL

As for guinea pigs, I think they are great, too. Love the squeaks and squeals, and apparently yes, they often do well with other pets such as dogs, rabbits, etc.

As far as I can tell, the biggest determining factor in how engaging these animals will be as pets, is how much time they are out of their cage and socializing. I knew a canary once that was guite the charactor, but he spent most of his days cage-free. (Messy but fun).

Pets are only as enjoyable as the amount of love and energy you are willing to put into them.

Cin

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 4:58:33 PM   
Vancouver_cinful


Posts: 1911
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen68

They will be housed in the same cage so I know that I'll need two females.

Oh, I meant to mention that rabbits don't always do well with other rabbits...Males fight, and even females can be nasty. They are territorial. One cage for 2 bunnies, may be a mistake.

I've heard rabbits do better with a guinea pig for a companion, oddly enough, and they do well together in one very large cage apparently.

Guinea pigs need a companion, rabbits do best with socialization AND some private territory is the general information I've gathered over the years.

Cin

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 5:00:11 PM   
Gauge


Posts: 5689
Joined: 6/17/2005
Status: offline 		I have had bunnies... they are wonderful fun. They are cute, cuddly looking balls of fur. Their maintenance is very important and diet is essential. My first suggestion is to get the bunnies from a reputable source. Depending on the age of the bunnies their sex organs are very difficult to identify and so if someone doesn't know what they are giving you, you could end up with more pets than you bargained for or two males that will fight each other.

The second suggestion is to read everything you can about raising rabbits and talk to a vet about their diet and potential health issues. Diet is something that I found out is very important. We think that bunnies can sustain themselves on lettuce and carrots and other greens... that is a myth actually. Certainly they can exist on some veggies like that but fiber is also quite important. My vet told me to give the bunnies regular rabbit food and Timothy hay. Then give greens as a treat about once a week.

Above I mentioned that rabbits look cuddly, they do, but they often do not like to be cuddled or held. There are exceptions to this of course.

Giving animals as pets is not the best idea because most people do not realize how tough they are to take care of. If you research and prepare yourself you should be fine. I hope this helps.

Just remember: You're no bunny until some bunny loves you.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 8:48:53 PM   
LaMalinche


Posts: 2077
Joined: 10/20/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen68

Easter is right around the corner and I'm debating whether to get my wee ones two Holland Lop Bunnies
or two guinea pigs.
They will be housed in the same cage so I know that I'll need two females.
Does anyone have any experience with either animal?
I'm leaning towards the bunnies at this point because I heard that they can be litter trained.



While you have probably mentioned. . . just how "wee" are the wee ones?

Why either bunnies or guinea's?

Have you thought about a kitty? They can at least run and hide themselves but be known to come out for food.

Why do you have to have two. . . is sharing an unheard of concept?

Mmmmm. . . just some ponderances.

Best,

LaMalinche


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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 8:52:25 PM   
Quivver


Posts: 1953
Joined: 11/27/2004
Status: offline 		Well Chit, if were all gonna give suggestions I vote for a Pony!

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 8:56:03 PM   
SirKenin


Posts: 2994
Joined: 10/31/2004
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Status: offline 		Rabbits stink like hell but then again so do guinea pigs. I know from having a pig that they are fickle as hell and really easy to kill. I vote for the the bunnies because they are so darn cute. Just make sure you get the ones that lay the creme eggs... The gift that keeps on giving.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 8:58:23 PM   
LaMalinche


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Joined: 10/20/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Quivver

Well Chit, if were all gonna give suggestions I vote for a Pony!


That is NOT an indoors pet.

Not that I do not still want one. . .


Best,

LaMalinche


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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 9:00:01 PM   
Vancouver_cinful


Posts: 1911
Joined: 2/3/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: SirKenin

Rabbits stink like hell but then again so do guinea pigs. I know from having a pig that they are fickle as hell and really easy to kill. I vote for the the bunnies because they are so darn cute. Just make sure you get the ones that lay the creme eggs... The gift that keeps on giving.

Neither rabbits nor guinea pigs smell, both are very clean animals. Their cages stink if they are not cleaned properly.

Cin

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 9:13:20 PM   
SirKenin


Posts: 2994
Joined: 10/31/2004
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Vancouver_cinful


quote:

ORIGINAL: SirKenin

Rabbits stink like hell but then again so do guinea pigs. I know from having a pig that they are fickle as hell and really easy to kill. I vote for the the bunnies because they are so darn cute. Just make sure you get the ones that lay the creme eggs... The gift that keeps on giving.

Neither rabbits nor guinea pigs smell, both are very clean animals. Their cages stink if they are not cleaned properly.

Cin


That is what I meant.. And you can never keep the cages clean enough. You can clean them several times a week and it is still enough to gag a maggot.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 11:16:50 PM   
perverseangelic


Posts: 2625
Joined: 2/2/2004
From: Davis, Ca
Status: offline 		How old are your little ones?

Rabbits are pretty fragile as animals go, too much stress itself can give them heart attacks. Don't get me wrong, I like rabbits, but they aren't really a pet for very young people.

Truthfully, I'd recomend rats. They're sweet, social, friendly and clean. As long as their cage is maintained properly you never smell more than the clean rat smell (which I think is kinda nice.) They are prone to some illnesses, but theya ren't likely to get them from people. They can tolerate a lot without biting.


Of the two choices, though, I'd go with the guinea pigs.

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 11:22:35 PM   
Vancouver_cinful


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Joined: 2/3/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: perverseangelic
Truthfully, I'd recomend rats. They're sweet, social, friendly and clean. As long as their cage is maintained properly you never smell more than the clean rat smell (which I think is kinda nice.) They are prone to some illnesses, but theya ren't likely to get them from people. They can tolerate a lot without biting.

They are surprisingly good pets. Certianly better than mice, gerbils, or hamsters, in my opinion. Social, intelligent and hardy. I had one for a short while and he was lovely.

Cin

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/13/2006 11:49:23 PM   
ownedgirlie


Posts: 9184
Joined: 2/5/2006
Status: offline 		Not to come across as a PETA pusher here, but i would strongly suggest looking into the care and demeanors of any animal before bringing it home. How old are the kids? Every year, a gazillion parents think it's a great idea to bring a bunny home, and a month later, bunny is dead or neglected, kids are upset, and parents are stressed.

Sorry, didn't mean to bring the post down, nor did i mean to insult your intelligence. i have kind of strong feelings about picking up an animal just because it's cute. If you've done your homework, awesome and disregard this post :)

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RE: Easter animal gifts? - 3/14/2006 12:23:36 AM   
Vancouver_cinful


Posts: 1911
Joined: 2/3/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ownedgirlie
i have kind of strong feelings about picking up an animal just because it's cute. If you've done your homework, awesome and disregard this post :)

I'm with you on this one, that's why I wanted to add my thoughts to this thread. It's so important that people know what they are getting into.

As much as it kills me to be without a pet, I know this is not a good time for me to commit to one so I avoid the pet stores. Too tempting for me. Even this thread has got me yearning... ::sigh::

Cin <~ chanting to self 'You can live without a pet, Cin, yes you can!!'

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My Karma Account is huge, but I just can't seem to make a withdrawal!!

http://cinful.wordpress.com

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