guniea pig dilemma!

[Hamster Munchies]

there’s this woman selling her two guinea pig babies, they’re three weeks old, and one of them is a boy and the other is a girl. i’d love to get them, except i don’t want them to reproduce. i’d feel awful separating them, as they have been together since birth, but i have no idea what to do. any help??

[tobyluv]

Isn’t 3 weeks old too young to be taken away from their mother?

Guinea pigs can be spayed or neutered. Here is why one rescue recommends it, and spays and neuters theirs before they are adopted:
http://www.mgpr.org/newsite/Adopt_Foster/SpayAndNeuter.cfm.

[BrunosMama]

I can’t remember much about guinea babies, but 3 weeks sounds too young for most critters. Also, if guineas are like bunnies, sexing them young can be difficult. Maybe you will get lucky and they’ll be the same sex after all?

There are some cavvy savvy (lol!) People on here who can probably answer your questions better.

[BrunosMama]

Actually, Long Eared Lions has guineas. You could probably PM her if she doesn’t pop on sometimes soon.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Many states have laws about how young an animal can be separated from mom-3 weeks is too young for any mammal.

I’m also not sure if I’d support this person by purchasing or taking on her guinea pigs. As nice as it would be to rescue them or to have new pets, by purchasing from pet stores or irresponsible owners or back yard breeders you contribute to the homeless pet population. Is it possible to adopt a guinea pig from a shelter nearby?

[MoxieMeadows]

I agree with KandK, 3 weeks is too young for any mammal to be separated from their mother. And guinea pigs can be spayed/neutered I think.

LongEaredLions and TheMidnightSapphire both have guinea pigs, I’m not totally sure who else have guinea pigs, but you might try to PM one of them if nobody more knowledgeable pops on.

[LongEaredLions]

Sorry, you could say I’ve been a bit pre-occupied.
3 weeks is way too early to be separated from the mother, at this point, it’s pretty hard to tell the gender anyways, especially by someone not very knowledgeable in cavies. Could you call the woman and ask her why the babies are being sold this early? And maybe politely let her know they need to be at least 8 weeks?
If you do end up getting them, you can neuter the male and keep them together. Unlike bunnies, you do not need to worry about altering them both in order to bond them.

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