Guinea Pigs Should NOT Be Placed in Exercise Balls
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
January 6, 2009 8:05pm CST
I felt the need to post this warning because I noticed someone posted photos of a guinea pig in an exercise ball on this discussion topic.
Guinea pigs have a fragile spine that is not meant to curve in a way to run (or even walk) in an exercise wheel or exercise ball. If you want a pet that does this, I recommend a rat, mouse, or hamster. Guinea pigs aren't big on exercise toys, but they do enjoy at least 7.5 square feet of cage space to run laps in, and maybe even a ramp to climb.
But please, no dangerous exercise balls!
2 people like this
3 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
3 May 09
You're welcome! Glad to know another piggie won't have to get injured in an exercise ball.
Congrats on adopting a new piggie soon! Are you just getting one? They generally do best in pairs but I know sometimes in the rescue we get singles that just won't pair up with anyone. But it only seems to happen in less than 1 out of 100 piggies. Most are very social.
1 person likes this
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
14 Apr 09
We had one ball a long time ago. He didn't mind being in it but we never left him in there for more than a couple minutes. I started reading about the dangers of them and never put him back in. It got used for the rats and mice that were smaller than him. Someone suggested that people should read a book before they get a pet, I hate to say it but some book are so horribly written that they aren't worth the time or money.
Viva La Piggie!
1 person likes this
