Keeping Warm c&c cage in basement?

[RockieGuineaPig]

I currently share my room with my two sisters, so space is really hard to find in the bedroom. My youngest sister moved in an old toy kitchen from downstairs into the area where I was planning on keeping my guinea pig c&c cage (I don't have the pigs yet though, nor the cage set up.) Now that's no longer an option, the only available place I have is downstairs, also known as our basement. Our house is only one story, but two if you include the basement, so it doesn't get really cold down there at all, but I'm concerned if I moved it down there when I get my piggies, will the temperature be alright for them if I keep a heater down there in a safe distance during the winter time? I don't want them to catch a cold if possible. :c

Please give me your opinions! c: Otherwise, I'll have to encourage my sister to move her kitchen back downstairs again.

 

[lost_lover]

I think the way your basement it finished would make a huge difference it would be suitable or not. We do not really have basements where I live but I have been in ones that you would think you were in a living room, without windows, and ones that were just like dark garages.

If your basement is more like a garage I am not sure it would be a great idea. I would just imagine you having to set up heaters or air conditioners depending on the time of year. Make sure the air is moving around. If it is all finished out like the rest of the house though, seems good to me.

 

[RockieGuineaPig]

I think the way your basement it finished would make a huge difference it would be suitable or not. We do not really have basements where I live but I have been in ones that you would think you were in a living room, without windows, and ones that were just like dark garages.

If your basement is more like a garage I am not sure it would be a great idea. I would just imagine you having to set up heaters or air conditioners depending on the time of year. Make sure the air is moving around. If it is all finished out like the rest of the house though, seems good to me.

It is finished actually, and we call it the family room. c: It could use some vacuuming, but otherwise, it's suitable like the rest of the house.
Mmkay, thanks for your advice!!

 

[NikkisPigs]

I think the way your basement it finished would make a huge difference it would be suitable or not. We do not really have basements where I live but I have been in ones that you would think you were in a living room, without windows, and ones that were just like dark garages.

If your basement is more like a garage I am not sure it would be a great idea. I would just imagine you having to set up heaters or air conditioners depending on the time of year. Make sure the air is moving around. If it is all finished out like the rest of the house though, seems good to me.

I agree. My grandma's basement would be an awful place for any animal to live because it is damp and there is no air circulation but my aunt has a finished basement that is equipped with central air and heat for the winter so that it can be used by the family. If it is a finished basement it might be okay but I think it would be better if you could put the cage on the main level so that the piggies are part of the family. Are you in the basement a lot?

EDIT: Sorry, you posted while I was typing and some of my questions were answered ^_^

 

[lost_lover]

If the basement is finished out as a family room then you are probably good. I would still get something like an oscillating floor fan just so it does not get stuffy.

If it is actually used as a family room that is even better. If people rarely use the room for anything though take into consideration that you will want to spend a lot more time there. Sharing a room with your sisters though I would imagine you don't spend most of your time at home in your room anyway.

 

[pinky]

Any windows down there? How much time do you spend down there? Can you move your computer down there so you'll spend a lot of time with them? Do you have a table to keep them up, off the floor? I don't have a basement but I have a finished sub basement because I live in a split level. Personally, I wouldn't keep them down there all the time because it's pretty dark but I have had them down there for a few days at a time when we've lost power due to storms. The temperature is less extreme down there when we don't have heat or a/c. I never use a space heater when there's no one down there, though... too risky. I'd say as long as you're down there to keep them company and it's a finished room and it doesn't get too cold, it might work. I don't think a bedroom is the best location for a cage, anyway. Keep a thermometer down there to check the temperature so it doesn't get too cold. Guinea pigs do better in cooler temps than hot ones but you want to be sure it doesn't get too cold. Can you post some photos of the space?

 

[guineapigcraz27]

Could the pellets attract mice? Does anybody have any input on that?

 

[pinky]

Could the pellets attract mice? Does anybody have any input on that?

I've lived in multiple houses and never had mice in my basements or lower level. When I was a kid, we had a mouse in our upstairs bedroom. We had no pets up there. I think if you had a mouse problem, they could move around through the walls and you'd get them in other areas of the house.

 

[GeekPrincess]

When we had a mouse this spring it bypassed the pig cage in favor of the cat food. I watched it. (From a distance, cowering in fear). As long as you don't have hay all over the floor you should be fine.

 

[daisy1cow]

I have a huge finished basement with central air, heating. It has surround sound, a fourth bedroom and a full bath, huge window. Only problem?? Im never down there. It is cooler in the summer and would be great for the pigs, but all the kids have moved out and it is empty. So I guess it depends if you would be down there a lot to keep them company. My kitchen and living room are connected and one of the kids took the kitchen table, so I put the pigs in the kitchen right next to where I sit in the living room on the computer. They are so used to me being close, watch my every move in the kitchen and wheek at every bag I ruffle! And Im so used to having them close and talking with them all the time.
Good luck, let us know how it works out

 

[RockieGuineaPig]

Any windows down there? How much time do you spend down there? Can you move your computer down there so you'll spend a lot of time with them? Do you have a table to keep them up, off the floor? I don't have a basement but I have a finished sub basement because I live in a split level. Personally, I wouldn't keep them down there all the time because it's pretty dark but I have had them down there for a few days at a time when we've lost power due to storms. The temperature is less extreme down there when we don't have heat or a/c. I never use a space heater when there's no one down there, though... too risky. I'd say as long as you're down there to keep them company and it's a finished room and it doesn't get too cold, it might work. I don't think a bedroom is the best location for a cage, anyway. Keep a thermometer down there to check the temperature so it doesn't get too cold. Guinea pigs do better in cooler temps than hot ones but you want to be sure it doesn't get too cold. Can you post some photos of the space?

We have two windows, and they are still fairly new as we did them last year, so they aren't drafty. And I usually go down there occasionally just to hang out somewhere cooler. My brother often goes down there as well to play the piano, along with my dog who loves sleeping on the couch. I introduced her to my last guinea pig, and she didn't seem to care much about it, as she just sniffed it and walked away. So I doubt she'd bother them much, but I'll still be down there supervising.
Also, yes. I can move my computer down there easily since I use a laptop for everything. xD I did it once when it got really hot in my room.
We do have a table, indeed, which is the perfect size for a great size c&c cage housing two piggies. We can even extend it!

I'd post some photos but my camera isn't working at the moment. The space is great though, a lot of floor room.

 

[RockieGuineaPig]

I have a huge finished basement with central air, heating. It has surround sound, a fourth bedroom and a full bath, huge window. Only problem?? Im never down there. It is cooler in the summer and would be great for the pigs, but all the kids have moved out and it is empty. So I guess it depends if you would be down there a lot to keep them company. My kitchen and living room are connected and one of the kids took the kitchen table, so I put the pigs in the kitchen right next to where I sit in the living room on the computer. They are so used to me being close, watch my every move in the kitchen and wheek at every bag I ruffle! And Im so used to having them close and talking with them all the time.
Good luck, let us know how it works out

My kitchen and living room are connected as well, but there's truly no space for them upstairs unless things are moved around.
Your basement sounds nice! I'd love to have it, haha.

That's very cute, hope things continue to go well!

And I will. c: Thanks so much!