The content of guinea pig at home

Send

Guinea pigs are quite unpretentious, but they still need to create acceptable living conditions.

What is needed to keep a guinea pig?

Comfortable large cage. The height of the cage for a guinea pig should not be less than 40 - 50 cm, width - at least 40 - 60 cm, length - more than 80 cm. In such a housing, a rodent can stand on its hind legs or climb a house. If you have a couple of animals living, the cage should be much larger. Equip the cage with a plastic tray (height 10 - 15 cm) so that you can remove it and put it back at any time. It is great if the cage for 2 guinea pigs is divided into 2 sections: day and night.
Quarantine cell.
Shipping cage.
Plastic or wooden nesting house (with side hole, without bottom).
Two feeders (for green fodder and hay), a drinking bowl (the best option is a plastic or glass auto-drinker). Well, if the feeders are ceramic or plastic - it is more convenient to care for them.
Feed.
Sawdust or biological litter.
Comb to care for your pet's hair.
Flat stone (to grind claws).
Scissors to trim guinea pig claws.

The cage should be at least 30 cm from the outer wall, at least 40 cm from the heating system and heaters.

Great if you can build an aviary on the balcony or in the garden. Hay, paper or sawdust spreads to the bottom (but do not use sawdust of coniferous trees). A house is placed in the corner of the aviary.

Be sure to place a flower pot, a hollow brick or a piece of wood in the cage, and equip the second floor with stairs or wood knots. But do not get carried away: the cage cannot be cluttered, because the guinea pig requires free space.

The temperature in the room where the guinea pig lives should be maintained within 17 - 20 degrees. Provide regular ventilation so that pets do not experience a lack of oxygen. However, make sure that there are no drafts. To keep warm in the winter, insulate walls, ceilings and floors, install double frames.

High humidity (80 - 85%) and low temperature are harmful to animals. Increased humidity worsens the heat transfer of guinea pigs, and a poor balance of temperature and humidity leads to the fact that pets lose their appetite, become lethargic, and metabolism in their bodies worsens. All of this can be deadly for rodents.

Keep in mind that the number of guinea pigs affects the microclimate of their home. If there are many pets, humidity and temperature increase, and oxygen saturation of the air decreases.

Overpopulation can also prevent guinea pigs from moving freely and having a good rest, and this, in turn, negatively affects health.

Sunlight is extremely important for guinea pigs. Incandescent and gas-light lamps can replace natural lighting, but do not have the effect of ultraviolet radiation.