Considering Guineapigs / Can't' Diy

Status
Not open for further replies.
Floppy

Floppy

New Born Pup
Joined
Apr 16, 2017
Messages
5
Reaction score
2
Points
30
Location
Scotland
Hi :D
I'm considering getting a new pet in the future and I'm looking for some advice!

I currently have two dwarf hamsters, one in a 100x50cm cage and the other in a 80x50cm cage. I love my hamsters and care for them well. However it breaks my heart when they die, I'm still not over the death of my last one who lived to 19 months and died on New Years Eve :(. I would like a pet with a slightly longer life-span... (is this horrible?) :( I also want to spend a lot more time with my hamsters than they do with me...

Originally I wanted a rabbit, but after researching how much attention, space etc that they need I thought twice. I'm also concerned for the skirting boards, wires, carpet, furniture etc!

I was at the pet shop the other day getting supplies for my hamsters, and I saw some beautiful long haired guinea-pigs. (I know it's better to adopt), but it made me think, wow they are cuties!

So I have some questions mainly about housing guinea-pigs. I am useless at DIY of any kind, and I don't have a boyfriend or anyone who could help :( I know that C&C cages are the best option, but I really doubt my ability in creating one of these.

Would the Plaza 160 be a suitable cage for two or three (please specify!) guineapigs, I would let them run about my house when I am there to supervise! (after a little piggy-proofing). Are there any better store bought cages?

Also I have heard that guinea-pigs can be quite smelly, or there cages get smelly fast. Is this true (or just cited by people who do not care for their pets properly). I bed my hamsters on care fresh and spot clean regularly, very rarely do I smell them! Nor has anyone else commented on a smell.

Also can guinea-pigs have woodshavings in their cage (even as a base layer?) or can this cause respiratory problems?

I probably won't be getting guinea-pigs until July but I want to be sure I'm making the right decision!

Thanks for reading!
 
Lucky hamsters! I have a dwarf hamster as well :).

C and C cages are surprisingly easy to build, but you can also buy one. C and C Guinea Pig Cages sell a range of cage sizes which are all suitable for at least 2 piggies.

The Plaza 160 would be fine for two piggies, possibly three but it depends on the genders. Sows can live in pairs, boars can live in pairs or there's the option of a neutered male with one or two female. Boar trios have a very high fall out rate. Even for supervised roaming time, the room would need to be totally pig proof, so a large play pen would work better and be easier to use. I wouldn't say there are any store bought cages that are bigger that I've seen, unless you are purchasing a C and C cage.

They do need regular spot cleaning to prevent it smelling, but this applies with any pet. (Just a tip with the hamsters, Fitch paper bedding is a lot cheaper and has less dust compared to Carefresh and is generally a better substrate.)

You can use wood shavings, but I prefer not to. I find it makes them smell far more than paper bedding. I bed my piggies and hamsters on Fitch and have no problem with the smell or dust. Woodshaving tend to be dustier in my experience which can contribute to URIs as they have sensitive respiratory systems, but it depends on the brand. A lot of people use fleece as well.

It's great that you are researching beforehand! It really shows dedication and waiting for a few months shows you really are committed to that pet because if you can wait and still want guinea pigs in three months, then it shows you want to care for them for their whole lives :).
 
I know what you mean about hamsters. They are so lovely but so short lived.

Yes the plaza 160 would be good for two guinea pigs. There is a good cage size guide in the housing section on here. I have two sows living in a 150cm x 75cm cage. They also have regular floor time in a four foot by three foot indoor run.

Guinea pigs can have woodshavings there are certain kinds that are better than others. Someone else will be along soon who has experience with this.

Spot cleaning is a must. They are real poo machines!

Mine have fleece cage liners with a lot of extra mats in high traffic areas they also have a 32 !itre underbed storage box filled with hemparade (a hemp based bedding from zooplus) and loads of hay.

The cage you linked has a little square area that would make a great hay tray.

I love long haired guinea pigs and nearly feinted with delight when I saw my two at a local rescue.

Good luck. Ps would love to see hamster pics.
 
Hi and welcome

You may find the information via this link here helpful. It contains a cage size guide, bedding guide and also a discussion of the pros and cons of all possible gender combinations; each has their own advantages and disadvantages.
Please stay off more than two boars in order to avoid fall-outs. Excited boars (neutered or not) can crank out an amazing amount of testosterone laden pee, but that is thankfully not all the time! Usually it is worst at first when they set up a working group and again when a neutered boar meets sows. Boars tend to mellow with age as the testosterone output settles down whereas sows become crankier and have more hormonal issues as they age.
Quick Information Bundle For Wannabe Owners

The cage you are thinking is generous for two boars,giving them plenty of space, or good-sized for three sows or two sows and a neutered boar. I would compare the price with C&C grid cages, which allow you to extend or have an upper storey and also to divide the cage if necessary. You just stick the grids together with connectors or cable tie them. No DIY skills needed! Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages

Most forum members with indoors piggies have them on fleece with an absorbent underlay, but there are also alternatives to wood chippings (see the information bundle).
Here is our members' C&C cage gallery:
 
The plaza cages are good. I have the 140 as my indoor cage for emergencies or times when they need to be indoors otherwise they live outside in a 6ft two storey hutch. I would look at just two piggies in the 160cm to give them plenty of space. If you were set on 3 I would definitely recommend adopting a neutered boar and sows to ensure very good bonds as they may have some difficulty getting away from each other.

I have had long haired crosses previously (all my piggies come from rescues and have ranged from 6 weeks old to 2 years old) but the hair never grew that much. I have however adopted Donald on Friday and he is one hell of a hairy piggie! He will need regular grooming and hair cuts though.
17904265_10158575683035437_504561718419789988_n.jpg
 
Thank-you everyone for the replies! This seems like a really friendly forum :)
That Fitch bedding is such great value I will definitely need to order some of that! I love Care-fresh but it is extortionate.

So I had a look at the link to the website that makes the cages, and wow that just makes it so much more accessible! I think that the C&C cage would be better value for money and more roomy for them!

My worry with getting 2 pigs is when one dies if it upsets the other one, so I would definitely only get 2 (females) to begin with, but would consider introducing another pig (a neutered male if possible) in a few years maybe? I will go with the safest option! My dwarf hamsters were supposedly "sociable and enjoy company" and had to be separated recently due to their frequent squabbles. I guess that's another advantage to the C&C cage is that you can block a section off if you need to!

Are guinea pigs quite friendly pets, do they enjoy being petted or groomed? Are they active, fun to watch playing?
Lady Kelly your hamster is beautiful, I didn't realise they needed hair cuts. Do you do it yourself?

I had a look at the thread with all the cages, wow some of theme are amazing. Why is felt so popular?
Can guinea-pigs be litter trained at all, they sure do seem to poop a lot... oh is that why you use felt?

You can see my hamsters on my Instagram.
 
I meant Guinea Pig not Hamster! It wouldn't let me edit it again, and I was too embarrassed not to correct this... sorry.
 
He's a guinea pig :)) i've only had him since Friday but will be doing the hair cutting myself. Bit nervous if I'm honest but he's very placid so hopefully he'll behave.

I've been really lucky in the past with my piggies but only recently been left in a position with having any alone. After her op Isobel wouldn't eat without daisy being with her and I don't want to rush to "replace" pigs if the worst happens. Daisy was ok on her own and ate well but i'm back to one neutered boar and two sows for the same reason you are thinking
 
Floppy said:
I meant Guinea Pig not Hamster! It wouldn't let me edit it again, and I was too embarrassed not to correct this... sorry.
Click to expand...

Haha that's ok. I thought it was just a mix up from talking about guinea pigs and hamsters in the same conversation
 
It's fleece, not felt ;) A lot of people use fleece as bedding now, instead of wood shavings as it is nicer for the piggies & less likely to cause irritation. Great you are considering piggies. Please consider adopting rather than buying :) Also it is worth getting them insured, a company called Exotic Direct insure piggies for vet fees, which can be very expensive, unfortunately they can be prone to things like bladder stones etc, which can be costly to treat. They aren't cheap pets ;) Good luck & please show us pigtures when you get them :)
 
What was her op for? I hope she feels better soon. :hug:

I'm thinking there is one advantage to the Plaza 160, it can flat pack. If I go on holiday I always prefer if I can get someone to visit the house when I'm gone, but it's not always possible. I do not know how I would begin to dismantle and rebuild a C&C cage for the sake of a week... unless I just boarded them... but all the boarding places are catteries and that always concerns me! :eek:
 
Floppy said:
What was her op for? I hope she feels better soon. :hug:

I'm thinking there is one advantage to the Plaza 160, it can flat pack. If I go on holiday I always prefer if I can get someone to visit the house when I'm gone, but it's not always possible. I do not know how I would begin to dismantle and rebuild a C&C cage for the sake of a week... unless I just boarded them... but all the boarding places are catteries and that always concerns me! :eek:
Click to expand...

Her op was a dental but with subsequent abscess and pneumonia she didn't survive. She had a bone deformity too so after everything, if we had successfully treated her, it might have all started again. At least she passed quickly at home with me and daisy by her side
 
:wel: to the forum

You could introduce a neutered male or a female, depends on their personality(ies) overall and how well the pig will get on with them.

I recently have acquired two girls :) they're both long-haired. Some are happy to be groomed, some aren't bothered and others can raise a fuss. I usually just use grooming scissors with rounded tips (I got one from p@h, not the best place but have found their scissors identified under the grooming room pair) and a comb, though looking into different brushes/combs as I've only had short-haired piggies before this. While the pig's reaction can differ, I sometimes find it quite relaxing most of the time as it needs some sort of concentration but is just a matter of using a brush or comb and getting out the knots while listening to music or other.
 
Lady Kelly said:
Her op was a dental but with subsequent abscess and pneumonia she didn't survive. She had a bone deformity too so after everything, if we had successfully treated her, it might have all started again. At least she passed quickly at home with me and daisy by her side
Click to expand...

:( I'm really sorry. Play well at the bridge Isobel, I bet she had the best life with you.

@Poppy'sMum I will look at insurance, but might keep a float of money by instead. I do this with the hamsters since they are impossible to insure.
 
Floppy said:
Thank-you everyone for the replies! This seems like a really friendly forum :)
That Fitch bedding is such great value I will definitely need to order some of that! I love Care-fresh but it is extortionate.

So I had a look at the link to the website that makes the cages, and wow that just makes it so much more accessible! I think that the C&C cage would be better value for money and more roomy for them!

My worry with getting 2 pigs is when one dies if it upsets the other one, so I would definitely only get 2 (females) to begin with, but would consider introducing another pig (a neutered male if possible) in a few years maybe? I will go with the safest option! My dwarf hamsters were supposedly "sociable and enjoy company" and had to be separated recently due to their frequent squabbles. I guess that's another advantage to the C&C cage is that you can block a section off if you need to!

Are guinea pigs quite friendly pets, do they enjoy being petted or groomed? Are they active, fun to watch playing?
Lady Kelly your hamster is beautiful, I didn't realise they needed hair cuts. Do you do it yourself?

I had a look at the thread with all the cages, wow some of theme are amazing. Why is felt so popular?
Can guinea-pigs be litter trained at all, they sure do seem to poop a lot... oh is that why you use felt?

You can see my hamsters on my Instagram.
Click to expand...

If you have got only sows, I would recommend to go from 2 to 4. Trios in any form are the most difficult constellation to get right without creating an outsider issue (exception: neutered boar with two sows, provided that the sow are good friends). Guinea pigs are a lot like people. They are group animals, but they have as many likes and dislikes as humans when it comes to getting on with each other!

Please be aware that guinea pigs are prey animals, first and foremost. They are not born animated cuddly toys. You can rehome guinea pigs that are used to human interaction from a good rescue, but shop (or breeder) piggies have had pretty much no human contact before being sold, you really have to start right at the beginning. It also depends what you want your guinea pigs for. They are interesting animals in their own right, very interactive and vocal and fun to watch.
The wannabe owners link that I have given you in my first post contains a guide with piggy facts, so you get a better idea what they are like, when they are active, how long they live and what their life cycle is like. The link also contains some behaviour guides that will give you an impression about what to expect. Take the time to read through it; you will find it interesting! It is too much to all explain in one post. ;)

Personally, I couldn't have as many piggies (they are all second-hand and mostly rescue adoptees) without fleece. It is much easier and quicker to clean out a cage and there is less bulk to fill up your bin - the more you have, the more that becomes a concern.
You wash the fleece; a good microfleece lasts you for several years, so it is also a lot cheaper in the long run. What you need to do regularly, is poo patrol daily since aging poos have a very whiffy stage, and guinea pigs produce a LOT since they live mainly off hay.
And piggies love fleece - mine always pancake on fresh fleece. Unlike hamsters, piggy don't burrow or build nests. They make use of whatever hiding spaces/abandoned sets they find.
 
Piggies on fleece with hay trays (litter trained, mostly!) are key for me. Really easy to maintain, change trays and sweep up poos etc and never smell. Mine are indoors in my living room so I would definitely smell it if they did!

C&C cages are actually so easy to put together, a bit like Lego. I wouldn't be too daunted by the prospect! :)

They very friendly and playful, once they've settled in and earned your trust they enjoy cuddles and watching telly with you! My Bella is the clingiest pig in the world and would live in my pocket if she could :))
 
Oh and welcome to the forum! Hope you find it as helpful and insightful as I did when I first joined :D
 
C&C cages take 10 minutes to put up! If you get the correx already scored then it doesn't take long at all!

My guineapigs only smell if my long haired pig needs a clean or her hair is getting to long or if I haven't spotcleaned as thoroughly. I use fleece so sometimes that smells if the fabric isn't the best but that's the only time I've noticed.

I love my guineapigs but I always think about them, worry and stuff. I get attached to my pets, I think we just have to try get over as best we can to sudden deaths and pets that don't want to play :(

I think a lot of people on here have hamster with guineapigs :) (obviously not together) long haired pigs are a lot of work but it's just as fun grooming them :) I really hope you find a guineapig who can make you happy ❤ good luck x
 
If you want a flatpack cage, the Midwest is great, and I'm not just saying that because I have two :)) but seriously there are so many cage options out there nowadays that going for a "prebuilt" cage is no longer the problem that it used to be.

My longhaired piggy hates grooming time...and lap time...and any "human" time, though he is getting better with it. But each piggy has their own distinct personality, you can never be certain of who you'll end up with :nod: welcome to the forum, by the by, you'll get everything you need to know here.
 
Lorcan said:
If you want a flatpack cage, the Midwest is great, and I'm not just saying that because I have two :)) but seriously there are so many cage options out there nowadays that going for a "prebuilt" cage is no longer the problem that it used to be.

My longhaired piggy hates grooming time...and lap time...and any "human" time, though he is getting better with it. But each piggy has their own distinct personality, you can never be certain of who you'll end up with :nod: welcome to the forum, by the by, you'll get everything you need to know here.
Click to expand...

There are a few pictures spread around of Lorcan's setup and the midwest really does look like an easy and great alternative to C&C while still allowing the same level of accessibility to piggies. You can find pictures of Lorcan's Midwest cage setup on page 1 of this thread (click the colored link).

Just Because

I also second his statement about this forum being such a wonderful informative and resource
 
Last edited:
Hello and welcome to the forum! Looks like everyone's already chimed in with most answers, but as a person with 5 pet rabbits, I'd say good idea on not getting one! I love mine to bits but they escape and chew and eat a whole lot more than pigs! (And I also have 4 guinea pigs :P) good luck with your new pets though!
 
Midwest is good, easy set up (5 minutes or less).
 
@Floppy welcome to the forum
Yes most of the time guinea pigs enjoy human company as much as their own kinds company. I hope you found all of the answers that you needed guinea pigs can make great pets and live from 4-7 years
 
Welcome to the forum! It really is a very friendly and helpful place.
I don't know if anybody has mentioned this, but guinea pigs, especially from pet shops, take time to warm up. I've had my newest addition for around two weeks and he let me pet him for the first time the other day. However, my older pig LOVES to be held and cuddled and chill with you. It just takes time. Lots of lap time and introducing them to other people was key for me. My older pig does not run from anybody, and most people are shocked at how friendly he is when they meet him! The truly are amazing pets. I feel that it is easier to connect with guinea pigs than other animals because they really are their own little beings. They have huge personalities!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top