Why Does My Guinea Pig Chatter Its Teeth? UK Owner’s Honest Guide From 35 Years

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold guinea pigs at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” over 35 years of first-hand experience with these animals. Teeth chattering is one of the behaviours he is asked about most regularly, usually by owners who are not sure whether to be worried. This … Read more

Are Hamsters Good Pets For Kids? UK Honest Guide From 35 Years

hamsters good pets for kids UK

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold hamsters at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” Syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters, and everything in between. In over 35 years, the question he is asked more than almost any other is some version of this one: are hamsters good pets for children? This … Read more

Why Is My Rabbit Pulling Out Its Fur? UK Owner’s Honest Guide From 35 Years

rabbit pulling fur UK owner guide

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold rabbits at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” over 35 years of first-hand experience with these animals. Fur pulling is one of the most common rabbit concerns he is asked about. This is his honest guide to what it means, what causes it, … Read more

Best Budgies For Apartment Living UK β€” A Honest 35-Year Guide

best budgies for apartment living UK

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold budgies at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” over 35 years of first-hand experience with these birds. In that time, some of his most frequent conversations have been with people in flats, small houses, and newer builds who are not sure whether a … Read more

Why Is My Guinea Pig Losing Hair? UK Owner’s Honest Guide From 35 Years

guinea pig losing hair

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold guinea pigs at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” over 35 years of first-hand experience with these animals. Hair loss is one of the questions he gets most often, and one of the most misunderstood. This guide covers every cause he has seen … Read more

Why Is My Hamster Losing Hair? UK Owner’s Honest Guide From 35 Years

hamster losing hair

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold hamsters at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” over 35 years of first-hand experience with these animals. Hair loss is one of the most common health concerns he is asked about. In most cases, the cause is simpler β€” and more fixable β€” … Read more

Rabbits Are Not Low-Maintenance Pets. I’ve Been Telling Parents This for 30 Years

rabbits at paradise pets store

From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has owned and run Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 β€” over 35 years of selling, keeping, and advising on small animals and birds. This article reflects what he has observed at first hand, in store, over three decades. Every spring, usually in the weeks around Easter, I have … Read more

Hamster or Gerbil β€” Which One Actually Suits Your Child? (The Honest Answer)

Hamster or Gerbil

It’s one of the most common conversations I have at the counter. A parent comes in, one or two children in tow, and says: β€œWe want a small pet. Something easy. What do you think β€” hamster or gerbil?” And then they wait for me to say β€œhamster” or β€œgerbil.” But the honest answer is … Read more