What would be a suitable indoor cage for guinea pigs?

[plonker]

Can anyone recommend a suitable indoor cage for guinea pigs?

Most probably 2 piggies.

Easy to clean would be good

Thanks in advance

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Hi Plonker
My piggies lived in a cage as shown on this websitehere
We had a cubes and correx cage as shown in the top left of the link above. Cubes from B&Q, Correx from a sign maker (cost for both £36)
I lined this with towels and fleece blankets (as described somewhere on that website)
I swept them out daily and put in a big load of fresh hay (for them to tunnel through). The blankets I washed twice a week.

My Piggies loved having space to play and run about (as the indoor cages you can buy are way too small for piggies really, esp boars)
I hope that helps :)

[plonker]

Wow, that's really helpful - thanks Laura!

What would I ask for in B & Q? If I told them what we are making, would they be able to point us in the right direction?

And another probably a really daft question, but what is correx?

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Um no! B&Q will not know what you are talking about! It took us ages to find ours hunting up and down the aisles.................. but this is what you want. Look at the reviews and you will see they are very popular for kittens, house rabbits and gps! :o

Correx is the stuff used to make a particular type of sign (think corrugated plastic) I got a piece big enough for a 4grids by 2 grids cage (took me all evening to get it scored and cut to the right size to fit the grids) for £12. You will need some gaffer tape as well.

Fleece blankets - haunt your local market for those "tasteful" ones with horses, cats, dolphins etc. One layer of towels (under the fleece) will absorb the wee. Wash once/twice a week (I tumble dryed mine as well as it got rid of the last bits of hay) I had two sets - one in the wash, one in use.

You will need quite a big space for it though - but the piggies will be grateful. Do get a pair as they get lonesome on their own :)
You can use the spare ones to fence off a space as a playtime area in your house.

Have fun :)

[plonker]

Laura, that's fab info ...thank you

[LauraIngallsWilder]

I often wondered (in bored moments!) if my piggies preferred fleecy dolphins or fleecy horses :o

Soooo stylish!

[plonker]

I reckon horses

[kingprawntikka]

Hi Plonker, I also have my guineas in a cubes cage but I use Lino as a base which works perfectly well if you can't get correx.. I have two males in a six by three grid cage. They were originally in a pet store cage but are so much happier in this.

[plonker]

Oh Lino sounds like a great idea ...and cheap as chips too! Thanks

Would the towel/fleece set up still work with Lino as a base?

I agree re the petstore cages btw. They seem poky, but bulky at the same time.

I like the idea of an open top cage, but am a little worried about the dog. Do guinea pigs generally get on well with dogs?

[kingprawntikka]

Yes I use lino and fleece and it works fine. I don't know about dogs, bur think they might try and eat the guineas!. Some cube cages have a roof.there are some examples on the site Laura linked to and also on the Rodents with Attitude forum.