Yellow clump in pee

[Piggies&buns]

Man I spent 300$ on it . Well how do I tell if he’s lonely or not

I’m sorry to hear that. Sadly there are many cages which just aren’t suitable.

It’s pretty safe to assume that a piggy living by itself is definitely lonely. They will get on with life and may never show any physical signs (such as depression, weight loss etc) but they will be feeling lonely anyway. Guinea pigs are not wired to be by themselves

 

[Deleted member 154637]

I’m sorry to hear that. Sadly there are many cages which just aren’t suitable.

It’s pretty safe to assume that a piggy living by itself is definitely lonely. They will get on with life and may never show any physical signs (such as depression, weight loss etc) but they will be feeling lonely anyway. Guinea pigs are not wired to be by themselves

Could you send a suitable cage for two piggies. Also my current pig was alone in a glass cage for 5 months at the pet store and when I had looked things up it said if they have always been alone they would be fine. If not where should I get a piggies that won’t fight with him

 

[Piggies&buns]

Could you send a suitable cage for two piggies. Also my current pig was alone in a glass cage for 5 months at the pet store and when I had looked things up it said if they have always been alone they would be fine. If not where should I get a piggies that won’t fight with him

A suitable cage for two boars is a c&c cage. It needs to be a cage which is 5 grids long by 2 grids wide (measures 180x70cm).

Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages

What the pet store told you and what you read about him being ok alone is totally wrong. Please read the companionship and single piggy guide I linked in on a previous reply. It explains why the information you were given is incorrect.

The best way to find a friend is by visiting a rescue shelter and enlisting their help in finding him a suitable single and character compatible companion.
Failing that, if you were to just buy another piggy, you would have to follow the full bonding process in this guide (Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics). If it turned out that they didn’t like each other then they would need to live in separate bit side by side cages so they could interact between the bars so they weren’t lonely but so they had their own territory

Please only get one male companion for him. If you try to add two then they will fight as boars can’t be kept in trios

 

[Deleted member 154637]

Ok how long can I wait till you get him a companion, he won’t be jealous or angry right? I found a c&c cage that has 11 square feet, if I keep the old cage with it is that good? I’ll work on getting another boar

 

[Deleted member 154637]

And for enrichment what do you suggest? If I put a big pile of hay for them is that also the pile they will eat from?

 

[Deleted member 154637]

A suitable cage for two boars is a c&c cage. It needs to be a cage which is 5 grids long by 2 grids wide (measures 180x70cm).

Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages

What the pet store told you and what you read about him being ok alone is totally wrong. Please read the companionship and single piggy guide I linked in on a previous reply. It explains why the information you were given is incorrect.

The best way to find a friend is by visiting a rescue shelter and enlisting their help in finding him a suitable single and character compatible companion.
Failing that, if you were to just buy another piggy, you would have to follow the full bonding process in this guide (Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics). If it turned out that they didn’t like each other then they would need to live in separate bit side by side cages so they could interact between the bars so they weren’t lonely but so they had their own territory

Please only get one male companion for him. If you try to add two then they will fight as boars can’t be kept in trios

Ok I’ll make sure to check the guides

 

[Deleted member 154637]

Added Hay

Sadly that isn’t the case.

You just find a character compatible companion and introduce them properly on neutral territory. If they don’t like each other then they will fight so you can’t just get another piggy and expect them to be ok.
Ideally adopting a friend from a rescue centre who can help you to ensure compatibility is best.

What are the measurements of the cage?
It doesn’t look big enough for two but pictures are deceptive.

I would add that with the cage as it is, that there isn’t much hay nor enrichment in there. I would look to rectify that by adding a huge pile of hay on the floor of the cage for him to play with

Behaviour, Bonding and Bereavement

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok how long can I wait till you get him a companion, he won’t be jealous or angry right? I found a c&c cage that has 11 square feet, if I keep the old cage with it is that good? I’ll work on getting another boar

A piggy should never be kept alone so finding him a friend should be your priority.
If you get the wrong piggy, a piggy with whom he isn’t compatible then yes he is going to be angry about that so this is why you need to go about getting him the right friend the right way.

You can keep the old cage and join it to the c&c but if you do that you must make sure that the cage is thoroughly cleaned and neutral. You cant allow them to meet within that cage though as your current piggy will see the current cage as his territory so won’t allow a new piggy into it (can be seen as a territory invasion and cause a fight) if you don’t go about introduction properly. Please read the bonding guides on how to introduce piggies.

And for enrichment what do you suggest? If I put a big pile of hay for them is that also the pile they will eat from?

Yes it is the pile of hay they will eat from. That is how it should be. You don’t want to use hay racks or any kind of holder as it removes their ability to freely forage in the hay, make tunnels and nests in it and play in it. A large pile of hay is their main source of enrichment and activity as well as their main source of food.

For other enrichment - tunnels, cardboard boxes with two doors cut in. Don’t use food bowls and instead hide their veg portion (one cup of veg per pig per day) and pellet portion (one tablespoon per pig per day) amongst the hay pile so they have to use their brains to find it.

Enrichment guide below
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[Deleted member 154637]

A piggy should never be kept alone so finding him a friend should be your priority.
If you get the wrong piggy, a piggy with whom he isn’t compatible then yes he is going to be angry about that so this is why you need to go about getting him the right friend the right way.

You can keep the old cage and join it to the c&c but if you do that you must make sure that the cage is thoroughly cleaned and neutral. You cant allow them to meet within that cage though as your current piggy will see the current cage as his territory so won’t allow a new piggy into it (can be seen as a territory invasion and cause a fight) if you don’t go about introduction properly. Please read the bonding guides on how to introduce piggies.




Yes it is the pile of hay they will eat from. That is how it should be. You don’t want to use hay racks or any kind of holder as it removes their ability to freely forage in the hay, make tunnels and nests in it and play in it. A large pile of hay is their main source of enrichment and activity as well as their main source of food.

For other enrichment - tunnels, cardboard boxes with two doors cut in. Don’t use food bowls and instead hide their veg portion (one cup of veg per pig per day) and pellet portion (one tablespoon per pig per day) amongst the hay pile so they have to use their brains to find it.

Enrichment guide below
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Ok thank you so much

 

[fluffysal]

A pile of hay is a little bit of heaven for a guinea pig. They play, sleep, potty and eat in it. Don't worry too much that they pee and poop in it, some piggies prefer it with that "seasoning". Twice a day I put the top clean hay aside, dispose of the mucky bottom stuff, replace the clean hay I removed and top it up. Sometimes I mix in some dry forage. Every day my boys act like this is the best thing that's ever happened to them and dive in.

 

[Deleted member 154637]

A pile of hay is a little bit of heaven for a guinea pig. They play, sleep, potty and eat in it. Don't worry too much that they pee and poop in it, some piggies prefer it with that "seasoning". Twice a day I put the top clean hay aside, dispose of the mucky bottom stuff, replace the clean hay I removed and top it up. Sometimes I mix in some dry forage. Every day my boys act like this is the best thing that's ever happened to them and dive in.

Should I put it on top of the bedding I have in the cage. I will be switching to a c&c soon though

 

[fluffysal]

Yes you put it on top. For your information, look on Amazon for c&c grids as it is way cheaper than the specialist sites. The palace with penthouse that my boys live in cost me £80, this would have been upwards of £200 from a dedicated site.

 

[Deleted member 154637]

Yes you put it on top. For your information, look on Amazon for c&c grids as it is way cheaper than the specialist sites. The palace with penthouse that my boys live in cost me £80, this would have been upwards of £200 from a dedicated site.

I found a basic one for c&c for 60 and it just has 12 square feet of space I would maybe buy another house for the second piggy because the current one lives in the other house

 

[Piggies&buns]

I found a basic one for c&c for 60 and it just has 12 square feet of space I would maybe buy another house for the second piggy because the current one lives in the other house

When you’ve got two piggies, you need to have multiple of all resources in the cage - so you need two bottles, two hides (and both hides need two exits. I’d you have a hide with only one door then a fight can occur inside the hide if one piggy traps the other inside it; two hay piles

You need to make sure that each grid has 9 holes on it. Anything with less than 9 holes is unsafe as they can get their heads through the hole and get stuck

 

[Deleted member 154637]

I found a basic one for c&c for 60 and it just has 12 square feet of space I would maybe buy another house for the second piggy because the current one lives in the other house

His current set up I don’t realize until too late that that cage is too small because it was 300

 

[Deleted member 154637]

When you’ve got two piggies, you need to have multiple of all resources in the cage - so you need two bottles, two hides (and both hides need two exits. I’d you have a hide with only one door then a fight can occur inside the hide if one piggy traps the other inside it; two hay piles

You need to make sure that each grid has 9 holes on it. Anything with less than 9 holes is unsafe as they can get their heads through the hole and get stuck

I’ll post when I start building it as well

 

[fluffysal]

I think most of us have been sold cages/products that are unsuitable. That is one of the reasons this forum is so valuable because there is far too much misinformation about. The most prevalent one being that guinea pigs are cuddly pets suitable for young children. This is the worst because once the child realises that the new cute floof just wants to run away and hide, they lose interest even quicker.

 

[Deleted member 154637]

I think most of us have been sold cages/products that are unsuitable. That is one of the reasons this forum is so valuable because there is far too much misinformation about. The most prevalent one being that guinea pigs are cuddly pets suitable for young children. This is the worst because once the child realises that the new cute floof just wants to run away and hide, they lose interest even quicker.

Yes! That’s what I have been trying to explain to my parents and other people who think they are basic pets for little kids. Like they actually require more care and work than dogs which I also have. And a cat. And two snakes. lol a lot of animals

 

[fluffysal]

It's absolutely worth the time and effort we put in to becoming trusted slaves to our furry overlords. When I got my first guinea pig kiss my heart melted. I appreciate every time they run up to me and very graciously let me give them the chin rubs that have Mischievous Master Boris virtually hypnotised (his eyes glaze over, mouth drops open and he is helpless ). I love that they know what time their veggies are due, all their funny little quirks and their huge individual personalities.

 

[Gem789]

Could you send a suitable cage for two piggies. Also my current pig was alone in a glass cage for 5 months at the pet store and when I had looked things up it said if they have always been alone they would be fine. If not where should I get a piggies that won’t fight with him

I think Kavee cages are sold in the US but I'm not positive,they're similar to c and c cages.

 

[ScrufflesRules]

Don't forget to check second-hand websites such as Facebook Marketplace/Gumtree/Craigslist too- you'll often find a brilliant cage for a great price.

 

[Deleted member 154637]

Don't forget to check second-hand websites such as Facebook Marketplace/Gumtree/Craigslist too- you'll often find a brilliant cage for a great price.

Ooo yes, should I a basic one that is just a big rectangle, or one that has like levels and ramps

 

[fluffysal]

Only the main floor counts as the space, levels don't count. For example 2 x 5 with another floor the same size is considered to be the same as a 2 X5 with a loft. Also be aware that not all piggies take to using ramps.

 

[Deleted member 154637]

Only the main floor counts as the space, levels don't count. For example 2 x 5 with another floor the same size is equal with the same but with only a loft. Also be aware that not all piggies take to using ramps.

Ok the piggie I have right now does but before Adding I’ll make sure the other does too

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok the piggie I have right now does but before Adding I’ll make sure the other does too

it’s best to just not get a ramp.
Ramps can create territories and in a boar pair can become a problem. Not all but sometimes. If one boar claims the ramp as his own he can prevent the other from ever using it.
I no longer use two storeys with boar pairs

 

[Deleted member 154637]

it’s best to just not get a ramp.
Ramps can create territories and in a boar pair can become a problem. Not all but sometimes. If one boar claims the ramp as his own he can prevent the other from ever using it.
I no longer use two storeys with boar pairs

Ohh ok I also am still deciding whether to get rid of the enclosure he had right now as we had talked about I don’t want them to fight over the cage since it’s his territory