New cage hunting

Seven7

Seven7

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I am on a hunt for a new cage and I came across this $450 dog pen with size 4'X4'. It is very nice to look at and aesthetically pleasing for my house so I wondered what you thought of it.
The height is 27" or 68cm, which is a concern because I like picking up their poop throughout the day. Also, I really enjoy interacting with them throughout the day. Is this going to work? It does have a door that opens though.

This picture is 2'X4' but mine will be double the size at 4'X4'.

Clearly Loved Pets Lucidium Dog Pen, Small 24 in. x 48 in, Silver, 27 in. Height, Pet Play Pen, X Pen, Dog Crate for The Modern Dog


My Finn and Lara live separately so Lara will be close by in her own cage.

Amazon.com : Clearly Loved Pets Lucidium Dog Pen, Small 24 in. x 48 in, Silver, 27 in. Height, Pet Play Pen, X Pen, Dog Crate for The Modern Dog : Pet Supplies
 
Would they each be in their own one or would you split it for them to share? If the latter it’s not big enough for them both. And how secure is the door?
 
Is Finn neutered? Personally I would be looking for a solution that allows them to both have adequate space and live together. You could get a cage like this but consider having Finn neutered to live with Lara
 
Thank you for your response everyone.

If this was to happen and I was going to get this cage, Finn and Lara will swap cages often, which is what I am currently doing, swapping cages. They live in the other's cage for a bit and they swap. I find that they enjoy living in the other's cage particularly Finn, he will sleep with Lara's soiled toy close to his nose.

After checking with various exotic vets and being a Scotty's Animal's Youtube viewer, I have decided that I couldn't live with myself if something happened to my boy Finn while getting neutered. Scotty in Youtube says it is an unnecessary surgery that puts boy piggies in danger. I don't see myself putting my boy Finn in this situation. Most importantly, my exotic vet says there is a risk he won't come out of anesthesia.

All of my pets have always been with me through the end and everyone died of old age. The original owner of Lara, my friend, just abandoned Lara telling me to keep her name Lara, but this will never happen to me.
 
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Siikibam said:
Would they each be in their own one or would you split it for them to share? If the latter it’s not big enough for them both. And how secure is the door?
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If she bought the 4x4, each piggie would have 8 square feet each, I thought that was acceptable?
 
I'd be worried they'd get to hot in that if the sun went on it. I know it's open at the top but the sides would heat up very quickly.
 
piggieminder said:
I'd be worried they'd get to hot in that if the sun went on it. I know it's open at the top but the sides would heat up very quickly.
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Mine are not near a window or a door because I moved them away from cold wind for the winter. Currently, they get indirect sunlight but not a direct one.

In the summer, they are still away from direct sunlight but they do get plenty of indirect sunlight.
 
Seven7 said:
Thank you for your response everyone.

If this was to happen and I was going to get this cage, Finn and Lara will swap cages often, which is what I am currently doing, swapping cages. They live in the other's cage for a bit and they swap. I find that they enjoy living in the other's cage particularly Finn, he will sleep with Lara's soiled toy close to his nose.

After checking with various exotic vets and being a Scotty's Animal's Youtube viewer, I have decided that I couldn't live with myself if something happened to my boy Finn while getting neutered. Scotty in Youtube says it is an unnecessary surgery that puts boy piggies in danger. I don't see myself putting my boy Finn in this situation. Most importantly, my exotic vet says there is a risk he won't come out of anesthesia.

All of my pets have always been with me through the end and everyone died of old age. The original owner of Lara, my friend, just abandoned Lara telling me to keep her name Lara, but this will never happen to me.
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I understand your concerns about getting your boy neutered, but it really is a fairly safe operation when conducted by an experienced vet. Is there some factor that makes him high risk?
Please also consider that for guinea pigs who thrive with company of their own kind that quality of life is just as important as quantity.
Clearly they are aware of each otehr so at the very least I would try for a C&C with a shared wall which would allow them to interact and indulge is some piggy socialisation. As a lone piggy the cage you link to will cut them off from any sort of interaction at all, which would be a terrible shame. Interaction through a shared wall is certainly better than living an isolated life alone.
 
Swissgreys said:
I understand your concerns about getting your boy neutered, but it really is a fairly safe operation when conducted by an experienced vet. Is there some factor that makes him high risk?
Please also consider that for guinea pigs who thrive with company of their own kind that quality of life is just as important as quantity.
Clearly they are aware of each otehr so at the very least I would try for a C&C with a shared wall which would allow them to interact and indulge is some piggy socialisation. As a lone piggy the cage you link to will cut them off from any sort of interaction at all, which would be a terrible shame. Interaction through a shared wall is certainly better than living an isolated life alone.
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There was a guy who committed a suicide shortly after his dog was killed by his neighbor, and I always thought this was me and that I would not make it if Finn was gone during a surgery. I have to see him living out his full life and not cut short by this.

I have always thought my boy Finn as my baby boy so when my exotic vet told me that guinea pigs have higher chance of not coming out of anesthesia, I decided it was not for me or for my boy.

I was actually looking for a boy roommate for my Finn when my friend gave me her Lara and it will be close to two years.
 
It's such a shame. Yes there is a risk with anaesthesia, there always will be, as there is with humans as well but a good knowledgeable vet will minimise this risk though none can claim 100% success for fear of being sued but I know of many here in the UK where their success rate is pretty much 100%. The sad thing is that you know piggies are herd animals and it's clear that they are craving company hence why Finn is cuddling up to Lara's soiled toys, because he craves company of another piggy. I don't know how old the piggies are but if the average life span is 5-8 years, with some pigs living 10yrs plus, that's a long time to make a piggy live alone out of fear of what could happen
 
ElleTrixieB13 said:
If she bought the 4x4, each piggie would have 8 square feet each, I thought that was acceptable?
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A 4x4 split in two would be 2x2 each, so 4sq feet. The largest would be 2x3, still not big enough.

Is there no way for them to live next to each other and interact through the bars? That’s the next best thing to having a cage mate. I’m not sure what your current setup is. Swapping cages is not really enough I’m afraid.

As for scotty’s animal saying neutering is unnecessary, that could lead to many more unnecessary pregnancies because people think boars shouldn’t be neutered, and it’s ok to put them in with sows. Just my opinion though.
 
Siikibam said:
A 4x4 split in two would be 2x2 each, so 4sq feet. The largest would be 2x3, still not big enough.
Click to expand...

A 4x4 (16 sq ft) would be 2x4 (8 sq ft) if split in half. I agree that having them live next to each other is ideal, which is why I was thinking a split 4x4 would work nicely if neutering is off the table.
 
I was very worried having my lonely boar neutered but he was fine and lived happily with his girlfriends. I researched the anaesthesia risk at the time and its higher than for cats and dogs but still extremely low.

Otherwise yes it would be nice for them to interact through the bars.
 
Scotty is based in California and he makes helpful Youtube videos under the name Scotty's Animal. Scotty only has boars in his house, which is what I intended to do, just find a boy roommate because I already had my boy Finn.
 
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Please don’t accept or trust all what youtubers say. It’s great that you’re enjoying his videos and have learnt lots from him however I completely disagree with the neutering, yes there is a small risk but I’ve had many boars neutered with no issues and so has everyone on this forum. If done by an exotic vet it’s a very straightforward and quick operation. I’d much rather get the op done so my boy can live happily with other piggies than living a life alone.
But you have said you getting him a boar friend, which is great!

That cage would look super smart! But I too wouldn’t like not to be able to just lean in and sort things out etc.

good luck with your decisions :D
 
I didn't want to have Dennis and Christian neutered and they could have lived life together as brothers. I had 3 girls too so didn't want accidental pregnancies. Velvet (RIP) came to me with a shop pregnancy and had Christian, Dennis and Meg. I had only intended on having 2 sows Velvet and The Ever Beautiful Betsy. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball!

Here are The Ever Beautiful Betsy and Velvet well just because....Betsy & Velvet.webp
 
I will post some pictures tomorrow. I am in the US and it is currently around 10 at night so pictures won’t come out right. The cage I posted above from the Clearly Loved Pets’ company wasn’t practical for my piggies’ life style so I got something else.

I also ordered a Teepee from Amazon for my piggies but hasn’t come in yet so the pictures will be without their Teepee.
 
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Here are some pictures of Finn and Lara's cage within a cage. The size is 56 inches or 143cm in square shape. There is a cage within this cage but they rotate so they stay in both cages at separate times. The small cage is inside is 40 inches or 101cm in length. I love that they are always communicating with each other, nose rubbing and kissing. I am pretty glad I was able to solve the puzzle of housing a girl and a boy happily together.
IMG_5286.webp
 
I feel near the cage is their favorite place to hang around. Both of them are usually found near each other.
IMG_5294.jpg
 
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