Hello peoples

[retrosmurf]

Hello.

Im new to the forum and look forward to sharing stories, info and learning from you guys about SG's.

Dave

[Amalthea]

Welcome

[helen88uk]

Hi! Do you have suggies atm or are you here to learn first? Either way hope ya enjoy the site!x

[wjohnw]

Welcome to the forum! Have a happy time hunting through the site for all the important info you need to know

[Emma9383]

Hello, and welcome to the site. feel free to ask loads questions, there's always someone here to give you the right advice!

[retrosmurf]

Thanks for your welcome

I dont own any suggies yet but have been researching and have started looking now to buy some of these adorable animals.  I have found a brother and sister for sale from a private owner and will be making further enquiries about them tomorrow. I dont wanna rush into it as I want to get it right the first time for them.

Any draw backs about buying a brother and sister? I dont want them for breeding but you cant stop nature taking its course. I'm worried they will try and mate with each other and I dont want to be having baby suggies with an extra limb!

[Emma9383]

get the male neutered 

[retrosmurf]

Would feel kind of cruel doing that but for the good of not having offspring with health issues its the right thing to do.

Thank you.

[retrosmurf]

How many suggies do you own Emma and how long have you owned them? Any tips for a newbie? I have read a few places that diet can be hard to get to grips with when first starting out.

[Marie]

Hi, welcome to SGF.  It is not cruel getting males neutered.  If you don't want joeys and it's not advisable with related animals then you haven't really got much choice. 

[Emma9383]

It's not mean hun. I've got two little twin girls so haven't had to go through it, but from what I hear, it seems to be relatively quick and there doesn't seem to be many complications, have a little read throught the health section and there's some bits on neutering.
I've had mine since July 24th so I'm still pretty new to it all.
My best advice is to thoroughly research as much as possible before you get them to make sure you're as prepared as you can be.
The site is brilliant for answering questions, even ones you've not even thought of yet and may never have done so until it's pointed out!
As for the diet, yes, very tricky. I'd highly recommend using Tillie's recipes that have been all figured out for you taking into consideration ratios etc. You'll find it in the diet section as a sticky at the top of the page. Marie also has a very useful guide that I've printed out and out in a folder. It has daily supplement requirements also so you can add the right supplements on each day to provide the suggies with the best diet.
Look into costs and weigh up if you can afford them or not. Cages should be a min of 4x2x2 foot. mine is 6x4x3. It's the Montana Casa Villa II for you to get ideas. People use averies and vivs too so have a good ratch about. Then there are cage set up (shall write more in a sec, the screen has gone wierd)

[Emma9383]

oops, maybe coz I've written an essay!
You need at least two sleeping quarters, mine have a nest box, two sleeping pouches, a tunnel and a corner thing that they swap about but seem to use the nest box quite a lot. Then you  need 2 feeding stations (out of view of each other) water bottles, wheels etc.
Make sure you have funds 'just in case' for unexpected vet bills.
Have a think about the amount of time spent with them. 2 hrs per night. about an hour to clean cage out thoroughly, checking pouches for loose threads, wiping bars down from wee etc. Mixing the food mushs (i give mine 2 a week) takes about half an hour.
I wake mine up about 9 pm so once I've played with them, fed them ettc it's about 12pm before I get to bed.
That's kinda the basics...

[retrosmurf]

I love the essay thank you    You can never get enough advice and although I have read around about them getting personal info like this is great.

Roughly how much does it cost you to keep them each month?

[Emma9383]

I'm a bad person to ask as I put their food through as business expenses  I get my fruit from asda and spend about a fiver a week ish. The supplements I got from Marie's shop and has kept me going so far. Also depends what bedding you use etc, how much you buy in one (bigger packs tend to work out cheaper). If I were you, I'd look on Marie's site for supplements to price it up. 
Also, where are you going to have them for out of cagwe play time?
I started out with a two man pop up tent for bonding, but it took up half my room!!
I now have a little corridor which I close the room doors to, it makes it into a little room. I ensure the floor is thoroughly swept and cleaned, I have hooks on the back of each 3 doors and have attached plaited fleece3 ropes connecting each door and have hanging toys on for them to play with. I've changed the light bulb to a red one for their eyes. I'm sat now in there with my net book on knee, one waking up (she's well narky each night) in the nest box and the other has gone down the back of my top for snuggles. Although I'd prefer for her to go down the front so I could see her but hey ho...
They will wee and poo EVERYWHERE. They can't control it so therefore can't be trained. I currently have wee running down my back (thanks Luna!) Thankfully the floor is lino tiled so easy cleaned, but have to ensure the tiles aren't coming up, coz they WILL chew!

[Emma9383]

I can't stress how mischevious these little rascals are and if there is mischeif to be had, they're in the thick of it, so you constantly have to monitor them and what they are doing!