Guinea Pig Run FAQs
Welcome to the world of guinea pigs. If you’re reading this, you either already care for your own ‘piggies’ or you’re thinking of getting one as a pet. Before you spend any money on guinea pig runs, check out the information and useful links here. You can easily spend $100 / £70 or more on runs, or perhaps a house for your guinea pig, only to find its simply too small.
Whilst the average pet store sells all manner of ‘small animal products’, a little reading here could save you a small fortune and keep your guinea pig healthier and happier. Here’s some FAQs – click on the sections on the left for more detail.
1
Why do I need to buy or make a guinea pig run?
Modern domestic guinea pigs are thought to be the descendants of wild cavy from South America. Just like their roaming ancestors, they need plenty of space to roam in to keep them healthy and contended. They absolutely require daily exercise – this is not an animal that can live in a cage or house all the time. You need a run to allow them their natural behavioural patterns, exercise and mental stimulation. Apart from avoiding boredom, guinea pigs biologically need exercise to maintain bodily function. If they become overweight they are prone to ill-health, including cardiac problems, diabetes, bladder problems, breathing problems, foot diseases, constipation, and ovarian cysts in females (1).
There are many options for making or buying something suitable to allow your guinea pig his or her freedom in.
How big should it be?
You might read that guinea pigs need a minimum size of 4 square foot of space per guinea pig for housing. This is now considered by many guinea pig experts to be totally out of date – as we know more about keeping guinea pigs as pets, standards change. The modern trend is for a 7.5 foot square house area – for one guinea pig, and more for multi-guinea pig ‘households (1).
You’ll also need the run for exercise – as big as possible. Happy guinea pigs literally run around, cavorting about, making little bucking and twisting movements referred to as ‘popcorning’. Think of a guinea pig shouting ‘wahay!!’ – using body language only, and you kind of have the idea of popcorning.
Where do I buy a good, cheap run?
With space in mind, you may find cheaper runs sold in pet stores are simply too small. Second hand runs will be cheaper, but see the section on Safety before buying one. You could also make on yourself. We’re mentioning experts Cavy Spirit guinea pig rescue recommend Sue’s C & C cages (2) for cheap, quality modular housing – you could try adapting the designs to make a large indoor run. A percentage of proceeds from the sales also support their work and the cages can be delivered outside the US on request.
2
Can I use it outdoors?
You can’t use a C&C cage – indoor use only. But you can buy or construct an outdoor run – great for exercise, natural behaviour and stimualtion. Only use it when the weather is mild. Guinea pigs don’t tolerate extremes of temperature – so they should never spend all their time outdoors, even in an outdoor hutch. Make sure its is predator proof, escape proof and child proof.
What’s the difference between a cavy and a guinea pig?
Trick question really – a guinea pig is a cavy; it’s just a more ‘zoologically’ correct name for them. But they are totally distinct from wild cavy – pet guinea pigs are domestic animals, needing care and suitable temperatures, unlike their wilder and hardier cousins.
Jules Hanson
Useful Resources
- Guinea Pig Cages [online] – site provided by Cavy Spirit {online}. Your Guinea Pig’s Home.
2. Guinea Pig Cages [online] – site provided by Cavy Spirit {online}. Buy A C C Cage.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/buycc.htm
Photo Credits – fantastic photos by:
1. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/alimay 2. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Istalri
Tags:C&C cages, cavy, cheap run, exercise, guinea pig rescue, guinea pigs, minimum size, pet store, popcorning, small animal products
October 6th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
do you offer seminars?
October 11th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Thanks very much for the invite – we think one of the guinea pig rescue centres could help you out best here – animal charities often have staff who can give trainings and seminars, etc
July 20th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Buy:Maxaman.VPXL.Viagra.Cialis Super Active+.Levitra.Cialis Professional.Cialis Soft Tabs.Viagra Super Force.Soma.Cialis.Viagra Soft Tabs.Viagra Professional.Zithromax.Super Active ED Pack.Propecia.Tramadol.Viagra Super Active+….
August 30th, 2010 at 4:38 am
Blue http://qfakejj76im6.AUTOSECTIONS.INFO/tag/Gift+Sets+Blue+light/ : Gift…
light…
September 15th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Clearance http://fue.m9k.200i.at : Harley…
Boots…
November 14th, 2010 at 9:33 am
… track backe bei http://reinaldoalipio.slkut.com/ ……
très bon , votre site web thème est certainement bon , je suis recherche pour la nouveau thème pour mon moncler doudoune propre personnel site Web , j’aime vôtre, maintenant Je vais à aller recherche le même thème !…
December 18th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
████████►BUY CIALIS◀████████…
▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲…
December 21st, 2010 at 11:49 am
zaditor dosage…
Buydrugs without prescription…
December 21st, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Accupril…
Buygeneric drugs…
December 22nd, 2010 at 12:42 pm
symbicort vs advair…
Buyno prescription…
December 23rd, 2010 at 3:48 am
cephalexin dosage for dogs…
Buygeneric drugs…
December 24th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Abilify…
Buygeneric pills…
December 24th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Abilify…
Buygeneric pills…
December 27th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Abilify@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyno prescription…
December 27th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
……
Buygeneric meds…
December 27th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
actonel@adverse.reactions” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric meds…
December 28th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
shimmy@adalat.simone” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
December 29th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
fruite@of.the.earth.aloe.vera.juice.sale” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow…
December 29th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Allegra@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric pills…
December 30th, 2010 at 11:24 am
allopurinol@and.coumadin” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
December 31st, 2010 at 11:08 am
ashwagandha@supplement.now” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric meds…
December 31st, 2010 at 5:59 pm
atarax@and.hives” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Chantix@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buydrugs without prescription…
January 5th, 2011 at 4:58 am
Vitamin@B.now” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
January 5th, 2011 at 6:13 am
buy@cheap.viagra.in.uk” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
January 5th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
< a href="http://my.gardenguides.com/members/buy-Cialis? buy@Cialis.now…
Buygeneric drugs…
January 6th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
prozac@dangers.now” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
January 7th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Risperdal@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it…
January 10th, 2011 at 7:19 am
cephalexin@use.now” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
January 17th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Abilify@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
January 17th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
**YOUTUBE VIDEO REVIEWS ON THE HOTTEST ELECTRONICS OUT**…
#1 SITE FOR THE LATEST REVIEWS ON THE HOTTEST TECHNOLOGY HITTING THE MAINSTREAM!…
January 21st, 2011 at 9:00 am
Depakote@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now…
January 21st, 2011 at 9:12 am
Zyvox@official.site” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills…
January 21st, 2011 at 10:21 am
depakote@400mg.now” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
February 3rd, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Benuryl…
Buywithout prescription…
February 3rd, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Zyrtec…
Buygeneric drugs…
February 3rd, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Verapamil…
Buygeneric drugs…
February 4th, 2011 at 12:59 am
side effects zyprexa overdose breathing autonomic…
Buyno prescription…
February 4th, 2011 at 3:42 am
Zyrtec…
Buygeneric pills…
February 4th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
zovirax acyclovir…
Buydrugs without prescription…
February 5th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
buy zithromax online…
Buyno prescription…
February 6th, 2011 at 2:07 am
buy zinc anode everett wa…
Buygeneric meds…
February 6th, 2011 at 10:22 am
alternative for warfarin medication…
Buynow…
February 6th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Zyrtec…
Buygeneric drugs…
February 7th, 2011 at 4:46 am
xopenex coupon…
Buyno prescription…
February 7th, 2011 at 7:15 am
zyprexa increase eps complaints…
Buyno prescription…
February 7th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
MOST INFORMATIVE SITE FOR ELECTRONICS….
**YOUTUBE VIDEO REVIEWS ON THE HOTTEST ELECTRONICS OUT**…
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Vitamin B…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 3rd, 2011 at 11:35 pm
kids tylenol recall…
Buygeneric meds…
March 4th, 2011 at 2:44 am
zoloft works…
Buygeneric pills…
March 4th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Vitamin E…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 4th, 2011 at 7:57 am
Vitamin B…
Buynow it…
March 4th, 2011 at 8:39 am
where to buy lamisil…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 4th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
kytril granisetron hci tablet 1 mg…
Buyit now…
March 5th, 2011 at 4:36 am
pharmacokinetics of zyrtec…
Buyit now…
March 6th, 2011 at 5:17 am
Rogaine…
Buyno prescription…
March 6th, 2011 at 11:19 am
should i stop savella before surgery…
Buygeneric meds…
March 6th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
claritin eye drops…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 7th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Omnicef…
Buynow it…
March 7th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Rogaine…
Buydrugs without prescription…
March 8th, 2011 at 6:00 am
Synthroid…
Buygeneric pills…
March 8th, 2011 at 8:11 am
singulair hyper…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 8th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Seroquel…
Buywithout prescription…
March 8th, 2011 at 11:54 am
Rocaltrol…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 8th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Retin A…
Buywithout prescription…
March 8th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Remeron…
Buyno prescription…
March 9th, 2011 at 12:29 am
purim suddah…
Buygeneric meds…
March 9th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Synthroid…
Buywithout prescription…
March 9th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Prozac…
Buygeneric meds…
March 9th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Zoloft…
Buyno prescription…
March 9th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Synthroid…
Buygeneric meds…
March 9th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
buy orlistat alli…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 9th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
can i take expired zyrtec…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 10th, 2011 at 2:08 am
Zyprexa…
Buyno prescription…
March 10th, 2011 at 7:18 am
Purim…
Buyno prescription…
March 10th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
savella diabetes blood sugar…
Buygeneric drugs…
March 10th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Risperdal…
Buydrugs without prescription…
March 10th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Pulmicort…
Buywithout prescription…
March 11th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Reglan…
Buywithout prescription…
March 28th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Pyridium@Pyridium.Pyridium” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric meds…
March 29th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Prozac@Prozac.Prozac” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow…
March 29th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Pulmicort@Pulmicort.Pulmicort” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
March 30th, 2011 at 2:24 am
Skelaxin@Skelaxin.Skelaxin” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
March 30th, 2011 at 4:16 am
Prozac@Prozac.Prozac” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
March 30th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Purim@Purim.Purim” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills…
March 30th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Synthroid@Synthroid.Synthroid” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it…
March 30th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Strattera@Strattera.Strattera” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow it…
March 31st, 2011 at 1:24 am
Cytoxan@Cytoxan.Cytoxan” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buydrugs without prescription…
March 31st, 2011 at 4:48 am
Prozac@Prozac.Prozac” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
March 31st, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Provera@Provera.Provera” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buydrugs without prescription…
March 31st, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Cialis@Cialis.Cialis” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription…
March 31st, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Seroquel@Seroquel.Seroquel” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buydrugs without prescription…
April 1st, 2011 at 12:38 am
prozac@is.great” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
April 1st, 2011 at 2:44 pm
……
Buygeneric pills…
April 1st, 2011 at 8:46 pm
……
Buygeneric meds…
April 2nd, 2011 at 4:18 am
abana@blacksmith.conference” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buydrugs without prescription…
April 2nd, 2011 at 3:17 pm
can@you.take.aleve.and.darvocet.together” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:51 pm
……
Buygeneric drugs…
April 3rd, 2011 at 3:30 am
celexa@and.mda” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
April 3rd, 2011 at 4:59 am
how@to.get.quinine” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buywithout prescription…
April 3rd, 2011 at 5:56 am
chantix@vs.zyban” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
April 3rd, 2011 at 10:00 am
claritin@helps.poison.ivy” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buydrugs without prescription…
April 3rd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
retin@a.cheap.no.prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
April 3rd, 2011 at 6:21 pm
losee@weight.on.coumadin” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds…
April 4th, 2011 at 3:02 am
difference@between.medrol.and.prednisolone” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
April 4th, 2011 at 7:38 am
high@dose.dexamethasone.induction” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buydrugs without prescription…
April 4th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
.…
Buywithout prescription…
April 4th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
prevacid@childrens.chewable” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
April 5th, 2011 at 6:30 am
order@altace.cod” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow…
April 5th, 2011 at 7:13 am
lidocaine@generic.name” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric pills…
April 5th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
best@ay.to.take.extenze” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now…
April 5th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
abilify@urges.results” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs…
April 5th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
……
Buygeneric drugs…
April 6th, 2011 at 12:17 am
dosage@of.abilify” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it…
April 6th, 2011 at 2:01 am
femara@and.hives” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription…
April 6th, 2011 at 9:06 am
premarin@cream.comments” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now…
April 6th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
……
Buyno prescription…
April 6th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
fml@internet.lingo” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
April 6th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
folic@acid.hpv” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription…
April 6th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
livingston@foot.care.bellmore” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyit now…
April 7th, 2011 at 4:12 am
oral@gentamicin.supllements.and.horses” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
April 7th, 2011 at 5:43 am
somnolence@and.geodon” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buywithout prescription…
April 7th, 2011 at 6:47 am
wholesale@ginseng.root” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyno prescription…
April 7th, 2011 at 11:13 am
..…
Buyit now…
June 22nd, 2011 at 8:06 am
quality post…
I have spent a bit of time going through your posts! http://denna.socialgo.com/members/profile/1/blog-view/blog_2.htm i had a good read….
June 25th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
really…
Fat women and girls always worried because of their ugly shaped bodies. They want to wear expensive and stylish outfits . http://bgtyrde.blogturk.org/ but they can not wear these outwears…
June 28th, 2011 at 8:34 am
You did a great job…
Hi there thanks for the quality post, i had a good read,http://miaotouren.slkut.com/2011/06/23/your-mother-might-feel-more-comfortable-in-a-suit/ , thank you for your article,My problem has been resolved….
December 23rd, 2011 at 10:48 pm
advair diskus…
advair diskus…