subject: 4 Requisites Of The Perfect Guinea Pig Cage [print this page] Having the right guinea pig cage is very important, although a lot of guinea pig owners dont realize it. These pets practically spend all their time inside the cage so you have to find a good home for them. Imagine living inside an uncomfortable place feeling uneasy and stressed. Do you think it would be healthy for you? Of course, that definitely wont be.
Here are some requirements that you need to remember before purchasing a good guinea pig cage:
1. Spacious
You need to allow your guinea pig to run around the cage when it needs to. They need to exercise so you need to find the perfect guinea pig cage that will allow them to play during their leisure time.
Guinea pigs actually are better when they are bought in pairs or groups. Make sure that you buy a guinea pig cage that can accommodate all of your pets.
For one guinea pig, the recommended cage size is about 7.5 square meters. As for pairs or groups, you can buy a guinea pig cage that is 10 to 13 square meters. That is good for up to four guinea pigs.
2. Comfy Bedding
Since your guinea pig will be staying inside the cage for a long time, you have to ensure that they will not experience any pain or harm inside. Avoid cedar and pine shavings for bedding.
The acceptable choices of guinea pig beddings are aspen shavings and newly recycled paper beddings. You have to make sure that you put an absorbent layer under the hay or aspen. Never buy wire or mesh beddings. If you have already bought one, make sure to buy a cage mat to avoid your guinea pigs from being hurt.
3. A Good Spring-loaded Lock or Lid
Another important thing that you should look for in a good guinea pig cage is a good lock or lid. Remember that cavies belong to the family of rodents. They are agile and can easily escape. If you dont want to end up crying over a lost pet, make sure that you buy a cage that will keep your guinea pig in and other animals out.
4. Guinea Pig Cage Accessories
There are only a few necessary accessories that guinea pigs need. They all need to fit in the guinea pig cage that you will buy for your cavy. You have to provide a hiding nest. It may be a nest box, a large diameter PVC pipe or cardboard boxes.
You also have to put a ceramic dish where you will be feeding them. It should be small enough for them to avoid climbing on it and using it as a toilet.
To ensure cleanliness and freshness of the floor, put a hay rack or manger. Most importantly, you need to have a plastic or glass water with a metal spout where they can drink while inside the guinea pig cage.
Keeping these things in mind can help ensure you guinea pigs health and safety. By buying the right guinea pig cage, you can have a peace of mind that your pets can have comfortable life with you.