About Me I'm new here! - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

Rose11 · #1 10-17-09, 01:37 pm

Hello Everyone,
I'm new here, I made my account today and I decided this website looks great!
I plan on getting two female piggies next week. I have a store bought cage that my friend let me borrow but it's not very big, especially if I'm getting two. I really want to build a bigger cage out of those grid cube thingy's which I think are called C&C cages. I plan on giving it two stories.
I mostly posted this though to ask for tips on how to be the perfect piggie owner!
Thanks.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #2 10-17-09, 11:17 pm

Welcome. Where are you getting your new piggies? From a rescue or shelter I hope?

Any pet store cage you find is definitely too small. You should try to build the C&C before you bring the pigs home.

**PancakesWaffles** · #3 10-18-09, 01:32 am

I agree with rabbitsncavyluv, build a big C&C cage before you bring your guinea pigs home. The materials are readily available, they're easy to build, easy to clean and the pigs love them. There's no reason to not have one.

As for advice, I can't offer much because hell, I'm a newbie too! I'd say do lots and lots of research. Come on this site often because there is lots of information and tons of people willing to help and give advice. People may jump all over you for doing the wrong thing (pet store cages, buying your piggie at a pet store, pet store treats etc.. etc..) but listen to people's advice and learn from your mistakes.

Welcome, and goodluck with your piggies.

**Tessa Bea** · #4 10-18-09, 01:48 am

I recommend also that you build a C&C cage first. I've had pigs in both environments and I can guarantee you that your pigs will be happier, their cage will be easier to clean, and you will have fewer worries about their health than in a pet store cage.

Also, I hope you can find a place to adopt or rescue pigs! Guinea pigs are animals, not product which is all that pet stores see them as- things to sell! We can only begin to make a difference by refusing to buy.

It's good you'll be getting two, they'll keep each other company.

Welcome to the forum!

Rose11 · #5 10-18-09, 12:14 pm

I truly do want to get a C&C cage quick so I have decided to try to buil one as soon as possible. The storebought guinea pig cage actually is pretty big and my friends had happy healthy guinea pigs (2 by the way) that lived a long time.

I plan on getting the guinea pigs seven days from now and I'm going to tryy to build/get a C&C cage as soon as possible. I hope to have one ready within a week after adoption. Does anyone have any tips on where to buy one, I know where to get the cube thingy I just don't know where to get a bottom. How do I attach the bottom the to the cubes?

You all mentioned that I should adopt from a shhelter and I am trying my hardest to find a shelter that has to female piggies in my interest. Does anyone have any opinion or idea how to find a shelter with female piggies?

**yaqcubper** · #6 10-18-09, 01:02 pm

I don't know about the shelters but the grids I found at Target, but you have to get look for them online under "Kids and Storage", I haven't gotten my order in yet but from the zoomed in picture you can see that they have 9x9 holes, not the 5x5 they are selling in stores that are dangerous for the piggies.

I'm still looking for the bottom part myself as I can't afford to buy some from this site.

Rose11 · #7 10-18-09, 01:53 pm

I actually found some grids at bed bath and beyond, I'm still looking for the bottom. Thanks!!!

**yaqcubper** · #8 10-18-09, 02:18 pm

Well, I'm not sure where you live exactly but my friend found someone that sells 4'x8' coroplast sheets in Sacramento. Luckily she's there for the weekend and can bring me some tomorrow =]
So excited.

**akstrohm** · #9 10-18-09, 02:23 pm

Coroplast can be found in many sign stores. Check the materials locator through the home page of this site.

Definitely get your pigs from a rescue or shelter. If you post your location, we can be of more help. In the meantime, try Petfinder (google it). If you get pigs from a pet store there is a very good chance they will be sick, pregnant, or missexed. You have absolutely no guarantee of getting females there. Most pet store employees have no idea how to sex guinea pigs. Breeders are an equally bad source for pigs. Their pigs are often kept in horrible conditions, and by going to a breeder you are supporting the already large over population problem.

Can I ask why you have to have females? Why not males?

Just about all pet store cages are way too small. It doesn't matter that your friend's guinea pigs lived in them a long time. They would have been so much happier and healthier if they had been able to run around and explore. You do not need to get your pigs in 7 days. Build the cage first, make sure it is safe and big enough, and then get your pigs when you are ready. It's not fair to them to have to live in a pet store cage until it's convenient for you to build a bigger one. It would be like you having to live in a bathroom for a week.

**yaqcubper** · #10 10-18-09, 04:19 pm

Yeah the biggest pet store cage I could find was a rabbit one that did not look very convincing.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #11 10-20-09, 12:40 am

Try the placement forum on this board, your local animal shelters, petfinder.com , guineapighome.com and www.guinealynx.info - there is a rescue list there too and a placement forum

Dolly · #12 10-22-09, 11:27 am

Hi and welcome! I'm a newbie too and have only had my two guinea pigs for just over a week. Before I got mine I spoke to knowledgeable people who had had guinea pigs, I also researched online and got a book out from the library which I found very helpful and informative.

Good luck with your new piggies! And please keep us up to date when you get them.