Is my guinea pig cage good?

Sophtheguineapigowner

Sophtheguineapigowner

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Is this a good cage for my guinea pig?
Btw (he lives alone and in the pic he is inside his little purple hut )
 

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The 2x3 size you have is not ideal and is below our recommended cage size of 2x4. However, the measurements of a c&c being slightly deeper than a traditional cage does mean it meets minimum size requirements of 8 square feet for a single piggy or a neutered boar/sow pair or two sows, so It is ok in that respect. If you can give him more space then that would be of benefit to him. I would definitely add more enrichment into his space in any event - things such as not using food bowls and instead scatter feeding his veg and pellets amongst hay so he has to spend time looking for it.

Most importantly, being alone is not in his best interests - they are highly social and one of their five animal rights is to be kept with their own kind for the essential companionship. Single piggies do get lonely and sadly no amount of human contact is ever enough. Please do look to get him a friend.

If you were to get him a boar friend, then his cage would need to be expanded to a 2x5.
If you dont have the space to expand it to a 2x5, then it would be best to have him neutered, have the six week wait post neuter wait for him to become infertile and then find him a compatible sow friend. You would still need to expand the cage to a 2x4 (the recommended size for a neutered boar/sow pair).

Cage Size Guide
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Companionship
 
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Another thing is that is too much pellets for him. A tablespoon a day is the recommended amount given they contain quite a lot of calcium. And they’re the least important part of their diet. Mine used to have bowls but I now scatter feed the pellets. They absolutely live going ‘fishing’ for them.

You could also add a box with a liner inside and hay. Or just a box with entrances cut out. Or a carrot cottage. He’s not likely to get much use out of the wooden thing (sorry don’t know what it’s called).
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
Oh ok :) is there a guide/information on introducing another guinea pig in? and Also I’m planning to go to my local pet store and get him some toys :D. also, could I get the other guinea pig from the pet store? Or is it best to get from a breeder/rescue?
 
Guinea pigs tend not to really play with toys - he will have just as much fun with some boxes and tunnels, which will be cheaper too.

Before bringing home a new guinea pig you need to make the cage bigger and also crate a neutral area to introduce them. Just putting a new piggy in the existing cage will not end well.

Our full guide to bonding is here:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

If at all possible it is far better to get another piggy from a rescue.
A good rescue will make sure a piggy is healthy, not pregnant and correctly sexed - all things which are not guaranteed when you buy from a pet shop.
But please also be aware that anyone can call themselves a rescue, so make sure you are dealing with a proper rescue group and not a backyard breeder just trying to get rid of old 'stock'.
 
Sophtheguineapigowner said:
And by the way, we’ve had the one guinea pig for about 3-4 years I’m pretty sure.

and would it be best to get him another boar friend or a sow? :)
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Unless he is neutered (de-sexed) he can only live with another boy, otherwise you will end up with lots of guinea pigs very quickly.
A rescue will help you choose a compatible piggy friend for him, and also offer follow up advice and support.
 
Sophtheguineapigowner said:
Oh ok :) is there a guide/information on introducing another guinea pig in? and Also I’m planning to go to my local pet store and get him some toys :D. also, could I get the other guinea pig from the pet store? Or is it best to get from a breeder/rescue?
Click to expand...

A successful bond comes down to character compatibility, so getting a piggy from a rescue where your own piggy can choose his own new friend is best, you can be assured of a good bond.
If you buy a piggy from a pet shop or breeder then there is a risk they won’t be compatible and if that happens, then the bond will fail. They will then need to be kept in separate but side by side cages. This goes for both bonding with a boar or a sow.
It’s up to you and your space as to whether you go for a boar or a sow But If you choose to bond him with a sow then your boy will need to be neutered first and have waited the full six weeks post neuter to become infertile. He cannot be anywhere near a sow until he has been neutered.
If you choose to bond with another boar, then you must increase your cage size to a 2x5. Do not try to keep two boars in your current 2x3 as lack of space will cause then to fall out.
If you neuter, have the wait and then bond him with a sow, you will still need to increase your cage to a 2x4.

Toys are generally a waste of money they don’t play with them. The enrichment guide I linked in earlier explains good ways to keep piggies occupied.
 
Oh ok! I’ll give a look at the guide, and I’ll definitely try making some tunnel boxes for him :)

sadly the rescue we got him from closed down :(. And there’s really no other rescues around us, just our pet store.
 
Sophtheguineapigowner said:
Oh ok! I’ll give a look at the guide, and I’ll definitely try making some tunnel boxes for him :)

sadly the rescue we got him from closed down :(. And there’s really no other rescues around us, just our pet store.
Click to expand...

If a pet shop is your only way to get him a friend, then that will be what you need to do. it is important your piggy is not alone.

Do you have any idea if you will bond with a boar, or neuter him and wait and then bond with a sow?

You do need to be aware that if you don’t plan to neuter him and will instead get him a boar friend that you do definitely check for yourself that the new piggy is indeed a boar. Please don’t rely on the pet shops word for it - we see a lot of accidental pregnancies.
You must not quarantine the new piggy because it will likely be young to be alone.
And have a plan b for living arrangements in case the bonding fails. How old is your piggy? While more boar pairs do make it together than not, bonding a teenage boar is not always easy. The hormones can play a part in causing a problem. Also, when the new piggy (if it’s a boar), becomes a teenager and hormonal, then things can change between them.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Your cage is a little small (as you now know). The hay looks good and I like the fleece and the hide.

Good luck in your search for a friend. Guinea pigs like being together, it makes them feel safer. Let us know how you get on.
 
Your piggie is adorable! I won’t add anymore info as everyone has beat me to it.

good luck with finding him a new friend :)
 
Please dont overdo carrots - they should only be given one small amount once per week - they are too high in sugar to be given regularly.

As he has been alone a long time, then he may not have learnt social skills so it can make bonding slightly trickier. It’s not a reason not to try though, but it does make it more important to have a plan b for living arrangements in mind if the bonding doesn’t work out, particularly if you have to use a pet shop as you won’t necessarily have the option of returning the piggy if the bonding fails

A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

Cage Size Guide

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
 
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