Cali's New Cage

[wuany]

We just bought Cali a new cage. It's bigger than the my first home cage. It's I think 39 inches length and 19 inches wide. We also just switched over to aspen bedding because our vet said she was concerned about the care fresh and mites.

Cali is running around the cage, going in and out of the hidey house and the aspen is getting thrown everywhere. Does that mean Cali is happy? We can't get a bigger cage right now cuz we are limited in space. But we do have room for floor time. I read in a guinea pig book that a child's plastic pool can be used for floor time. Is this ok?

[Katie]

Originally Posted by wuany

We just bought Cali a new cage. It's bigger than the my first home cage. It's I think 39 inches length and 19 inches wide. We also just switched over to aspen bedding because our vet said she was concerned about the care fresh and mites.

Cali is running around the cage, going in and out of the hidey house and the aspen is getting thrown everywhere. Does that mean Cali is happy? We can't get a bigger cage right now cuz we are limited in space. But we do have room for floor time. I read in a guinea pig book that a child's plastic pool can be used for floor time. Is this ok?

Carefresh and mites? Guinea pigs cannot get mites from bedding. All guinea pig have mites. They lie dormant under the skin until something aggrivates them.

Yes, running around means shes happy.

Actually, you could just use a kiddy pool as a cage, most are bigger then cages anyway.

Why didn't you just make a 2x3 C&C cage? It would have been much cheaper, and only a few inches bigger then the pet store cage. A 2x3 is 28"x 42", roughly.

[wuany]

I plan to make a C&C cage eventually. I was impatient and wanted a bigger cage right away. Plus I want to wait and see how Cali does. She is still adjusting. It's only been a week. Plus we are going to adopt another guinea pig sometime soon I hope. I can't use the pool for a cage cuz we have cats.

[Ketus15]

I don't think that all guinea pigs have mites... We'll have to wait for a more authoratative opinion than mine, though.

We used to use non-kiln dried pine, and our pigs health suffered. We've used Carefresh exclusively for 2.5 years now, and haven't had a problem, besides the occasional ingestion, which doesn't seem to bother them. I like how Carefresh is so great at odor control. However, I have read on this forum that many people have great luck with aspen as well.

[Piglet]

It's true that all pigs have mites, they just need some sort of stress to get them 'active'

[Katie]

I don't think that all guinea pigs have mites

Yes, all guinea pigs have mites that lay dormant under the skin, so do humans, gross huh?

[LuvMyPiggers]

Originally Posted by Katie

Carefresh and mites? Guinea pigs cannot get mites from bedding. All guinea pig have mites. They lie dormant under the skin until something aggrivates them.

Yes, running around means shes happy.

Actually, you could just use a kiddy pool as a cage, most are bigger then cages anyway.

Why didn't you just make a 2x3 C&C cage? It would have been much cheaper, and only a few inches bigger then the pet store cage. A 2x3 is 28"x 42", roughly.

I agree with her ^^^^
I made a 3X4 and it only cost me $43 for a HUGE cage. I mean it's HUGE. It's so big, I could fit a 10 dollar saftey dog bed from walmart in there for them! So that comes to show, a 2X3 is going to be better than a 19" wide cage (and only a bit bigger). I would know cause I stupidly went on the first time I got my pig and the lady said I could use an aquarium. THen I knew that was WAY TOO SMALL so I got a my first pet home. Then I got the guinea pig that the lady abandoned and the cage wasn't big enough for both of them. , that was hard. So seriously consider a 2X3 cage. Your pigs will love you...

[LuvMyPiggers]

Originally Posted by Piglet

It's true that all pigs have mites, they just need some sort of stress to get them 'active'

If your pigs are stressed when you bath them, could they get mights by that? just wondering

[dagwellismypigy]

No, they need a major stress like moving to a new home. Something that makes them weak so that they mites can, well, take over.

[LuvMyPiggers]

Originally Posted by dagwellismypigy

No, they need a major stress like moving to a new home. Something that makes them weak so that they mites can, well, take over.

Ok good. Lol. I was scared there for a second...

[Ketus15]

Originally Posted by Katie

Yes, all guinea pigs have mites that lay dormant under the skin, so do humans, gross huh?

Creepy. I feel itchy now...