Neil - Owner, Paradise Pets Swindon 
Updated 25 September 2026: clarified immediate veterinary contact, removed shop-first triage and replaced the shop assessment with information to give the vet. See RSPCA guinea-pig health guidance. From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has run Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988. Sarah leads our small animal section and has worked with guinea pigs for over … Read more
From Paradise Pets, by Neil Guinea pigs can be rewarding family pets, but they depend on an adult for daily food, cleaning, observation and veterinary care. Start with a suitable pair or group, enough usable space and a realistic plan for their whole lives. Updated 24 September 2026: expanded the housing and daily-care checklist, clarified … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold hamsters at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — nearly 35 years of first-hand experience with these animals. In that time, he has seen hundreds of worried owners walk through the door convinced their hamster is dying. Sometimes it is serious. Sometimes it is … Read more
Updated 24 September 2026: corrected the appetite warning advice. Contact your vet immediately about reduced eating or droppings; do not wait for a fixed number of hours. See the supporting veterinary or welfare guidance. From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold rabbits at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — nearly … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold budgies at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — over 35 years of first-hand experience with these birds. In that time, he has seen hundreds of worried owners walk into the shop carrying a bird that is sitting at the bottom of its cage. … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold cockatiels at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — over 35 years of first-hand experience with these birds. In that time, he has helped hundreds of UK families decide whether a cockatiel is right for them — and just as importantly, helped some decide … Read more
Safety correction, 24 September 2026: Veterinary guidance on recognising illness in birds supports prompt professional contact for reduced appetite or illness signs. Do not use a time threshold or an apparently alert posture to decide that it is safe to delay care. From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold budgies … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold budgies at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — over 35 years of first-hand experience with these birds. In that time, he has watched countless worried owners walk through the door carrying a bird that is pulling its own feathers out. This article is … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold budgies at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — nearly 40 years of first-hand experience with these birds. In that time, he has heard “my budgie bit me” more times than he can count. This article is his honest explanation of what is actually … Read more
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold budgies at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — nearly 40 years of first-hand experience with these birds. In that time, he has sat with more grieving owners than he can count. This article is the one he wishes every budgie owner would read … Read more