Picking the Perfect Cage for your Guinea Pig

The cage is the guinea pig's home and where it will spend most of its waking and sleeping hours. It should be as clean, safe and comfortable as any other home.

The new guinea pig owner should find out ahead of time how big his or her pet is expected to grow. While the average guinea pig grows to about 12 inches in length, there can be considerable variations in either direction. The size of the pet is an important factor when picking out a cage that is big enough. It should not be any smaller than eight square feet.

The selected cage should be made specifically for guinea pigs, hamsters and similar animals. New guinea pig owners should never plan to use a fish aquarium for a cage. Since heat builds up inside of an aquarium with no place to get released, the guinea pig inside could get overheated and have difficulty breathing. Another problem with using an aquarium for a guinea pig cage is that ammonia from its urine can become captured in the cage and lead to the pet becoming ill.

When choosing a proper guinea pig cage, new pet owners can find one that is most appropriate at a pet store or an online retailer that specializing in cages for small indoor pets. The advantage to buying from one of these sources is that the salespeople are knowledgeable and can provide additional guidance to the person picking out a guinea pig cage for the first time.

After the proper cage has been selected, another important consideration is where to place it. Owners of guinea pigs should keep in mind that they are social animals and would do best if their cage was placed where members of the family regularly gather and interact. Guinea pigs like for people to talk to them and to observe the activities of the people with whom it shares a home.

The guinea pig cage should also be placed in an area that has good ventilation and receives as little drafts and direct sunlight as possible. The placement of the cage will go a long way towards keeping the pet safe and comfortable while the family is away for the day. Finally, for the health of the guinea pig and sanitary conditions of the home, owners should plan to clean the cage and change the bedding at least one time every week.

Guinea pigs make excellent pets and would make a welcome addition to any family. As long as you look after your new pet and make sure that its new home is suitable you will enjoy your new pet immensely.