Can I use an underbed storage tote to house my guinea pigs?

[LoveMySiouxsie87]

6-8" tall though is really short...

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Personally I think people overreact on a lot of things lately. So you think a taller one would be better? I was thinking the shorter one would allow for more of a breeze on warmer days, where a taller one would kind of keep everything in? I suppose I could always cut vents in the sides of it as well, or just the sides. We live way in the boonies out here, so finding the other things to make those cages will be a challenge! I was thinking of making a double decker pen out of 2 storage boxes, with a ramp to the upper level? They would like that I'm sure!

 

[redhen]

Shelly..the underbed totes are too thin/shallow to keep them in WITH the lid on top...they wont be able to stand up at all on their back legs and check things out..and stretch out upwards...like they like to do....if you get a regular/big higher tote...i think it would be fine for them! I think they are like $15. And you can cut out some of the sides and the top and put screen or chicken wire in place...for ventilation.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I ended up not going with the underbed tote, I just got one of the 105 qt. ones, I believe that's how big it is. It's about 2' x 3', and about 15" or 18" high. They don't know what to do with themselves, they like to hang out in there #4 priority mail box house

That worked like a charm!!

But this one they have now is probably about twice as big as the one Debbie was in by herself. And I know that it is not big enough for both of them to live in all the time, but it will work for now. I'm going to be making chicken tractors next week, I think I'll be making a guinea pig tractor as well

 

[cutiepieacres]

Unfortunately plastic totes and aquariums are not adequate for guinea pigs, they are very susceptible to respiratory issues and neither of those will provide proper ventilation and in the summer months they will get hot. The totes also do not allow the pigs to see out and all they ever see is people coming at them from up above and being animals of prey this can be stressful for them. Most of the time the totes are not large enough, some are ok size but most are small, the larger they get the higher the walls, the less ventilation.

Guinea pigs can be kept outside as long as they are free from direct sunlight, any drafts or breezes and any moisture as well as extreme heat or cold(50-78F)

They will deal with a lot of variation in their environment and still prove hardy but the fastest/easiest way for them to get sick is to fail to provide needed ventilation or expose them to high temps(above 78F) or a moist breeze.

 

[NancyDz]

Shelley,

Target carries the wire grid shelving . That's where I got mine when I made my cage.
The choroplast is the more difficult thing to find but that website listed has a link to
places that you can get it by state. It was fun to make the cage and my pig loves it.
I used a black water drainage pipe for him to run up to the second level, it works perfect as
the ribbing gives him traction. I made mine tall with 3 levels as I had a smaller space to put it in but still wanted him to have the square feet. It was Very easy to clean too.
I also made one with an open bottom that I put him out in the grass with for some grazing

Here it is :

Have fun with your piggies! Whaeeee whaeeeeeeeeee


Nancy

 

[shelleyd2008]

Well, I know there are no stores in my area that sell the cube shelves, but I was looking online at amazon.com, and I found this---> Guinea pig Habitat

Would this be okay for 2 piggies? It says it is 9 sq. ft. and it is supposed to come with a top, so the puppies will be kept out.

 

[NancyDz]

That looks great, I see below that the top is sold separately? or the cage too? That is basically a C&C cage.. same idea.


Nancy

 

[shelleyd2008]

That one is supposed to have the top and everything with it, but is that size big enough for 2 piggies? I might get the other one that doesn't have the top, it is a bit smaller, but it could work as a second level.

There aren't any stores in my area that have the cube shelves. I am basically limited to walmart

I was looking online for the cubes, and I found some that were kind of inexpensive, but I don't understand how many sections there are in the sets? Some of them look like they are big enough to make 5 cubes, but I'm not sure. 5 cubes should be like 16 sections, which would make a cage bigger than the one on amazon.

What else could I use for the bottom, if I can't find the coroplast? I don't know where I could get the coroplast stuff either.

Also, I was wondering about the clips that come with the cubes. Would those keep puppies out? I mean, are they fairly strong? Or would zip ties be better?

 

[buckeye chickens]

I got my coroplast free from a gas station after they were done with it.