Petshops
Availability
There are many petshops who offer guinea pigs, even stalls in Chinatown
sell them (as pets or some deliacy, I don't know). At present, we will
not recommend any particular petshop till we are certain that the animals
in the petshop give their animals the best treatment & environment
available.
The Prices
Most petshops who offer guinea pigs set prices that range from $18-$30,
depending on the breeds. Smooth coats tend to go at about $18-$25, while
Abyssinians usually go at $20 & above. As far as I know, Shelties &
Peruvians can only be found at Topbreed in Woodlands.
Health
Unfortunately for Singapore, pigs in most petshops are found in cramped
conditions & usually are forced to share the same cage as rabbits.
You should take a lot of care in selecting your piggy. Always pick the
alert piggy with bright eyes and no signs of a running nose. Also keep
your eye out for any limping or any signs of the piggy having difficulty
breathing.
Breeders
Availability
This depends. A lot of breeders prefer to keep their baby piggies,
even if they have 14 already! A good place for you to start looking for
breeders offering piggies is through this club or through the classifieds.
If you're in Singapore, try the Pacific
Net Classifieds under Pets:
For Sale.
The Prices
The prices of guinea pigs offered by breeders are far more varied.
Prices can be as low as $15 and as high as $40. However, most breeders
concern themselves more with finding good homes for their babies than with
money, so they would usually give their piggies up for adoption.
Health
As far as I know, the health of cavies from most breeders are near
perfection. A good point to ask breeders is about your potential piggies'
genetic line, such as any history of any genetic defects, temperament &
do have a look at the parent pigs. You'll get a better idea what kind of
genes went into your piggy that way & can more or less guess what kind
of piggies your pig would produce should you decide to breed him/her.
Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) [Singapore]
Availability
There are not many guinea pigs up for adoption at the SPCA in Singapore,
because the awareness of this darling pet is not very wide. A lot of the
time, guinea pigs are mistaken for rabbits, hamsters or even rats. And
most guinea pig owners don't give up their pets....they're too attached
to this wonderful creature & they do some amount of research on this
animal before taking the responsibility of keeping it.
The Prices
For the SPCA, the only price you pay is for the sterlization of your
potential pet, which can range from $15-$30. Do go to the SPCA to check.
Health
The SPCA has vets to care for all their animals, so they will ensure
only the healthiest of animals get adopted.