Do I Need To Upgrade To A 6x2 For 4 Guinea Pigs?

[garfieldette]

I have two four year old female guinea pigs (Lara and Mocha). We recently lost our third girl Melody. Lara has ongoing dental problems that are now beyond help and I am keeping her comfy and pain free but she is fragile and spends most of her time sleeping. Mocha is still very lively and active and I am worried about her being left on her own. She is already bored as Lara just sleeps all day.

I would like to plan ahead and adopt now so that Mocha is not left alone, but want to adopt a pair so that the new one isn't left alone when Mocha passes.

They are currently housed in a 5x2 c&c set up. I understand that their hayloft does not count towards floor space. Am I right that I will need to extend this to a 6x2 to be able to adopt her 2 new friends? Just wanted to check before I start any cage upgrades.

thanks in advance

 

[Wiebke]

I am very sorry that you are coming to the sharp end of Lara's life. It is great that you are thinking about Mocha and the time after and want to plan for the long term.

I have got 4 elderly/cataract piggies in a 5x2 setup with a shallow 2x2 mezzanine for extra sleeping space, but if you want to rehome younger piggies, you may prefer more space. Age 5-6, with arthritis and bad eyesight, they don't exactly run around like mad anymore and - like you know - spend most of their time snuggled up in a favourite corner or hidey.

If you are tight on space you could consider a 3x4 grid layout or a double story 2x4 grid cage that is connected by a ramp. In the second case, each floor will provide a decent amount of ground space for a run and popcorn and they will have more space overall.

 

[Stewybus]

Going off the subject of c&c & back to Lara's dental problems. You may have already done this but have you tried Simon Maddock at The Cat & Rabbit Clinic, Northampton. He is marvellous at getting dental piggies well again & does lots of work without anaesthetic. Just a thought, hope you don't mind me mentioning this.

 

[madguinealady]

I have 4 girls in a 5x3 and they have litter trays at one end.The youngest two are about 12 months and the oldest two about 2 years and they have plenty of room to run about like loons.When they were in 5x2 they did seem a bit cramped.Have six in a 5x4 soon to be extended to 5x5 but they are very active creatures so I think they need they space.If they all got on would have full room but one in each group hates each other.

 

[garfieldette]

I am very sorry that you are coming to the sharp end of Lara's life. It is great that you are thinking about Mocha and the time after and want to plan for the long term.

I have got 4 elderly/cataract piggies in a 5x2 setup with a shallow 2x2 mezzanine for extra sleeping space, but if you want to rehome younger piggies, you may prefer more space. Age 5-6, with arthritis and bad eyesight, they don't exactly run around like mad anymore and - like you know - spend most of their time snuggled up in a favourite corner or hidey.

If you are tight on space you could consider a 3x4 grid layout or a double story 2x4 grid cage that is connected by a ramp. In the second case, each floor will provide a decent amount of ground space for a run and popcorn and they will have more space overall.

Thanks Wiebke. I had to recently change them from the 3x4 grid to a 5x2 as I put my back out cleaning them on the floor and needed to get them up on a tressel table. Unfortunately the biggest table I could find would just fit the 5x2. I could (with the use of hardboard and some big nails) just about extend to 6x2 but not able to go wider than 2 grids.

 

[garfieldette]

Going off the subject of c&c & back to Lara's dental problems. You may have already done this but have you tried Simon Maddock at The Cat & Rabbit Clinic, Northampton. He is marvellous at getting dental piggies well again & does lots of work without anaesthetic. Just a thought, hope you don't mind me mentioning this.

Thanks Stewybus. No, I haven't seen Simon but my vet has been doing conscious dental filing on Lara for 12 months but her teeth are now growing down into her jaw so there is nothing more we can do but keep her pain free. While she is happily still eating we will keep going.

 

[garfieldette]

Thank you all for your replies. As I am likely to be going to Walsall RSPCA to look for two new friends for my girls, is there anyone from Walsall on here that could give me their opinion on this please.
thanks in advance

 

[Wiebke]

You can contact the RSPCA Walsall via their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rspca.walsall

Technically, a 2x5 14in grid cage is a little bit bigger than the minimum 2x6 ft RSPCA recommendation (70x175cm (C&C)<-> 60x180cm (traditional cage/hutch)), so you shouldn't have trouble adopting, especially as you are looking at a maximised cage sadly for only a limited time.

Mocha will certainly be very sad losing Lara, but she will hopefully not pine the way a single bereaved piggy is doing - which is very heart-breaking to watch.

 

[Stewybus]

Thanks Stewybus. No, I haven't seen Simon but my vet has been doing conscious dental filing on Lara for 12 months but her teeth are now growing down into her jaw so there is nothing more we can do but keep her pain free. While she is happily still eating we will keep going.

Oh, I didn't realise it was that bad. It sounds like you've got a good piggy vet too. Would you like to add him/her to the vet locator.