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Small pets

GP dry food advice needed

10 replies

nuschmu · 05/07/2014 15:10

I'm a bit confused about the dry food in a GP's diet. I've just been reading that muesli is a bad idea as they pick through what they want. What's the alternative? Is it "normal" for them to eat most of their dry food (I give him fresh everyday and there's still a fair bit left - plus what he pushes out as he rummages). I suppose I can't ask for recommendations as far as brands go, but trying different food is a costly business where we live - you don't really get "small" bags of food to try, you're straight into the kg bags...

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/07/2014 19:05

I use Burgess Excell pellets on recommendation.
IIRC GP1 and GP2 came with different pellets, so I did a gradual change.
GP3 was already on Burgess so he was fine.

I always give a bit extra with two boars, I don;t want any in house narkiness, so they never clear their plate of pellets.

I've only seen Excell in 2kg or 4kg bags though.
Where abouts are you? What brands are available?

Are there any breeders or rescues that would offer you a sample of pellets to try out?

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FernieB · 05/07/2014 21:43

Mine have pets at home nuggets - they don't like any other kind Confused. There's always some left over and some on the floor. I give plenty to avoid squabbles.

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FernieB · 05/07/2014 21:45

If you're changing his food over, you should do it gradually. Just mix in a little of the new stuff and increase it daily until he's on all new stuff.

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WyrdByrd · 06/07/2014 15:12

My girl piggies are the same - they really like muesli (had a couple of bags given to us and used it as a stop gap from time to time) and eat most of it, but rarely seen to touch nuggets although we've tried several types.

Recently bought them some from The Range which were about £2.59 for a middling size bag and they go for them straight away. First time we have night a second bag of the same food!

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phantomnamechanger · 06/07/2014 19:55

mine tend to yell for veg or handful of grass every time they see or hear us, but will only eat their pellets during the night when there's nothing else on offer (they do have a hay rack too)
I picked a brand at random and its called harringtons, but again is in 2kg bag

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Methe · 06/07/2014 20:01

Sometimes I give mine burgess pellets, sometimes Gerty guinea pig Musli, sometimes tesco value musli.

They'll eat it all and never leave a bit!

The only one they refused to eat was the harringtons (?) cheap stuff.

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nuschmu · 11/07/2014 21:32

Thanks for all of this - I'll be stuffing some GP food in my hand luggage when we're in the UK this summer!

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Bonkerz · 11/07/2014 21:42

Pets at home nuggets given here along with lots of hay and fresh veg

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nuschmu · 31/08/2014 11:11

Well, I brought back a bag of "science selective" gp food that I got on offer at p@h, because I know that I can buy it here in France. I've been gradually moving our ultra-fussy gp from the muesli onto the pellets, so we're now nearly at 100% pellets. He forlornly snuffles through the bowl looking for "proper" food, then wheeks even more forlornly asking to be fed when he doesn't find much to his liking - well, even more wheeks than usual that is. DH reckons gp's, like children, won't starve themselves to death, but how do I work out whether he's just being fussy because he (understably) prefers the pick & choose aspect of muesli, or whether he genuinely doesn't like the pellets...this is weird because I've been having this discussion with DD, explaining that you don't always get your favourite meal, but sometimes you just have to eat it...so I don't want to be more indulgent with the gp Hmm

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KittiesInsane · 05/09/2014 09:24

Given mine choose to eat cardboard, newspaper and their cage walls, I wouldn't feel too sorry for them having to eat nuggets!

One of mine tends to need extra vit C, and our vet reckons the Burgess pellets are some of the best for that (we supplement her with Vit C tablets as well - she loves those and will practically take your hand off for one).

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