C&C Alternatives Plastic under-bed storage tub for "playpen"?

[CavyMommie]

Please don't jump on me, here, but I thought I had a rather brilliant idea to use one of those huge under-bed storage tubs for Checkers' playpen? Then I started wondering if it was big enough for him to spend more time in (since I made the noob mistake of buying a cage from PetSmart and now I can't return it. *&$^%!!)? I'm thinking the sides are too low, and of course it's not big enough...right?
Here's a photo for scale:


I put him in here when I'm cleaning his other cage or to have him in my office with me. Right now he just hides in the hidey house anyway!!

 

[Starthecavy123]

I wouldn't use it as a permanent cage but you can use it as a waiting area while you clean the cage. Some guinea pigs don't take advantage of floor time. If you have a pig that just sits there during floor time I'd do lap time instead. For floor time I usually have a large play pen that I use. Or sometimes I'll free roam them in the living room.

 

[daisy1cow]

I think its ok for cage cleaning. How is it compared to the store bought cage? More room?? He might be able to climb over the sides, they look low. But if its just for cage cleaning.
Can you resale the cage on Craiglist and take that money and put towards C&C grids? They are only 20$ at Bed Bath and Beyond and will make at least a 2x6 cage.

 

[CavyMommie]

Thanks, everyone. I think I will try re-selling the smaller on Craig's List. Good idea. Going out this weekend for all the stuff to make the cage. My husband thinks I'm nuts the way I'm obsessing over this! :crazy:

 

[Power Piggies]

Haha mine too! She has taken over the office. I am buying c&cs this weekend

 

[Cosmic]

Make sure that when you put up an ad you say that it is not suitable housing for a guinea pig. You could say it's a carrier for vet trips and such.

 

[prettynyguen]

i've seen some people make expansions on their store-bought cages with grids and coroplast. you could make a little ramp up to the store-bought cage part, and use that for your kitchen section.

 

[pinky]

As long as you're in the room with him, it's fine while cleaning the cage or to keep him to an area where you'll be and want him to be for a short period of time. You're right about the height of the sides being too low. You wouldn't want him in there unsupervised because he could easily hop out and chew things in the room. I put mine in a towel lined laundry basket when I need to take them out of the cage for a short while. They just nap in there so the space isn't an issue.

 

[imaanzg]

What if I have a storage box that's the appropriate size for a permanent cage, and I'm able to make the sides longer? Would I be able to move my guinea pigs into there?

 

[pinky]

What if I have a storage box that's the appropriate size for a permanent cage, and I'm able to make the sides longer? Would I be able to move my guinea pigs into there?

I don't think there are any under the bed storage boxes that are large enough for a guinea pig cage to hold even one guinea pig.

 

[Photolove3]

What if I have a storage box that's the appropriate size for a permanent cage, and I'm able to make the sides longer? Would I be able to move my guinea pigs into there?

I think that if you're looking to do this you would need to join 2 or 3 (or maybe more depending on the bin and amount of pigs) together and then if it has the low sides probably put grids around it. And at that point its easier to just go get coroplast and make a regular type c&c cage.