Guinea Pigs Cages - Getting Yours Set Up Properly
So you've just brought your new guinea pig home from the shelter or pet store. And now, you're not totally sure what to do. Let us help you to get off to a good start with this quick-start guinea pig owners ' guide.
Firstly, if you have just come back from the shelter or pet store with a single pig, we highly recommend that you turn right around and go back. Guinea pigs are social creatures and have a tendency to do better when there are at least two pigs living together. Two females are a good combination. Two males can live together peacefully so long as they have been raised together. And while it is possible to introduce two grown males to each other, it does require patience and care. A male and a female are the absolute best combination, but of course one of them needs to be "fixed" so as to avoid a future in-cage population explosion.
Your first task is to select a cage. Pet store cages have a tendency to be too small to adequately house a single pig "not to mention multiple pigs. Use the following recommendations when choosing guinea pigs cages:
- One guinea pig: 6-7 sq. Ft.
- Two guinea pigs: 7.5 sq. Ft.
- Three guinea pigs: 10.5 sq. Ft.
If you can't find one big enough at the pet store, you can always build your very own cage or buy one online from a trustworthy cage seller. Recently, C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages have become reasonably popular because they provide a lot of cage for the money. Take a look at the resource area and the end of this article for links to some online C&C guinea pig cage stores.
Place a nest box, a chunk of PVC pipe or other enclosure within the cage. Pigs like to hide out in cozy tiny places and providing a hiding place inside the cage will make your pigs feel more happy and more secure.
Never place your pigs in an aquarium. Yes, some uninformed people do house their pigs in an aquarium, however it is very unhealthy for their respiratory system. Poisonous ammonia gas forms as your pigs urinate within the enclosure. In a wire cage, there's satisfactory ventilation to carry this gas away. Nevertheless in an aquarium the ammonia gas is contained by the glass walls forcing your pigs to inhale it in all day long.
Fill the cage with litter or bedding. Avoid cedar chips and cat litter made of clay. Both are very bad for your guinea pig's respiratory system. A litter made of recycled paper works extremely well. Also, many of us have begun to line their cages with an absorbent material covered in fleece. The fleece permits liquids to wick right through into the absorbent layer.
In general, Timothy hay is superb for your pigs. Your pigs can have it in just about unlimited amounts. Alfalfa hay should be given much more sparingly. Alfalfa hay is richer and will cause your pigs to gain exorbitant weight.
While, commercial pellets are fine for your guinea pigs , however , they also are very rich and may be given in low amounts as a supplement to the main diet which should consist mainly of fresh fruits and vegetables. Only plants with rich dark colours should be chosen. Iceberg lettuce shouldn't be fed to your pigs; it is mostly empty calories with only tiny nutritional value.
Do not forget to install a water bottle in your pig's cage. Water dishes don't work well "as pigs have a tendency to tip them over.
Above all, don't panic. Guinea pigs are terrific animals and don't need an exorbitant quantity of work. Remember that guinea pigs do better in pairs or groups than living alone. Be certain to provide sufficient living space. C&C cages are a popular choice these days because they do provide a lot of room for a reasonable price. Supply a cozy and comfortable hiding place for your pigs - many nest boxes are available for guinea pigs. An upside-down little cardboard box works well too (although guinea pigs like to chew so you could have to replace it often). Feed your pig generally deep-colored fresh veggies and provide a water bottle. That is all you need to know to begin.
To learn more, pick up a good guinea pig reference guide - see the left sidebar on our guinea pigs cages default page for links to a couple authoritative guinea pig care guides. Also, for an unadvertized discount special on quality C&C guinea pigs cages <--CLICK on this LINK.
