Good or Bad idea?

[ludacristhepig]

I wanted to know if I could turn an old cage into a piggie pool? It's an old hamster cage and I was going to make it about up to the top of their feet. I wanted to know if they would like it and would they like to lay in it or play around in it.

[pigsforlife]

I personally think it is a bad idea. For a start, a hamster cage is made for hamsters. And then their is the possibilty of them getting cold, and what happens if they lie down and breathe water into their lungs? I think it holds too many risks and I highly doubt the guinea pigs will enjoy it as such.

Instead stick to a big, spacious cage with unlimited hay, good quality plain pellets, fresh produce and lot's of toys!

[Jenni_Feathers]

I really doubt they would like it, plus they arent supposed to have bathes only once a twice a year tops, if ever. They would also be at risk of getting sick from being cold after being wet. Its not a good idea.

[suzilovespiggie]

Most piggies do not like water. That is one reason you give buddy baths as a last resort to bonding. They get scared and run to each other for cormfort.

[ludacristhepig]

thanks for the info., and suzilovespiggie, i think you just saved my guinea pigs relationship. they are 2 males and they started to like each other at first, but now they try to attack each other. i think that's a good idea to give them a bonding bath to save their friendship.

[envisionary333]

How large is your cage? Two males need at least a 2x4 in grids so they have enough space to get along. It also helps to provide two hidey houses, food bowls, and water bottles so they don't fight over anything. How old are they? When males go through adolescence they tend to challenge each other more often, but they usually settle down with age.

[ludacristhepig]

My males are in separate cages, yet, they were together in a cage for 4 months. I'm not clear about the age, but i know one is older than the other one. If i was to guess, there is probably a 1 year difference between the two. I wanted to see if they were able to only spend free range time with each other like they used to do before they started fighting. The free range area is probably now about half a regular bedroom with numerous hiding spots and lots of hay.

[envisionary333]

Based on your other post about using a hamster cage for your piggies, I'm guessing you don't have a C & C cage and the space is much too small for two males piggies to get along in. You need to have at least a 2x4, otherwise even peaceful, laid back boars will have a tendency to fight. Here is a link for more information: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm.

[Love4Piggers]

My 2 boys have lived together since they were just a few months old. They will be 5 years old around the end of this year, and have lived in a pet store cage together for about 4 1/2 years now, since I have had them. I feel so much guilt for being so uneducated their whole lives. But I found this site around the beginning of August, and they have now been in their C&C cage coming up on two weeks now. I am already so amazed at the changes. Despite living in such tight quarters together their whole lives, they have never had a real fight. Never any hair pulled, blood shed, or anything like that. They did, however, often become territorial of the food dish, hay rack, water bottle, or hidey house, and would chat their teeth at eachother, but it never led to anything. They did argue a lot in this fashion, though. They did have regular floor time like your boys, but when they just return to their tiny cages at the end of the day, floor time just doesn't suffice. My boys' new C&C is 2x5 grids, and now that I have the room to do this, I basically did what envisionary said; I have two of pretty much everything. 2 water bottles, 2 pellet bowls, 2 hay baskets, 2 cuddle cups, 2 hidey houses, well you get the picture. I even bought a double cat dish to put their veggies in, so they each have their own veggie bowl. And the teeth chattering has almost completely ceased. They are actually getting along, and seem to be enjoying eachother's company. They will lay near eachother, peacefully and by choice. I am indescribably happy at how this has changed them; even though they're getting older, they will still sometimes run around and popcorn, even though they had ceased doing that during their floor time for quite some time.

Just my testimony, hopefully you can take something away from it.

[ludacristhepig]

They each have a 2x5(not grid cage) cage of their own. I wanted to see if they would be alright with each other when i let them out for floor time. I wanted to see what could I turn my old hamster cage into for their floor time(their floor time area is about half a bedroom).

[attackofthebear]

Maybe a hidey house would work for your old hamster cage.

[TX_2_Pigs]

Originally Posted by ludacristhepig

They each have a 2x5(not grid cage) cage of their own. I wanted to see if they would be alright with each other when i let them out for floor time. I wanted to see what could I turn my old hamster cage into for their floor time(their floor time area is about half a bedroom).

Ok I am confused. If each of your pigs has a 2x5 (not grids), then what is it? Is it shelving material? 2x5 in grids is equal to 28 inches by 70 inches. Minimum size is 28 inches by 56 inches for 2 boys. Make sure those are the measurements you have.

I have said this numerous times before, but it bears saying it again. Stop separating them. Every single time you separate them, the next time they get together they have to start working out who is the boss all over again. This causes major stress for them.

If you put them together for floor time and can leave them for several hours without them becoming a tumbling mess of flying fur and there is no blood, leave them together. Use the time they are together in floor time to completely and thoroughly clean both cages and combine the cages because if you have room for 2-2x5's, you certainly have the room for a 2x10. And this would certainly be ample room for your boys.

Since they are in separate cages, you already have 2 of everything. Just make sure it all gets cleaned well to remove the scent of the pigs off the items. Run everything through the dishwasher if you have one or wash in hot water.

Fill your old hamster cage with hay and put it out for floor time. Just make sure the access holes are either large enough for the piggies to crawl into without getting stuck, or they can't get in it and can just pull the hay out of the holes.

[ludacristhepig]

Well, now i have them two together in their play area(they live in their now instead of living in the cages).Also, i have 2 of everything in their new area and they are getting along fine now for the past 3 days.

[lovepigs]

Thats a good thought but a bad idea. Don't!!!!