Eating Corplast (correx)

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AlbiePercy

AlbiePercy

Teenage Guinea Pig
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So it seems that Albie and Ollie have decided that corplast is the most delicious thing in the world. They're eating at it quite frequently and I'm worried for their tummies as well as them making a break for it! I've tried covering the patches of corplast that they've found the most tasty with tapes and things, thinking that if it was smooth again, it might not be so interesting to no avail. They've got plenty of things to chew on, which I swap out every few days to make them more interesting. Toilet rolls, cardboard boxes, hay cake things, a carrot house and a seagrass tunnel. Everything gets chewed, but then they still go back to the corplast! Why!? Any ideas on how to stop them?
 
I've had the same problem with my new pig. I now cover the sides of the correx with a large fleece blanket and haven't had any problems since.
 
Lily & Rose said:
I've had the same problem with my new pig. I now cover the sides of the correx with a large fleece blanket and haven't had any problems since.
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I'm thinking this is going to be the only way... But I use fleece liners and don't really know how to get the edges on it..
 
AlbiePercy said:
I'm thinking this is going to be the only way... But I use fleece liners and don't really know how to get the edges on it..
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I have the blanket underneath the fleece liners. When that's in the wash i have also used strips of material over the sides of the correx. Don't use tape on the correx as it could be dangerous for the pigs if they start chewing on it, as they could swallow some. The correx on the back and the sides of our cage is really high so I only need to cover the correx at the front.
 
Lily & Rose said:
I have the blanket underneath the fleece liners. When that's in the wash i have also used strips of material over the sides of the correx. Don't use tape on the correx as it could be dangerous for the pigs if they start chewing on it, as they could swallow some. The correx on the back and the sides of our cage is really high so I only need to cover the correx at the front.
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Oooh that makes sense! Any chance you have a photo of your set up?
 
I had this problem with my babies eating correx, they ate a massive hole into it. I got a few old bits of fleece or get a fleece from pound shop or something like that and then chop it into strips and clip this onto the sides of the correx using either pegs or binder clips all the way round. It stopped my girls chewing the correx.
 
Hope it works! I'm sure they will soon forget about the tasty correx. I originally put a hay bag in front of where Poppy was chewing. But she soon started chewing in a different place, so had to use the fleece all along it.
AlbiePercy said:
@Lily & Rose That looks like a more permanent solution! I've got a test patch of scrap fleece pegged onto the tasty corner and it's confused them haha
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My cage is an L shape so they've been chomping on the inside corner bit. I hope it works, it'd be annoying to do the entire cage!
 
Ah now I can see it. I'll hunt for those next time I go into the city. I'll have to do the entire cage though, they worked it out after ten minutes to just chew around the fleece :mal::hb:
 
@Tim oooooh just the binders! No fleece! Well that's even better! And why Larry, what beautiful piggy lips you have!
 
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Are you certain they're eating it rather than simply chewing it as per general rodent trait?

Having said that, I've used the binder things as suggested above previously. But my reasoning was to stop an unsightly hole and substrate falling out, rather than over fears of consumption.
 
I'm so glad I made this thread, I've been so enlightened today haha! I'll have a hunt around locally first, by the time those arrive from the UK, my cage will be destroyed!
 
acapae said:
Are you certain they're eating it rather than simply chewing it as per general rodent trait?

Having said that, I've used the binder things as suggested above previously. But my reasoning was to stop an unsightly hole and substrate falling out, rather than over fears of consumption.
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I think it's being eaten as there's a rather large bit of corflute missing and no evidence left behind! I have no idea why, they have plenty of yummier (and safer!) options in there...
 
:lol!:
I've just spotted your location! :doh:

I've got skippy on the case and he came back with these
IMG_2816.webp
With a bit more digging around I'm sure there are bettererer deals out there down under :D
 
When rodents chew they grind whatever up into very fine pieces, which are sometimes not clearly visible to the human eye. Due to physiology that is the same across all rodent species, the option to swallow or spit out is made at that point, rather than earlier on. That's how the rodent species who exhibit 'pest behaviours' don't die from all the non-food they've chewed. Certain individuals may very occasionally get things wrong and swallow something that didn't mean to or choke during the process, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

Basically I'm saying that the measures you're taking sound good, but there's little scientific evidence to support your worry that inedible things are in their digestive system :)
 
Tim said:
:lol!:
I've just spotted your location! :doh:

I've got skippy on the case and he came back with these
View attachment 56528
With a bit more digging around I'm sure there are bettererer deals out there down under :D
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Hahaha I'll have a look around tomorrow morning to see if I can find anything here.. (I live in a small rural city that doesn't really have anything in the way of stationary) If not, I'll have to either go on a road trip or an online shopping spree. Might have to be creative until the new year, nothing online will arrive now before it! (Already the 23rd here!)
 
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acapae said:
When rodents chew they grind whatever up into very fine pieces, which are sometimes not clearly visible to the human eye. Due to physiology that is the same across all rodent species, the option to swallow or spit out is made at that point, rather than earlier on. That's how the rodent species who exhibit 'pest behaviours' don't die from all the non-food they've chewed. Certain individuals may very occasionally get things wrong and swallow something that didn't mean to or choke during the process, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

Basically I'm saying that the measures you're taking sound good, but there's little scientific evidence to support your worry that inedible things are in their digestive system :)
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Well that certainly makes me feel better! I didn't realise that. I'll still chew-proof the edges for structural intergrity but at least I know their tummies are safe in the mean time. Thank you :)
 
AlbiePercy said:
Hahaha I'll have a look around tomorrow morning to see if I can find anything here.. (I live in a small rural city that doesn't really have anything in the way of stationary) If not, I'll have to either go on a road trip or an online shopping spree. Might have to be creative until the new year, nothing online will arrive now before it! (Already the 23rd here!)
Click to expand...

No worries, happy crimbo! :) x
 
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