Guinea Pigs?

Teal · 03-24-14, 01:53 AM

I did a search first, and didn't find a general thread about feeding Guinea pigs... But I have a few questions that hopefully y'all can answer!

Because my retic is stuck on GPs, I figured I might as well start breeding them and then I can feed most of my snakes so my feeder cost goes down.

I'm just wondering if there are potential issues with GPs being the main food source? Should I stick to short haired GPs? Anything I should know? Guinea pigs just don't seem like a popular choice, and I'm wondering if that's because of issues I'm not currently aware of or a lack of availability for most people.

**Tsubaki** · 03-24-14, 03:33 AM

Feeding guinea pigs is no problem, there are lot of 'myths' claiming otherwise. But Myths is all they are. They don't have 'hard to digest' skulls, their hair digests like any other rodent hair, they don't cause 'vitamin B' overdoses (which is total bull) The only think that is true, not all snakes like the way they smell. Some don't eat guinea pigs as easy as others. I would however clip some excess hair of long-haired guinea pigs, the long hair could possibly cause some irritation in the mouth. (doesn't have to be pretty so its easy to do)

But now the downside! -which is pretty large. I used to breed them(shortly). And it was a ton of work to do it properly. That is the reason they aren't used as food that much. Guinea pigs don't do well on kibble alone, they either need a good diet with lots of added greens. Or liquid vitamin C, or you will have very sick pigs. A guinea pig is only receptive once every 2 weeks, so they don't always mate when you need them to. They carry up to 70 days, and have very small litters, usually 3 but as low as 1 of high as 5 is possible.. However moms only have 2 nipples, so large litters don't grow as well as smaller ones. They need more general care than for example rats, like their nails need to be clipped if they only walk on soft bedding. (or they'll grow until they can not walk anymore) and the long haired ones will mat if you don't clip or brush them. Also, the noise.. Egh.. that was the dealbreaker for me.

If you like guinea pigs, and don't mind caring for them.. They're fine as food. But if you don't really like pigs? It would be wise to look for something else. (ps. their dietary requirements and little production makes them a expensive food source)

Edit: One upside, they can't/don't really jump, so a 8 inch plank/plexiglas can contain them. So their enclosures are easy to stack.

Teal · 03-24-14, 02:31 PM

Thanks for the reply!

I have raised Guinea pigs before, so that is no problem... But you are right, I didn't consider their higher care needs over other rodents as being more expensive in the long run. This may end up a failed experiment, and I'll just have to keep buying GPs as I find them for my retic. So far, none of my other snakes big enough to eat even young GPs have rejected them... But they're easy feeders, really.

Terranaut · 03-24-14, 03:07 PM

Switch to bunnies if you can. Try it. If refused preserve. Well worth it considering it's a retic and feeding it 10 GP's at a time down the road might be expensive.

xSerpentGoddess · 03-24-14, 05:27 PM

Have you tried scenting rabbits or rats with guinea pig? I find that even just ripping a few hair out of the guinea pig and putting it on the head of a rabbit or rat does the trick. Sometimes you really only need a little. I've done this with feathers from frozen chicks and I've used mouse hair on rats for picky carpets. You can also try soaking frozen ones in water together and the scent will be picked up. You should eventually be able to wean off the scenting.

Sublimeballs · 03-24-14, 06:55 PM

GPs are considerably higher in fat, and if I remember correctly lower in protein, then rats rabbits. This being the main reason they arnt suggested as a stable food source. I second the trying to switch to rabbits. I feed rabbits as my stable, aswell as rats, GPs, and chickens. It honestly surprises me that your tic has food imprinted. All of mine are ready for whatever comes in the cage. Especially the jamp. She would eat me if possible.

Teal · 03-24-14, 08:49 PM

He unfortunately only eats live right now, too.. I got him as an adult, and he ate for the first time for me when I finally have in and got live GPs. Before that, I tried a rabbit and a rat... The rabbit was f/t, and he ignored it. The rat was live, which he killed but wouldn't eat. Maybe now that he has a few down and is eager for more, I can try scenting something else... And I REALLY want him to switch to f/t.

Terranaut · 03-24-14, 09:37 PM

I would try without scenting first. You may not have to. Given a retic feed response I think you will be fine. As said above although not impossible most retics do not imprint on one specific prey item. Now I am talking from other experiences and not my own so if others find this wrong please chime in. I would also give f/t another chance if you can. Well worth a few failures if eventually it works.

Teal · 03-25-14, 11:35 AM

I've not witnessed this legendary feeding response that retics are famed to have lol. My male is mellow about everything! Maybe I'll try freshly killed this week and see if he goes for it.

Sublimeballs · 03-25-14, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teal

I've not witnessed this legendary feeding response that retics are famed to have lol. My male is mellow about everything! Maybe I'll try freshly killed this week and see if he goes for it.

Really, ill have to get a little video of my jamps feed mode. It's quite something; I can't get the prey item into her cage. She's at the cage door as soon as I walk in my snake room. But Jamps are supposed to have like the best feed response of all retics. And it shows compared to my kalatoas. They have great feed responses, but nothing like my jamp.

IW17 · 03-25-14, 03:40 PM

My Male tiger has the feeding response of a timid ball python. Cowers away and will only come out to eat after I walk away. My platty I just got however is the exact opposite. Definitely have to stay on my toes at feeding time. He literally launches himself out at me going for the rat.

Sublimeballs · 03-25-14, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IW17

My Male tiger has the feeding response of a timid ball python. Cowers away and will only come out to eat after I walk away. My platty I just got however is the exact opposite. Definitely have to stay on my toes at feeding time. He literally launches himself out at me going for the rat.

Isn't your platty part jamp(having a hard time remembering things today, so tierd)? If so that's why. Killer feeders. As I said I've never been able to get the prey into the cage, she's on it within a foot or so outside of her cage.