How To Set Up A Guinea Pig Cage
Keeping a guinea hog every bit a pet is fun, but it requires some preparation. The about of import part of the preparation is to buy or make a cage because guinea pigs take special housing requirements.
If you are wondering where to go started, keep reading. This step-by-step guide will assistance you get ready for the arrival of your furry baby.
Republic of guinea Pig Setup: Stride By Step Guide
The ideal case for a republic of guinea hog is one in which the fauna can run and play comfortably. The cage should be spacious and sturdy. Make sure the enclosure is at least 100 cm long and 80 cm wide.
It should accept a sleeping surface area and prophylactic hiding places such equally tunnels made from cardboard boxes. Practise not proceed the cage outdoors if the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius. Replace water regularly and keep it away from heat sources.
It may audio like a lot of work, but the process should non exist complicated or time-consuming. Follow the steps below to make an ideal enclosure for your piggy.
Step 1: Choosing a Cage for Guinea Pig
Whether you lot desire to purchase a ready-made cage or take the DIY route, you lot have several different options. When choosing a muzzle for your piggy, ii important factors should be taken into consideration: the size and the material. Allow'due south swoop a picayune bit deeper.
Types of Cages for Guinea Pigs
Options include hutches, coroplast cages, craven coops, wire cages, and a rabbit runs. Make certain to avoid a flimsy pet store cage, a glass tank or aquarium, or a muzzle with a wire bottom. Most importantly, your piggy'due south home must be predator-proof.
Every bit you meet, at that place are several options for your guinea pig'due south case, and the cost can vary wildly, depending on your choice. A standard hutch will toll effectually $100.
Size of A Muzzle For A Guinea Pig
For two female person republic of guinea pigs, the cage must exist at least viii foursquare feet. Use this standard to effigy out the size of the cage. In mathematical terms, the equation is like this: size of the cage = number of guinea pigs x 4. For five guinea pigs, the cage should exist 20 square feet, for example.
Male republic of guinea pigs tend to engage in fights, and that'due south why it's good to make bigger cages for them. A big and spacious muzzle will allow your piggies to run around and have fun.
If you want to have the DIY route, the cost will come up down significantly. You can build a pretty big and sturdy muzzle by spending equally piddling as $20.
Step 2: Bedding For Your Guinea Pig
It's important to ensure a proper type of bedding for the health and comfort of your piggy.
Guinea pigs are prey animals and they are easily frightened by threats or perceived threats. Bedding serves every bit a hiding place and makes them feel comfortable. Bedding also collects urine and makes spot cleaning a lot easier.
In that location are several options for your guinea pig's bedding. First, you can buy some aspen woods shavings especially prepared for republic of guinea pig bedding.
They are not aromatic, and that's why they are preferable to pine forest shavings. A packet of Kaytee aspen wood shavings costs $10.99.
Paper-based bedding such as CareFresh is another great option, in function because it does not take harmful aromatic hydrocarbons. Prices range from $16 to $25.
Yous tin besides purchase some shredded newspaper from a pet shop. To save costs,yous tin can decide to shred paper. Newspaper doesn't contain toxins, aromatic oils or hydrocarbons, and therefore is a safety material to use.
At present, permit'due south meet what you lot should non use for guinea pig bedding. By all means, avert toxic materials such as cedar or pine shavings, sawdust, corncob, newspaper, or harbinger.
Cedar and pine shavings tin cause serious respiratory issues. When inhaled, sawdust can as well cause respiratory issues.
Corn Cob has an annoying texture that tin cause discomfort, and paper tin hardly blot urine. The same goes for straw, which is non absorbent enough to be used as bedding.
Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
Step three: Ideal Temperature for Guinea Pigs
Just like humans, republic of guinea pigs prefer moderate temperatures. The ideal range of temperature is 64°F to 73.°F. More than 75 degrees Fahrenheit is too hot for guinea pigs, and can crusade various health hazards including heat stroke.
Consider getting a thermometer and then that you tin easily know the temperature of the room.
While they prefer cooler conditions, they tin can be at risk if the temperature drops below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Guinea pigs are social animals and rely on each other to stay warm.
Therefore, rather than keeping but 1 republic of guinea sus scrofa, consider getting more than. The more than, the merrier!
Step iv: Light for Guinea Pigs
Republic of guinea pigs need sunlight. With that said, when it comes to exposing your piggie to direct sunlight, moderation is key. Exposing a guinea pig to directly sunlight for a long fourth dimension can event in heatstroke.
Take your piggie outside in the mornings and evenings, when temperatures are not too high. In general, an hr of exposure to direct sunlight is plenty.
If the cage is indoors and the room has a good level of visibility, you practise not demand to install extra bulbs in the cage. If the room is dark, you can install a seedling that provides sufficient light. Brand sure the calorie-free is not dazzlingly vivid.
Being crepuscular animals, republic of guinea pigs exercise non go into a deep sleep. They remain agile during the nighttime, and when they sleep, they ofttimes keep their eyes open.
Republic of guinea pigs prefer darkness considering information technology allows them to motion around without being seen. Contrary to what some guinea pig owners think, these animals do not demand light during the dark.
Step 5: Water and Humidity for Guinea Pigs
A healthy republic of guinea sus scrofa normally drinks well-nigh 100 ml of water daily. That'southward a lot of water for such a tiny animal!
To prevent h2o-borne diseases, make clean the bottles and add water daily. H2o bottles specially designed for guinea pigs are available on the market. Prices offset at $6.
Fifty-fifty if yous have a unmarried republic of guinea pig, install two bottles, to provide a backup in case one leaks or gets jammed. When yous mount the bottles, make sure the nozzles are at a comfortable height. If they are as well high, your piggy volition have to strain to get a drink.
H2o intake might increase or decrease depending on factors such as humidity, activity level, affliction, and ambient temperature. If your guinea pig suddenly starts drinking an abnormally big amount of water, talk to a guinea pig-savvy veterinary.
The room in which you proceed your guinea pig should not experience fluctuations in humidity. The room should non be close to showers.
Avert basements and laundry rooms in which humidity levels tend to be high. For housed guinea pigs, the recommended relative humidity is betwixt xl and 70%.
Stride 6: Guinea Pig Accessories
Before your furry babe arrives, brand certain you take invested in at least the essential accessories. Hither are the accessories y'all volition need to feed and groom a guinea sus scrofa:
Showtime, buy a non-leak water bottle designed for small animals. A water bowl tin exist an alternative, but it can attract dirt and mess, and so you lot can stick to a bottle.
Purchase two food bowls: one for fresh fruits and vegetables, and the other for pellets. Instead of plastic bowls, consider investing in ceramic bowls, which are heavyweight and healthy.
Republic of guinea pigs are prey animals, and they tend to hibernate from everything. So, consider purchasing some hideouts such as bridges, huts and shelters. They will assistance lessen your piggy'southward stress levels.
Too, buy some cage toys like igloos, tunnels, hammocks, hay racks, cozies, and treat balls. Avoid wire assurance, wood toys and toys that are a choking hazard. Make sure you become a wooden hay rack instead of a wire rack
Your guinea pig's case should be cleaned at least in one case a week, and in some cases, daily. For this, you are going to need a dustpan, brush, antibacterial spray, some cloth, gloves, and bin bags.
In that location are also optional preparation products, such as boom clippers, pilus trimmers, and a soft-bristled brush.
Training Kit with Pet Grooming Shedding Slicker Brush, Bath Massage Glove Brush, Blast Clipper, Flea Comb
Pace seven: Find an Ideal Location For A Republic of guinea Pig Hutch
Place your guinea sus scrofa hutch in a typhoon-free, brilliant room with a stable temperature. As we have already stated, there should non exist fluctuations in temperature in the room. For the health and happiness of your guinea pig, place the hutch close to family unit activities.
An area near the dining room or kitchen is by and large a proficient location for placing a guinea pig hutch. Practice not put the muzzle direct on the flooring, because guinea pigs are scared of activities such as footsteps, running, jumping, cleaning and vacuuming.
If y'all are thinking of setting upward an outdoor hutch, find a suitable place to position the hutch. If the weather gets hot, move the hutch to a cooler surface area. Set up the hutch in a place that doesn't receive also much direct sunlight. Practice not position the hutch in a damp place.
How Much Is A Guinea Hog Fix?
The total cost for a guinea pig prepare up will exist effectually $200. It will cover nutrient dishes, toys, h2o dispensers, shelters and more than. After the initial setup, expect to spend effectually $xl per month for food, bedding and vet bills
How Many Guinea Pigs Should Yous Go on in a Muzzle?
Guinea pigs are social animals that live in groups of 10 or more in the wild. As pets, they can be kept in pairs. Two sows or two boars usually alive happily together.
If you keep 2 boars, brand certain they are of two different ages. If you go on a boar and a sow together, castrate the boar. However, don't castrate the boar if y'all want to stop upwards with many more guinea pigs!
For one or two guinea pigs, the cage should be at least 8 square feet. For three, a 12 square feet cage is preferable. For iv, the muzzle should be 16 square anxiety.
As a rule of pollex, to discover the appropriate size of the muzzle, you only take to multiply the number of guinea pigs with four.
FAQs
What should a republic of guinea pig cage take in it?
Your guinea pig'southward habitat should be stocked with toys and treats that make the animal'south living comfy. The necessary items include pellets and treats, hiding places and tunnels, fleece liner bedding, hay, a food bowl, water bottle and pee pad.
What practice you lot put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage?
Y'all can put paper, hay and aspen shavings, fleece and wood pellets on the bottom of your guinea squealer cage. The items should be soft, absorbent and odorless. Use these items lone or combine them with other materials.
Exercise guinea pigs similar their cage covered?
Republic of guinea pigs adopt darkness to calorie-free, and a covered cage gives them a sense of security. Your guinea hog muzzle should have a fractional, opaque cover. As long as in that location is room for proper ventilation, it is perfectly fine to cover your guinea pig muzzle at nighttime.
Wrapping Up
Setting up a republic of guinea pig hutch is not that difficult. With the right cage and accessories, you lot can get started pretty hands. The real challenge is everyday care and maintenance.
And no matter how good the setup is, your furry baby will initially dive nether encompass when you approach, and that'south fine. The little animate being will soon become friends with you.
Source: https://petsive.com/guinea-pigs/guinea-pig-setup/
0 Response to "How To Set Up A Guinea Pig Cage"
Post a Comment