New Pig, New Owner, Lots of questions

[Clay's Pooka]

Hello! My husband just bought me a Guinea Pig, and I have a couple of questions.

First, I was wondering if anyone out there has used a litter pan with these guys with any success? If so, what did you use as litter? I had a hedgie who passed away Monday from cancer (she was quite elderly) and I still have her litter pan and some other accessories.


Second question: can Harry use a wheel to run on? The wheel I have is quite large and has a woven running area so his little legs would not be able to fall through and get caught. This is another hand-me-down from the hedgie, but if he wouldn't be interested or safe using it, its okay.

Last question: I have read that pigs like company and that a lonely pig is a sad pig, but I have also read that males should be housed apart. Harry is less than 6 months old and was housed with other males where we got him. Any advice? Thanks!

Kadie and Harry Redknapp

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You should start reading here Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig and all the stickies in the diet forum.

Wheels and balls are dangerous for guinea pigs. They can die in them. They are not meant to bend their backs like hamsters. Most of what the pet store will try to sell you for guinea pigs are bad for them.

If you got the pig at a pet store, make sure you do have a male. They are often missexed and sick.

It's very hard to perfectly litter train a guinea pig.

It is a myth that two males will fight.
Guinea Pigs Social Life

[Haley0489]

Litter training is a little hit and miss. A guinea pig will typically choose a corner as their "potty area" and so you'd put the litter pan there. They'll do most of their liquid-business there, but they'll poop all over.

I have three males together and they get on like peas in a pod. Since you're piggie is only 6 months I'd recommend getting another male pig [or spayed female] who is 1+ years old. Males typically bond with less hassle when there is a large age gap.

[AnimalHouse36]

Welcome to GPC!

Wheels and balls are very dangerous and can result in broken legs or backs. And besides that, guinea pigs won't even use them. Check out the links that rabbitsncavyluv gave you.

Males can be housed with males and females with females. Since your pig is from a petstore he could very well be missexed. Guinea pigs do much better in pairs but please, opt to adopt. Check out Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder and see all the adoptable animals!

My guinea pigs are semi litter trained but since it's getting colder my pigs decided it would be easier to just poo in there fleece hideys! There are simple tricks to get them to use it. Do a forum search ad I'm sure you'll find plenty of results.

Also, I hope you build him a nice large C&C cage! They are sooooo much better! And we love pictures (pigtures)

[Clay's Pooka]

Okay, I understand. I will send Tiggy's wheel to a hedgie rescue for use by another hedgie. Also, I went back and adopted his friend that he was housed with, both because they get along and have already been together for some time and won't pass anything harmful to one another. He is already acting more relaxed- he isn't even hiding now, but is out with the other pig now eating Timothy Hay. Also, I don't have a C&C cage, but I have a HUGE aquarium for them with a screened lid so they can't get out. Thanks for all the advice!

[hueyeats]

You do not want to house your guinea pigs in an aquarium no matter the size unless you want to dish out $$$ early on for them to go to vet due to upper respiratory infections (URI).

The reason so many here says that most petstores' pigs are sickly (URI especially) & to be careful buying from them is exactly the reason that they use aquariums to house piggies.

Aquariums don't vent like a good cage does... if humans cannot comfortably live permanently inside a greenhouse (why they are called "green" house in the first place) due to temperature & especially humidity reasons (how many piggies catch URI in the first place; their urine cannot vent correctly & contributes to "noxious gas" & high humidity)

a guinea pig will not do so comfortably as well & GPs temperatures are very similar to that of a human.

Please rethink using an aquarium to house them.... unless you are prepared to pay more $$$ for vet visits than the amount you would spend on a C&C cage.

Add: High humidity also acts to promote bacteria growth in very very short amount of time. Plus no ventilation means air is not moved around... therefore less likely the bacteria is killed by fresh air and bad air promotes more bacteria growth (think why a petri dish is great used for bacteria growth).

[Baby's mom]

Screened aqaurium is not good for guinea pigs. They need the proper cage so that air can circulate through the whole cage. They need to feel like they're a part of the family, not sectioned off somewhere.

I know it's hard getting them set up in their new home, and there's alot of work to do. You came to the right place, and there's alot of guinea pig parents here who are definately willing to offer advice if you should need/want it.

I would definately consider getting them a proper C&C cage though.

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[Clay's Pooka]

Oh, as far as ventilation goes we are hanging a little fan to encourage airflow. Also, the aquarium we have has a screened top rather than a solid one so that the fan will do its job. Eventually I want to get a c&c cage for them, but right now I am trying to do the best I can with what I have.

[hueyeats]

Please eventually get a C&C (ASAP if possible)... they are not pricey at all. I saw them for $14.99 for the 4 cube set-up at Bed, bath & beyond & you can even get a rebate of 20% or $10 off of $30 you spend. link for the cubes here:

Bed Bath & Beyond - Storage Closet Shelving

Fan is not a good thing for your piggies either, it causes "draft" (If you research the forums here, there will be threads covering that). That contributes to URI as well. URI is very costly when visiting the vets & many time very deadly to piggies (they kill real quick). So the cost for the vet may not even save a piggie so...

Best is prevention (always better than cure)!

I am a newbie like yourself & have actually only owned (ok slave to) my piggies for 7 weeks only. So... I myself have a lot of learning to do when it comes to what is best for my piggies... I did do researches for 1 plus month on google, youtube, guinealynx, cavymadness & here before even adopting 2 (shame on me as I have 1 store bought piggie even after visiting this site... but she is very skinny & I thought to fatten her up; besides the fact she melts my heart) totaling 3 piggies.

I have 2 sets of the 4 cubes that I used for shelvings... but ended up using my old shoe closet (alternative cages) with a deck & steps dedicated to my GPs. I only gate them at night & let them roam free during day time. Actually my would be C&C base will be a bit smaller than the (2 x 36" x 36") 18 SQ ft plus they have now.... and it will be off the floor unlike now where they come & go into their designated area as they please. They are sooo good that they always go home at night (or break from free-roaming time) also because their food, hay & water are all there (and they feel secure there). So... without a C&C, if you have some room space... maybe a temporary set-up like this???

I am all for saving $$$ plus recycling and do not use coroplast as their base. Most my stuff came from the dollar stores or are free (like XL cardboard box recycled as their base bottom before the towel & fleece layer.

I also found fleece for $3.99 for a 50"X70" roll if that helps. Using traditional beddings will be costly vs why so many chose fleece here (doing laundry for fleece). Please note that cedar beddings and cat litters are a no-no for GPs due to dust & poisoning.

Refer to the bedding section here:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/bedding.htm

Refer to the quick very easy to follow colored chart here for food (when & what) if you haven't found this yet... I follow it like the bible :

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...arts-info.html

Hope I am not too long winded & as I love my piggies a ton and do believe in practicing what is best for them. I am here as you are, to gather as much info to better love our piggies & this site is awesome for that.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You bought your guinea pigs. You did not adopt.

The money goes into the pet store and breeding mill's pockets.

Even if they got along before, doesn't guarantee they still will. Males go through adolescence and they usually start to squabble. Housing them in an too small aquarium will encourage fighting over territory.

Ditto the above. A fan is not suitable. Blowing drafts on the guinea pigs will encourage URIs and make them miserable if they cannot get out of it.

Your guinea pigs also could still be sick with mites or other illnesses since they are from a pet store. Have you picked them up and make sure they are boys?

[hueyeats]

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

You bought your guinea pigs. You did not adopt.

Are you referring to me or OP?

If it is me you are referring to I would agree & you are right (feeling guilty here) that I bought 1 & did adopted 2.

I bought that 1 after trying to shop for supplies for my adopted pair of Mom & daughter. I also agree that I should not have done the support the breeding mill cycle that buying from Pet stores does.

Now if I have any emergency buys, I only shop at PetValue who does not sell animals and is a supply only chain (I learned my lessons well here and prefer to not even be tempted by pet stores selling animals like I did trying to rescue by buying... definitely a no-no, thanks to everyone's advise & Oprah's coverage on petmills).

Mine got their vet visit the weekend I got them (confirmed they are gals) and she also happens to be my DH's cousin who also is the vet for my husband's uncle's farm. My FIL also keeps a huge vegetable & corn farm plus my husband's uncle also bale his own hay & does his own feed... so my GP's & I won't starve (I love to eat, so does my GPs).

I do not believe in "Mill" breeding practice. That is a very horrible condition & life that any animal have to go through... and everyone should be "educated" in why Breeding Mills ARE animal cruelty.

[Slave to the Wheek]

Ackk! I just put up some great knowledge for new pig owners with lots of info and links on another post. Spent way too much time formatting it and all, so I'll just refer you to the thread.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...d=1#post391792

You can't miss it, sixth one down.

[Clay's Pooka]

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

You bought your guinea pigs. You did not adopt.

Okay, here is the thing. I have 2 guinea pigs now, for better or for worse, and I did not ask about the ethics of adopting vs. buying. And I really couldn't care LESS about what Oprah has to say about the situation. All I wanted to know was how to take proper care of the animals I have. To all of you that gave me advice, I appreciate it and will take it to heart. But a C&C cage will not work for my situation for several reasons, so I will have to come up with something else. I have an aquarium, and thats just how it is right now. As for whether or not they will fight, well, I guess time will tell because no two websites or people have the same answer on that front. Thanks again for all the well-intended advice.

[Cherish]

I can see where this thread might be going, so can we try and keep the tone of our posts friendly, please?
No one respects the opinion of someone that is rude to them.

HarryRedknapp, welcome to the forum!
There's lots of really valuable information, and lots of great members with lots of experience here, but please keep in mind that rescuing and proper care and housing is something that many of our members are very passionate about, and it's irritating when your well-intended advice is immediately dismissed.

What are your reasons for not being able to make a C&C cage?
Some of the members here might be able to work out a way to help you; whether your issue is with cost, space or something else, many of us have been there, and might know a way to work around it.
Some members (like hueyeats has already done) might know of alternative ways of making non-C&C cages, that don't have the same ventilation problems as an aquarium does.
So please don't just dismiss them, consider what they're saying; they only have the best interests of your guinea pigs at heart.
Deciding that "that's just the way it is right now" without considering other options isn't the best thing to do for your pets.

[Baby's mom]

And also, because we're very passionate about rescuing guinea pigs, please don't think that we're judging you.

I have 2 guinea pig boys. One, I bought from a pet store, then I realized my mistake, and the second one I adopted. Even though my first boy was bought, I would never regret bringing him into my home, and heart.

We are all just like you, loving our piggies, trying to learn how to adapt to their wants, and needs, and just trying to be supportive, and helpful to each other.

And ditto to everything that Cherish said.

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[fieryone]

Originally Posted by Cherish

I can see where this thread might be going, so can we try and keep the tone of our posts friendly, please?
No one respects the opinion of someone that is rude to them.

I agree wholeheartedly. While most people here are very pro-rescue, other people's opinions and situations need to be respected. It's as simple as that. Nitpicking isn't going to accomplish anything except ensure that HarryRedKnapp (and any other new member who may not be doing this the way people would like) to leave the forum altogether. Then what?

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Proper care includes proper housing. Guinea pigs aren't fish. They will get sick being housed in an aquarium and they need more room to run around.

If you need a dog or cat proof cage, you can easily build one if that is the problem. A C&C is pretty cheap to build.

[Clay's Pooka]

I understand that it is desirable to adopt rather than buy. What happened here is that I had to put down my hedgie that I had had for over 4 years on Monday and cried literally all week long. My husband was trying to make me feel better, and bought me the first little guy. He came straight home, and I began to do research (which he hadn't given me time to do before hand). When I saw how lonely it is for them to be alone, I weighed my options and decided since I don't know how to choose a suitable friend or how to introduce them, I thought it was better to get the one he was with before since at least they already got along and wouldn't pass disease to one another. And the other one needed a home, too. So now I have 2 cavies, and I am going to do whatever I can to take extremely good care of them. So please, I didn't mean to offend- my husband was just trying to help me stop crying.

Now, the problems I have with a C&C cage, besides the fact that we don't have the materials or a Target or K-mart here, is that I don't have the space for one that wide and I have to have a secure cage with a secure lid because we have 2 cats. We live in a large open loft-type home, so I cannot keep them away from the cats by putting them in a room of their own, nor would isolation from the family make them happy. I am going to build them a nice cage that is well-ventilated and safe for them, but they will be in the aquarium until then. Also, I am cleaning it every day to avoid urine making the air bad or bacteria grow.

Also, has anyone had any experience with the food ZuPreem? Its supposed to be a complete, high-quality feed. Not that I won't feed them fresh stuff, I was just wondering.

[dra&pigs]

See, although you may take excellent care of these cavies, you've opened up their previous cage for a set of new piggies, who are probably from the mill and treated horridly. You encouraged breeding and selling of animals with your purchase. No matter how you may feel about the subject, money is money, and pet stores want it. And from you, they got it. The aquarium is simply not a decent home for a piggie. Imagine if you were kept in a glass tank. Happy? I don't think so.
Zupreem is junk food. Never feed it. Oxbow, Kleenmama, Mazuri and Sweet Meadow are seedless, high quality foods for your piggie. Also, the sticky at the top of the Diet and Nutrition forum has a chart of which veggies you may feed and how much. *Remember that high-quality, fresh hay must be provided 24/7.

[starshine123102]

We all make our mistakes about buying from pet stores. I know I did. Most of us do so I'm not blaming you for it. But now that you know better if you ever add a third piggie, just make sure you adopt and don't help the vicious cycle pet stores perpetuate. That goes for any animal. Piggie, cat, hedgie, dog, whatever. Breeders/pet stores = BAD.

C&C cages are actually very easy to create lids for. If you haven't already check out the photo galleries. There are sections for one level open cages, one level closed cages, multiple level open and closed cages. There is also a gallery fo cages that are called alternative c&c's. If you can't make it that wide it should be okay so long as in the end they have the reccomended square footage: 2x4 grids or 10.5 sq ft. Just try not to make it one foot wide by 10 ft long. I know I wouldn't want to live in a long hallway like cage.

Good luck with your new piggies and I'm very sorry to hear about your loss.