House Hippos

[TKOS]

They pretty much need the same care as a guinea pig with hair. They are allowed to have hair on their feet, nose and ears. They need special food with extra vitamin C but that is standard guinea pig food availabel at pet shops. They will need water all the time and something like hay to burrow in. Obviously they need to be kept warm and as in any rodent they will need hard things to chew on to grind down their teeth. They can crossbreed with any other guinea pig and will only produce more skinny pigs if the other guinea pig carries the gene.

http://209.17.131.1/index.asp?ct=1&ch=1&it=10

Oh and they cost a lot compared to a standard guinea pig.

 

[Boohoo]

The ones I saw were $90.

 

[125gJoe]

Well now..
A hairless guniea pig and a "house" hippo certainly look very different! ..

 

[Boohoo]

Believe it or not, they actually resemble a hippo type critter. They were listed as skinny pigs(AKA house hippo).

 

[mishi8]

mishi8, I'm not sure how many years ago where it was 'stated' that you can no longer believe what is on your TV or computer since video and editing has become that "good."

I think it was around 8 years or so ago.... Help me on this one video experts!

In the case of young kids (whom the house hippo commercial is directed to) anything is believeable, regardless of how "good" it is. I remember, when I was little, wanting a toy I saw on TV, but then being very disappointed that it didn't do everything that the commerical showed.

Kids are constantly being bombarded with messages and images to create brand loyalty...hook 'em when they're young, and they'll be customers for life. I try to keep their tv viewing to a minimum, but it gets harder to keep them away from commericals as they get older. So they need to be educated about media and marketing so that they can be cautious/skeptical consumers.

Also, regardless of the quality of production, the message itself is often a misrepresentation. And adults get caught up in it too.

 

[Dangerdoll]

House Hippos

 

[Boohoo]

Those are the ones. If you scroll to the bottom of the link, there is a picture of the one with the red eye. I saw a litter of ones like that yesterday. They didn't have any hair except on their nose. Some were the same color and some were brown. Kinda cute I think???

 

[JinxXx0085]

Why did people called them house hippos?
Its just a hairless guenia pig, like you can find hairless rats, cats, dogs... and what else?

 

[Boohoo]

I don't know why. All I can tell you is thats what they were listed as at the pet store chain I visited yesterday.

 

[Dangerdoll]

probably just a gimick (if you will) in order to get them to sell.....