Opinions on my Guinea Pig cage size.

[GPluv]

I have 4 females in a 2x5 grid C&C cage, and 3 males in a 2x4 grid C&C cage.

As of right now, 3 females and 2 males are 5 week old babies so they are still small.

However, I am wondering if when they become full grown, will this be enough room for them? I read on the home page that these are the minimum cage size requirements for how many I have. But my dilemma is, I don't have enough space to upgrade their cages.

It has crossed my mind to find good homes for 1 female and 1 male, so that the cage requirements would be met, and to help us save money. But it's really hard for me to let them go. I'm attached to them and it saddens me to think of giving any away.

Any advice? Thanks!

[PrayerWarrior]

The 2x5 might be okay for four females, but the 2x4 will be for sure too small. If you cannot make it longer, you could always make another 2x4 to sit on top.

If you do not have the space for adding upward, either, rehomimg might be something to consider.

[paula.m.moore]

I think a 2x5 is fine for three females, but not three males. I would go at least a 2x6 for three boys and that would be ideal for four girls too.

[Ly&Pigs]

Males are more territorial and need larger spaces. Even though it says the minumum for 3 boars is 2x4, that's really the minimum for 2 boars.

[Ziggy&Herald]

I have 3 males in a 3X4 which is the same as 2X5. They get along fine. Then my other two males arein a 3X3 which is the same as 2X4. I like to make it wider because the cage seems so much bigger and there is more room for them to move around objects.

[crazywiggy]

I would definitly go for the recommended cage sizes (rather than minimums) or even bigger if you possibly can. My two girls have the equivalent of a 2x5 and it still seems small to me once I put their hay box and pigloos in it.

If you don't seem to have enough space try having a major sprnig clean. When I decided to get some piggies you wouldn't have thought we had space for a hamster cage! Little things like getting rid of stuff you don't need, and better organisation and storage of the things you do need can make a big difference.

I just want to add, please realise that you can make up the recommended cage sizes (in terms of floor space) without keeping the same configuration. For example, making the cages wider.

I get too confused working in feet, inches, square inches etc so I will just explain in terms of grids.

The recommended cage size for 4 females (or 3 males as they need more space) is a 2x6. This is 12 square grids of floor space.

If you made two 3x4 cages each group would still get 12 square grids of space.

Ziggy - just wanted to point out here that a 3x4 is actually bigger than a 2x5 (12 as opposed to 10 sq grids) and a 3x3 is bigger than a 2x4 (9 rather than 8).

For maximum potential you can also overlap grids - just a couple of extra inches on the length and/or width could make all the difference. Hence my cage is actually a 2.5x4.

Hope this helped a bit!

[Ziggy&Herald]

Are we talking about square feet or actual grids? My 3X4 has 14 grids. A 2X5 has 14 grids, but yes the square footage would be more in a wider cage.

[paperlady]

You're counting the perimeter--crazywiggy's talking about how many grids would make up the floor for the area.

[Ziggy&Herald]

OK, I get it now.

[GPluv]

Thanks to all for your advice!!

[Ly&Pigs]

Basically, if you start with a 2x3 for 2 sows, just add another 1x2 section for each additional sow. Same for boars, but start with a 2x4.

A 2x5 is big enough for 4 sows. Whereas you'd need a 2x6 for 4 boars.