she doesnt get it!

Question
Hi Lorena, my stepdaughter of 19 has brought 2 guinea pigs in to the house and she has no clue on how to take care of them and its making my husband and i rather upset and frustrated.(we feel sorry for them)

She has stuck them both in a cage that realy would only accommodate a large hamster (2 foot by 1 foot)which i dont believe is adaquate.

They also spend most of the time in her room without day light as she lives in the basement and the smell is getting bad, she does clean them out regularly but shes not too fussy with cleaning , when shes away i use hot soapy water and let them roam around to get exercise.

I have said i will buy a cage, what size is best for 2 of them?

If you can send me a run down on good guinea pig care, it might sink in as il print it out for her , with tact of course, she doesnt like to be told shes wrong, typical teenager.

Best wishes, Lucy.

Answer
Lucy --

First, sorry for the delay in response.  I am having trouble with my phone system (and am actually using my next door neighbor's computer. :)  

You are right that this cage is not large enough for two animals.  Each guinea pig should have (at a minimum) 1 1/2 sq. feet of space, although 2 sq. ft. is better.  I would recommend buying a cage that is at least 2x2 (or larger).  Guinea pigs are somewhat nocturnal, so I don't know that the lack of daylight will harm them (I know a breeder who keeps all her animals in a run underground -- wierd, but true.)  

It is very important to keep their cage clean.  I personally recommend cleaning about every 3 days (or more often, if the cage is dirty sooner.)  Wash with soap and water and disenfect about every other time.  (It's a pain, but its worth it, for the sake of the animals.

An easy way to let your guinea pigs get some exercise is to build them an indoor run and place them in it while you clean the cage.  You can buy them relatively inexpensively, as well, but you need to be sure it is at least 2 ft tall (they can climb and jump).  

There are a few things to remember when dealing with guinea pigs.  #1 -- they are completely dependent on you for their health and well-being.  Compare this with a newborn baby - it's the same idea.  #2 -- they can catch almost any diseases that humans (and cats and birds) can catch, so you need to be very careful with their health, especially as they are living in a confined space.  #3 -- they need some TLC from time to time (not the TV channel, the human affection type.)  #4 -- you should have a few things in the cage at all times.  Food and water goes without saying, but you need to make sure that the food is specifically for guinea pigs, as they need vitamin C to stay healthy, and a daily dose is provided in the pellets.  They also need a salt lick and something to chew on.  This can be as simple as a toilet paper tube or as fancy as those printed wood chews like they make for birds.

I hope this covers all your questions.  I look forward to hearing from you -- let me know how it turns out, or if you have any more questions.  Good luck!

Lorena