Liliath Carmelita's Regal Ramblings

[JayDubb78]

Hi everyone. I'm Liliath Carmelita. You can Caramel Lilly, or Lilly for short, but you really should know my royal name. Maybe I will tell you about the line of royalty I descend from sometime.

Anyway, I am about 6 weeks (get it?) old, and my human just adopted me yesterday. He seems okay, I think. Actually still not sure about him. But I did dig the apple slices.

I am going to have him posting pictures of me on here for everyone to see... because who wouldn't want to? He says he has a big house for me to live in on the way and lots and lots of hides and toys. Something about a litter box too, whatever that means. And a... what was that word... Oh, hammock! Wait. HAMmock?! That might not be such a great thing!

At any rate, I can't wait to meet all of you. Stop by and say hi. I hope you like my stories.

 

[JayDubb78]

This is Josh, Lilly's person. She is a doll but still adjusting to me. As such, I did have to work some editing magic to get a non-cage picture of Lilly. From this point on though, her photo updates will be real time, starting with last night, her first night here at her new home.

I am new to this so will appreciate any input y have to give along the way. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[JayDubb78]

Just moved in here. Not that anyone asked what I thought. Now this person keeps talking to me. At least he got my name right. Well, if he seems like he won't try to eat me, I might sneak out and explore. I can watch him from in here for now. Sure glad he can't see me.

 

[JayDubb78]

He doesn't look hungry so I think I can explore and... What IS this amazing soft stuff? Can I wear it? Is it food? Can I EAT it?!...

Nope not food. But it is fun to pull.

P.S. zucchini and baby carrots are delicious.

 

[JayDubb78]

My person keeps pointing that shiny thing he holds and talks into so much at me. Not sure what is going on. He is not getting a great shot though. Eat and duck

 

[JayDubb78]

This guy gets me... I think. He knows apples and hay make a delicious dinner. And the way to a pigs heart is her stomach. Still not sure if I trust him though.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Your little piggy is beautiful!

Does she have a friend to live with? As a highly social herd animal, piggies always need to be bonded with another piggy (particularly one so young should never be alone).

 

[JayDubb78]

Josh speaking now. She said I could answer. Unfortunately, she is flying solo for now. Can't afford to spend $90 on a second. But I am home in the mornings and early afternoons for the most part, and always home at night. As she gets used to me she will have that socialization. Id like to find a friend for her, but not many people are giving away piggies.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Josh speaking now. She said I could answer. Unfortunately, she is flying solo for now. Can't afford to spend $90 on a second. But I am home in the mornings and early afternoons for the most part, and always home at night. As she gets used to me she will have that socialization. Id like to find a friend for her, but not many people are giving away piggies.

Unfortunately no amount of human interaction is enough - it simply doesn’t replace living with another piggy as there is no mutual communication (a lot of interaction is via body language and scent which you can’t replace). As a single she will transfer all her social needs onto you which won’t correlate with your available hours, and single piggies do get depressed and lonely.
Not everybody has access to rescue centres but even buying from a shop is preferable to being kept alone.
It would be best for her welfare for you to try to find her a friend.

The guides below explain a bit more

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Companionship

Do make sure you are prepared for vet bills - getting the piggies and housing etc can be the cheapest part of keeping piggies. Vet bills can run into thousands.

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. She’s gorgeous.

A friend and a vet fund are essential to her having a happy, healthy life with you.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Hello Josh and Lilly,
to the forum!
I'm sure that you're both really excited about your new living arrangement, but please make sure that Lilly has enough time to settle in before you start her public life (that she deserves of course - given her royal ancestry and her beauty).

New Guinea Pigs: How to Best Manage Arrival and Settling In
New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection

As @Piggies&buns already explained, guinea pigs need a piggy companion. Especially baby guinea pigs like your girl.
A human can never really substitute a piggy companion just because we can never be a guinea pig.
So maybe you can find a way to adopt another girl.
And please be sure to safe enough money for vet bills and all other costs of living for your girl (or girls). Piggies are not very cheap pets even though they are small.

 

[Truffolo]

Wheek wheek wheek wheek wheek wheek! Polo: Hi little Lilly! Nice to meet you. Sorry we can't meet in person. Truffle says hi (he asked me to write this and I said yeah, whatever ) but we are very pleased to wheek to you!

 

[JayDubb78]

Going to try to get her a friend from the shelter. There are 3 listed there, 2 female, 1 male (just... no males). Hoping they don't make it complicated.

 

[Truffolo]

That's great news, good luck Jay and Lilly!

 

[fluffysal]

Hello pretty lady from The Beastie Boys.
They said to reassure you that hammocks are the best thing ever

 

[Piggies&buns]

Going to try to get her a friend from the shelter. There are 3 listed there, 2 female, 1 male (just... no males). Hoping they don't make it complicated.

That’s great news - it really will be in her best interest!

You must make sure your cage is big enough for two females - that is ideally 150x60cm but 120x60 minimum. Make sure there is two of everything in the cage (two bottles, two hay piles, at least two hides (hence why the cage needs to be large)) that there are no hides with only one exit (so the pink igloo in the picture can’t be used). We also don’t recommend the use of food bowls - it’s better to scatter veg and the one tablespoon of plain pellets around the cage to encourage foraging which can prevent food hogging when in a pair but also is a great form of entertainment and mental stimulation for pairs but is very important while she is single.

Make sure you bond them properly on neutral territory (do not just put the new piggy directly into her cage).

This is the guide that explains the full bonding process
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[weepweeps]

Great news. Lilly will thank you for getting her a friend. Will they let you take Lilly to the shelter so she can see which sow she gets on best with?

PS please read the bonding guides linked above. Don’t just pop another piggy in the cage. Good luck.

 

[JayDubb78]

That’s great news - it really will be in her best interest!

You must make sure your cage is big enough for two females - that is ideally 150x60cm but 120x60 minimum. Make sure there is two of everything in the cage (two bottles, two hay piles, at least two hides (hence why the cage needs to be large)) that there are no hides with only one exit (so the pink igloo in the picture can’t be used). We also don’t recommend the use of food bowls - it’s better to scatter veg and the one tablespoon of plain pellets around the cage to encourage foraging which can prevent food hogging when in a pair but also is a great form of entertainment and mental stimulation for pairs but is very important while she is single.

Make sure you bond them properly on neutral territory (do not just put the new piggy directly into her cage).

This is the guide that explains the full bonding process
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Enough room and two of everything... I just bought a Triple Decker with a hammock at the top off Temu, a different bigger water bottle, at least 4 hides, a 3 way tunnel toy, two food puzzle boxes, and more toys than a bundle of 4 gerbhampster pigs could figure out what to do with! I think that is covered.

 

[Merab]

So glad that beautiful Lilly is going to have a companion soon.
You will get a lot of fun watching the interaction between them.

I highly recommend the bonding thread - it saved my sanity!

The various guides on housing and feeding will be very helpful.

More pictures of your beautiful Lilly will be very welcome

 

[Piggies&buns]

Enough room and two of everything... I just bought a Triple Decker with a hammock at the top off Temu, a different bigger water bottle, at least 4 hides, a 3 way tunnel toy, two food puzzle boxes, and more toys than a bundle of 4 gerbhampster pigs could figure out what to do with! I think that is covered.

A triple decker cage?
If that is what you mean then I’m afraid they aren’t suitable for piggies. Piggies are ground roaming creatures who need single level living and for their cage to measurement requirements on that one (bottom) level. One additional level is fine for a bonus space but doesn’t count towards the cage size (and in some cases a ramp can cause problems between a pair of one claims it as their own territory and refused to let the other use it). Piggies aren’t natural climbers and not all will use ramps. Any ramp in a cage needs to be a shallow gradient, have plenty of grip and have sides on it.

Perhaps if you add pictures with measurements of the cage we can help you as to whether it is suitable. Unfortunately a lot of commercial cages simply aren’t right for piggies and we don’t want you to find yourself in a situation with an inappropriate cage

Most piggies ignore toys so don’t be disappointed if they don’t get used!

Cage Size Guide
Housing, Enrichment and Seasonal care

 

[fluffysal]

As an addendum, as you stated that money is tight it's worth looking on Amazon for songmics grids as they work out far cheaper than any cages.

 

[JayDubb78]

It was listed as great for guinea pigs and other small animals

 

[JayDubb78]

Chewy.com has several enclosures and cages listed specifically for guinea pigs that are similar

 

[Piggies&buns]

It was listed as great for guinea pigs and other small animals

Sadly this cage is entirely unsuitable and inappropriate for guinea pigs.
Please do not put your piggies into it.

It doesn’t meet size requirements as the cage
only measures 71x71cm (the ground measurements are the only ones which count) which isnt even welfare minimum. Their cage needs to be 150x60cm on a single level.

Piggies are ground roaming, and need large flat space to run, they don’t climb - they need their cage to be fully on ground level.
Plus it also poses a huge risk - if a piggy fell from
the top level it would cause significant injuries and would potentially be fatal.

They will never walk up the ramps - they are far too steep, aren’t designed for piggies and are frankly a huge hazard of risk of trapped and broken toes. Walking on the bars (not that they would - piggies will refuse to go anywhere near those ramps) would also cause bumble foot and sore foot pads.

The purple cage your piggy is currently in on your picture is the sort of thing you need - except it looks like it needs to be much bigger.
What are the measurements of the purple cage you have right now?

Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages
Cage Size Guide

 

[JayDubb78]

Too small for two. It was what the previous owners had her in and I don't feel like it's big enough for one

 

[weepweeps]

I agree with everything said above. When I first saw that cage I just saw lots of accidents and injuries waiting to happen. I’m sorry but please don’t get that cage.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Too small for two. It was what the previous owners had her in and I don't feel like it's big enough for one

That is what I suspected.
A single piggy needs a minimum of 120x60cm. 150x60cm is best for two (although 120x60cm is the welfare minimum for two piggies also)

You can either
- get a new one like you currently have but bigger
- get another one like you currently have and join the two together (this has been done by owners many times - you would either have to put a bridge over the two sides or cut a section out of the sides so they can freely walk around the space)
- get a c&c cage. A 4x2 is needed for two sows. As mentioned above, Amazon sell songmics grids which Make fantastic cages for piggies at a fraction of the price of c&c kits

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

It was listed as great for guinea pigs and other small animals

Sadly such sellers are only interested in selling as much as they can, not decent pet care. It's described as a cat cage, who would keep a cat in there when they need to be able to run and play?
Just a thought if it's too late to cancel your order, is it made of grids that clip together? If so, you could rearrange the grids to make a big single level cage ...

 

[JayDubb78]

I saw the single level ones... A couple are actually a bit more affordable. Wanted to give her a more interesting play area and home to explore

 

[JayDubb78]

Waiting on the agent in chat to confirm a cancellation. Just paid for it last night so hopefully it's not too late