| $ $ Primary Expenses: $55 - $375 | $ $ $ Continuous Expenses: $300 - $550 |
Guinea pigs are rodents originally from South America, which were first domesticated about 3,000 years ago by natives and later transported to Europe as exotic pets.
There are different breeds, depending on fur color and length, mostly.
Nowadays, no guinea pigs live in the wild.
Their beautiful fur -or lack of, since there’s also a hairless guinea pig-, charming eyes and ears, make people fall for these lovely rodents.
Let’s review next some of the most interesting facts about guinea pigs as pets and how much you’ll have to spend to have them.
Table of Contents
Is A Guinea Pig The Right Pet For Me?
Guinea pigs are extremely social rodents.
This means that they are great pets for the whole family, but it also means that you should consider getting more than one.
They will have a better and healthier life than just living alone, even if you or your family are there.
Guinea pigs generally live from 4 to 6 years, but some can even get to live 8 years, so it is a long-term commitment.
Because they have been domesticated, they are sociable with humans and are not aggressive, so kids can be safe around them.
Guinea pigs are small and fragile, so they must be handled with care and attention.
They are active, so they need enough space in their cage or habitat to have the exercise they need throughout the day.
Primary Expenses
In this section, there are those things that you’ll probably have to purchase only once when getting a guinea pig.
Adopting Or Buying A Guinea Pig
Rodents are usually not common pets to adopt, but you could still check local shelters or rescue groups to see if they have any guinea pigs for adoption.
In any adoption process, you’ll have to pay what are called ‘adoption fees’, which are things that the shelter had to spend while they had the pet there.
Some can even provide a small cage or toys to take with you as well.
Adopting a guinea pig usually costs from $10 to $40.
If you’re looking to buy a special type of breed, there are guinea pig breeders.
Average prices can be from $25 to $50 per guinea pig.
Cages Or Habitats
Guinea pigs need a lot of room, so even if there are smaller options in the market, it’s not a good idea to have them in a tight space.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to have accessories, toys, a hideout, and probably more than one guinea pig.
Some of these cages already come with basic accessories, such as a water bottle, feeder, stairs, or ramps.
Guinea pig cages tend to cost from $35 to $300, depending mostly on the size.
Accessories
Unlike other rodents, exercise wheels are not a good idea here.
Their anatomy is not made for this kind of activity, so it’s better to avoid them.
Hideouts are a great option because guinea pigs like to have their own space.
You could find them made of plastic or wood, mostly.
These normally cost between $10 and $25.
Continuous Expenses
Here you’ll find things you have to spend either monthly or annually when having a guinea pig as a pet.
Food
Guinea pigs are herbivores, they eat fruits and vegetables.
There is special dry food that you can buy at pet stores or supermarkets.
In addition, they need to eat hay and fresh vegetables.
You will be spending annually on guinea pig food from $180 to $300.
Bedding
This will be necessary for your guinea pig to go to the bathroom, so you’ll constantly need to buy this.
There are different options, from wood shavings to paper-based ones.
Bedding will cost between $50 to $100 per year.
Vitamin C
Guinea pigs need to have vitamin C supplements to prevent scurvy.
You can find these supplements in concentrated drops or as chewable tablets.
There are options from $5 to $10.
It’s advisable to ask your veterinarian about the proper daily dose for your guinea pig.
Toys
Guinea pigs need to keep their teeth from growing excessively, as other rodents, so toys that are safe to chew are usually the best option for them.
Toys like these cost from $3 to $20.
Vet Visits
The cost of annual check-ups varies generally depending on the town or city where you live, but you should expect to pay from $35 to $100.
- How Much Does a Blue Rhino Propane Tank Cost? - May 23, 2022
- How Much Does a Bed Frame Cost? - May 23, 2022
- How Much Does Metal Siding Cost? - May 23, 2022