BlueStoneCommerce C&C Guinea Pig Cages

Guinea Pigs and the MLB (Major League Baseball) Playoffs

2011-10-09T04:53:00.001-07:00

What do guinea pigs have to do with the baseball pennant race? I don't really know what guinea pigs have to do with the MLB playoffs. I also don't know what guinea pigs have to do with auto insurance. But... have you been watching the baseball playoffs the last few days? GEICO has been running a commercial featuring three guinea pigs rowing a boat in an aquarium. Have you seen it?

Well, apparently there's more to the story. GEICO has also released a mobile app to complement the ad. The app is a game called Guinea Pig Getaway and is available for both the iPhone and Android operating systems. You can read about it here --> http://www.marketwatch.com/story/guinea-pig-getaway-is-the-latest-in-geicos-expanding-mobile-apps-lineup-2011-10-05

Guinea Pigs Cannot Live Solo - It's the law

2011-10-04T07:54:00.001-07:00

Leave it to those Swiss! As guinea pig lovers, we know that guinea pigs are social animals and should always be kept with at least one companion. But in Switzerland, they have actually passed a law making this mandatory.

So, if one of your Swiss guinea pigs dies, what can you do to keep from becoming an instant criminal? Some enterprising entrepreneur has created a rent-a-pig business to fill the gaps... Read about it here:

http://www.theworld.org/2011/09/rent-a-guinea-pig-in-switzerland/

And do you have a guinea pig pair (rented or otherwise) that needs to be housed? Visit BlueStoneCommerce to browse a selection of large C&C guinea pig cages. <---Just CLICK HERE

If your'e looking for a guinea pig in the Arizona area...

2011-09-12T17:53:00.001-07:00

Piggy Poo guinea pig rescue in Arizona is getting a HUGE influx of piggies! I always thought that guinea pigs came into rescue organizations one or two at a time but... read this article. It really caught my eye...

http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/critter-news/2011/09/08/a-guinea-pig-rescue-prepares-for-a-large-intake.aspx

Looks like they could use a little help, so if you're interested in adopting or providing donations for housing and guinea pig supplies, contact these guys. It sounds like these guys are doing an amazing rescue job!

Rodents of Unusual Size

2011-08-21T20:04:00.001-07:00

Ha ha ha! Are we in California or are we in the Fire Swamp?

Giant "guinea pig" spotted in California wastewater plant. (I guess enormous guinea pigs like that really need big guinea pig cages.) Apparently, the "little guy decided to take a little dip in the wastewater pool before it headed down to the river. (I wonder if it's living in a van "down by the river"). Read all about it here...

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90057386?Giant%20rodent%20spotted%20in%20US%20water%20plant

Guinea Pigs Give Back

2011-08-15T07:16:00.001-07:00

Great story here in England where they are putting guinea pigs to work doing what they do best - delighting people. They're using guinea pigs in much the same way that we use PAWS dogs.

We guinea pig owners know that those who simply bring their guinea pig home from the pet store and place it on display in a guinea pig cage are missing out. To get the most out of your pet, interact with it - take it out of its cage and play with it. Guinea pigs are lovable, affectionate, extremely social creatures. And a rest home in England is using guinea pigs (as well as other animals) to lift the spirits of their residents. What animal could be better suited for this job?

Read the complete story here--> http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/9193310.Rescue_animals_are_appeciated_by_home_s_residents/

News Flash - Last 2x4 Colonial Cavy Cage GONE!!!

2010-10-17T16:07:00.001-07:00

Just a couple hours ago, I sent out a post saying that if you needed a cavy cage, while we're vacationing in Hawaii, we still had all of our BlueStoneCommerce models in stock. Well, guess what?

Bad News: We just sold the very last 2x4 Colonial model. No more of this particular cavy cage model available until Oct. 25, 2010! (Yes, they're going that fast).

Good News: We still have the 2x4 Colonial with storage in stock. (Same as the 2x4 Colonial but with a very handy integral storage pedestal built in to the bottom level).

While we are here in Hawaii, we are working to keep your pigs happy - although working here doesn't really feel like working as you can see in this VDO:

Want to see our helicopter ride over Kauai (can you spot the waterfall from the movie Jurrasic Park) and also learn a little more about our cavy cage vacation stock? <--CLICK on the LINK HERE

Is the Cavy Cage you want still in stock?

2010-10-17T13:57:00.001-07:00

As you HAVE to know by now, BlueStoneCommerce (Nancy and Bob) are vacationing in Hawaii. And as you also should know by now (so you and your piggy would not be left without that perfect cavy cage) we stocked up on several cages before we left to be made available during our vacation.

As of this writing, we have been gone just over a week now (and no way are we ready to go back to Michigan yet).

The good news is that we still have all cavy cage models in stock. (However, two of our models only have one single cage left).

So, again - good news - our guinea pig cages are not yet completely picked over - we still have all models in stock. However, some models are running extremely low.

The other good news: We will be back in full operation on Oct. 25, 2010.

So if the particular model of cavy cage you're looking for gets sold out; we'll be up and running again in the very new future.

To paraphrase Arnold Schwarzeneggner: We'll be bock.

Want to see our helicopter ride over Kauai and also learn a little more about our vacation stock of cavy cage? <--CLICK HERE

Aloha,

Bob and Nancy

You should never let your guinea pig outside of their cavy cage...

2010-10-15T13:15:00.001-07:00

Okay, sure, they need to get some daily floor time outside of their cavy cage to make sure they get adequate exercise. I mean you shouldn't let them out of their cavy cage unsupervised or they'll do stupid things. Not that they're stupid - they just have trouble with technology - things that don't exist in the wild - things like electrical wires and toxic chemicals.

See how our Roadents deal with technology (windshield wipers) when they spend time outside of their Winnebago unsupervised...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-2-4-truth-or-dare-2

HURRY! Choose your Cavy Cage before they're all picked over...

2010-10-13T11:59:00.001-07:00

Finding the perfect cavy cage is like finding a good wife (or husband)...

When you start looking, you may find that "all the good ones are taken".

Okay, it's an old adage - and, like all old sayings - maybe not entirely true. But it does have it's basis in truth. And we do know from our life experience that opportunities are often lost when we wait too long.

If you have been following us at all (Bob and Nancy from BlueStoneCommerce), you know that we are vacationing in Hawaii at the moment. Before leaving, we pre-built an inventory 30 cages including a large selection of our cavy cage models.

But, since arriving in Hawaii, we have already sold seven of those 30 cages. So - long story short - those guinea pig cages are moving. They are getting picked over. First come - first served.

So, if you have a particular model of guinea pig cage that you absolutely must have - you need to act fast. Sure, you can wait - and hopefully, as time goes on, the cages left will include exactly the cavy cage you want. If not, we will be back in full operation Oct. 25, 2010.

But do you really want to wait until October 25? Why take a chance? Buy quickly before the cages get "picked over". We've sold almost 25% of our inventory - they will get picked over. Why not be one of those doing the picking? Visit our BlueStoneCommerce Guinea Pig Cages website NOW...

And you can see us in Hawaii - taking a helicopter ride over Kauai. (See if you can spot the famous waterfall that they used in the movie Jurassic Park)... CLICK HERE to see us in Hawaii---> BlueStoneCommerce rides Blue-Hawaiian

Aloha,

Bob and Nancy

Only a FEW DAYS LEFT of full guinea pig cage selection...

2010-10-04T05:47:00.001-07:00

Only a few days left of full guinea pig cage selection - This coming Wednesday Oct 6, 2010 - We're outta here!

Visit - http://BlueStoneCages.com today to look through our complete selection of innovative guinea pig cage models.

Because we will offer Only Limited Models while we're gone - and once those are gone...

Well, you know.

So please visit our store today for a full selection. See the link in the middle of this sentence? --> BlueStoneCommerce Guinea Pig Cage special Internet offer. <--CLICK on it.

Who's going to take care of the 5 pigs in the big guinea pig cages at home?!!!

2010-09-21T09:04:00.001-07:00

Since we announced that we're going to Hawaii, people have been wondering - who's going to take care of your five pigs - and Cosmo the Wonder Pig (our dog)?

You can't just leave them in their big guinea pig cages at home alone!!!

Well, it's okay. Our two adult children will be home to care for all the pets. They are both attending nearby colleges and they've taken care of the pets many times before.

So - bottom line - all is okay. Don't worry. Our pets will be cared for and will have lots of company and attention from the people they live with every day.

By the way, time is short. If you're interested in big guinea pig cages, you had better order soon. October is coming fast.

CLICK HERE NOW---> Big Guinea Pig Cages available at BlueStoneCages.

Safety First! Guinea Pig-Proofing Your Home

2010-09-19T12:41:00.001-07:00

Sure, you need large cages for guinea pigs. They need room to exercise and move around throughout the day. But they also need dedicated exercise time - time when they get the free-run of a room. But before you let them out of their cage, you need to pig-proof the area. Here's some tips I found at GoArticles.com...

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=3151901

So, I'm sure you agree, your cavies shouldn't spend all of their time in their cages for guinea pigs. But, the fact remains, they will still spend most of their time in their cages. So those cages should be good, comfortable, roomy cages. And the C&C cage is the best cage to fulfill this need.

Read more about C&C guinea pig cages HERE --> Cages for Guinea Pigs - What Features are Important in a C&C Guinea Pig Cage?

Sorry - another Guinea Pigs Cages test post

2010-09-19T12:26:00.001-07:00

You don't have to read this.. I'm just trying to iron out some technical stuff around posting...

Just so it's not a total waste, You can read this while I test---> Guinea Pigs Cages - Not What They Used to Be

Keep your pigs from getting injured! Your C&C cages for guinea pigs may SO need a bottom!

2010-09-19T12:12:00.001-07:00

From time to time, we here at BlueStoneCommerce get questions regarding the need for a bottom on cages for guinea pigs. We're not talking about the Coroplast plastic "bottom" (litter bin). We are talking about a grid bottom underneath the Coroplast.

Sure, there is the stability and structural integrity issue - but the far more important issue is that of your cavy's safety and well-being.

Watch this video for a dramatic (and potentially disturbing) consequence of using bottomless cages for guinea pigs...

Here's a reminder - don't get caught without a cage...

2010-09-19T11:49:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder...

If you're looking to buy a C&C guinea pig cage soon...

REMEMBER - we'll have a limited selection for a while after 10-6-2010!!!

Better CLICK HERE --> http://bluestonecages.com/guinea-pig-cages/mr-mrs-bluestonecommerce-are-going-to-hawaii <-- READ THIS!

When are big guinea pig cages ABSOLUTELY necessary? When you have...

2010-09-19T10:11:00.001-07:00

http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/ggp/

When are big guinea pig cages absolutely necessary? When you have BIG guinea pigs of course.

It's a good thing guinea pigs are herbivores - or this kid'd be a human fish stick.

Where can you get big guinea pig cages large enough to house this guy? One word...

Nowhere.

But if you want some really big guinea pig cages - cages large enough to handle your pet cavies, visit BlueStoneCommerce.

Want to read about big C&C cages? CLICK HERE --> Big Guinea Pig Cages - A Must for Guinea Pig Health <-- READ THIS

Cages for Guinea Pigs - This one is a really interesting and unique guinea pig habitat...

2010-09-19T07:24:00.001-07:00

Like I said, we at BlueStoneCommerce like to look at other cages for guinea pigs from time to time. This one is not practical for most homes - and would be very difficult to build. No idea where this is. The comments say "in Pisac, near Cusco" (which is still no help to me). But, when it comes to cages for guinea pigs, this one is certainly unique!

For lots of information on C&C guinea pig cages CLICK HERE--> Cages for Guinea Pigs - Different from Other Cages

OTHER PEOPLE's cages for guinea pigs - Good ideas / bad ideas

2010-09-19T07:04:00.001-07:00

Here at BlueStoneCommerce, we like to study cages for guinea pigs - especially homemade ones. Manufactured cages for guinea pigs generally seem to us to be a) too small and b) not really innovative.

Here's a cage I found on YouTube with a cool floor-plan...

Just a couple no-no's first. It looks like they used electrical tape to bind some of the grids together. This can get chewed and/or eaten. Secondly, some of the floor areas are covered with wood. Yes, that's ton's better than a wire bottom because it won't harm fragile toes and feet, but wood absorbs urine and other liquids and thus, captures odors. For best performance, flooring should be waterproof and smooth.

One thing I like is the innovative layout. It has two balcony levels - connected by a bridge. BlueStoneCommerce has a very similar floor-plan in a futuristic-looking cage we call the Millennium 200.

Communicating with Cages for Guinea Pigs

2010-09-18T14:02:00.001-07:00

As guinea pig owners, we have thought of putting a stereo nearby the cage to soothe the cavies. However, until watching this, we had never considered installing a CB. If cages for guinea pigs had integral CBs, maybe our pigs could stay in contact with their friends on the road...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-2-3-10-4-good-buddy

I wonder - if cages for guinea pigs really had CB radios, would the arguing and shouting keep us up all night?

For more info on big C&C guinea pig cages vs small pet store cages, READ THIS--> Cages for Guinea Pigs - Why Do Small Cages Persist?

Autumn is the season to think about new cages for guinea pigs

2010-09-18T07:39:00.001-07:00

Fall is the season when we start moving back indoors. After a summer of outdoor activity, it's time to get prepared for a cozy winter spent inside with our pets. And cages for guinea pigs are an important element in designing a comfortable, safe and healthy set up for your cavies.

And when it comes to healthy environments, nothing is healthier than a large cage with lots of room for exercise and adequate "psychological space". And C&C cages for guinea pigs are the ideal way to get a lot of cage for the money.

Want to know more about C&C cages for guinea pigs? Visit BlueStoneCommerce for info on this efficient cage technology.

Also, READ THIS article--> Cages for Guinea Pigs - Why Do Small Cages Persist? for more info on the big vs. small cage debate...

How to organize cages for guinea pigs - watch this video...

2010-09-17T05:55:00.001-07:00

Now, this is not one of our BlueStoneCommerce cages for guinea pigs - it's a completely homemade cage. But look at the storage! Great idea to have the storage directly under the cage - for two reasons. Obvious reason #1: handy, convenient, nearby storage. Not-so obvious reason #2: It raises the cage up to waste level. Easier to interact with your pigs and maintain the cage - and no need for an extra table. Here at BlueStone Cages, we offer several cages for guinea pigs with integral storage bases.

Did you like that storage concept? Here at BlueStone Cages, we offer several cages for guinea pigs with integral storage bases.

For more info on cages for guinea pigs, READ this ARTICLE---> Cages for Guinea Pigs - What Features are Important in a C&C Guinea Pig Cage?

Ya - What big guinea pig cages you'd need to house THESE guys...

2010-09-15T09:27:00.001-07:00

Okay. They're not guinea pigs - although they are cavies. They're not rabbits - nor kangaroos...

They're kind of like a cross between... uh... okay, just read this news item...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgeshire/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8942000/8942756.stm

Like I said in the title - you'd need big guinea pig cages if you wanted to keep these guys at home. And, as you probably know by now, the most economical way to afford big guinea pig cages is to get a C&C cage.

Of course, BlueStoneCommerce has a big selection...

You might want to READ about them HERE---> Big Guinea Pig Cages - A Must for Guinea Pig Health

Are big guinea pig cages as large as a Volkswagon?

2010-09-14T09:58:00.001-07:00

Wouldn't your pigs love it if people built big guinea pig cages as large as a Volkswagon? Sure they would. But do you think your pigs would start punching each other each time they passed one? What am I talking about? Watch...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-2-1-punch-buggy

Okay, maybe cavy cages aren't as large as cars. And maybe - just maybe - pigs don't talk and drive Winnebagos either. But here's something that is real: BlueStoneCommerce does build big guinea pig cages - C&C guinea pig cages to be exact.

And you can READ about them HERE---> Big Guinea Pig Cages - Available at BlueStone Cages

WARNING! C&C cage shortage scheduled for October 7, 2010...

2010-09-13T05:23:00.001-07:00

Fair warning.

If you're in the market for a BlueStoneCommerce C&C cage, be forewarned that we will be conducting limited operations between the dates of Oct. 7, 2010 and Oct 24, 2010.

For additional info, CLICK HERE---> BlueStoneCommerce on Vacation

http://bluestonecages.com/guinea-pig-cages/mr-mrs-bluestonecommerce-are-going-to-hawaii

WARNING!!! Mr. & Mrs. BlueStoneCommerce Going to Hawaii

2010-09-12T08:44:00.001-07:00

WARNING!!! “Mr. & Mrs. BlueStoneCommerce” Going to Hawaii!!!

Bob and Nancy (Mr. and Mrs. BlueStoneCommerce) will be going to Hawaii to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They leave Oct. 7, 2010 & will be gone for 17 days.

What does that mean to you? It means a smaller selection and limited quantity of guinea pig cages while we’re gone.

We plan to pack a limited number of our popular models before we leave. And we have contracted with someone to fulfill orders for us while we’re gone – so we don’t leave our potential piggy customers high and dry.

But, when the supply is gone – it’s gone. Also – we won’t be able to handle special options – like chew-resist upgrades. We simply won’t be there. So…

If you have a particular guinea pig cage model in mind, or a particular option…
You have until Oct 6, 2010 to order.

Click on this LINK--> Money-Saving Guinea Pig Cage Special Offer

Are our guinea pigs spoiled?

2010-09-12T05:37:00.001-07:00

I stumble down the stairs still sleepy at 7:00 AM. Our five guinea pigs can hear my footsteps on the stair. Usually Apple is the pig who begins the cacophony of wheeking from the large C&C cavy cage.

They demand food. All five of them wheeking and calling for food. Like young, spoiled children - give me food! Give it to me now!

Are they spoiled? Are they like little children throwing a tantrum? I don't think so. They're just hungry little guinea pigs and they're excited.

Actually, I love waking up to the sound of their wheeking. I think I'm the one that's spoiled.

The BlueStoneCommerce guinea pig roster...

2010-09-10T10:21:00.001-07:00

Yes - that's what I said. I said roster. Guinea pig rooster just doesn't make any sense. And guinea pig roaster - well that's just sick!

Those of you who have been following us know that we have 5 adorable guinea pigs. Are you curious about their names? (Some people have asked). If so, I just posted their names on our site. CLICK on the LINK below to read about them...

http://bluestonecages.com/guinea-pigs/names-of-the-bluestonecommerce-pigs

Are your guinea pigs hiding in their cavy cages because they're afraid of aliens?

2010-09-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

Are Pee Pee and Buttercup under attack from extraterrestrial pig predators?

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-13-alien-abduction

Are your pigs scared? It's unlikely that they are under alien attack. However kind care from you and good terrestrial cavy cages will help make your pigs feel safe and secure. Guinea pig cages that are too small can be psychologically depressing to pigs. Large cavy cages can go a long way toward raising their spirits.

For more information on cavy cages, CLICK on the LINK to read this post: Cavy Cages - The Cubes and Coroplast Guinea Pig Cage is Sweeping the Market. <-- CLICK HERE to read NOW.

I absolutely dread, hate, DESPISE doing this guinea pig task...

2010-09-09T09:47:00.001-07:00

I hate to cut those nails. I know - it's not difficult. I'm just terrified I'm going to hurt one of them...

Here's a quick guide I found on clipping guinea pig nails.

To be honest, there's not enough detail for me - because I'm so freaked out about it to begin with. But, when you stop to think about it, it's really not difficult at all.

I mean, do you really need a 71-page illustrated, notated, hardcover instruction manual to... clip toenails?

...So it's probably good enough for you...

http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/guinea-pigs/guinea-pig-health/trim-guinea-pig-nails.aspx

So - we've established I don't know much about toenails. What I do know about is guinea pig cages for sale. At BlueStoneCommerce, we've sold a lot of them - over 1000 C&C cages to be exact.

Come visit our blog and read about our 1000th cage--> Guinea Pig Cages for Sale - More than 1000 Sold.

More on guinea pig health? CLICK this link--> Guinea Pig Skin Tumors

Did you know skin tumors are kind of common in guinea pigs?

2010-09-09T09:15:00.001-07:00

According to Dr. Jerry Murray, DVM; skin tumors can be a common problem for guinea pigs. Read this article, and see some skin tumor photos (yuck!)...

http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/critter-columns/notes-from-an-exotic-small-animal-vet/100908-guinea-pigs-in-brief.aspx

We're all worried about our pigs' health and welfare. Regular vet visits are a must. But the best thing you can do on a daily basis is provide a healthy living environment. And healthy environments begin with big guinea pig cages. Big guinea pig cages are a key to both physical and psychological guinea pig health.

Read more in this EzineArticle publication: Big Guinea Pig Cages - The New Standard. <--CLICK on this LINK to read.

Also, while you're in the link-clicking mood...

For a large selection of innovative C&C big guinea pig cages - visit BlueStoneCommerce today.

Yah - Our guinea pigs don't know how to drive either...

2010-09-07T08:10:00.001-07:00

You might feel bad for Pee Pee the guinea pig because he doesn't know how to drive...

But, not only can't our guinea pigs drive - they can't even talk...

<hr>

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-12-switch

<hr>

We have five cavies at home (that's why we need such big guinea pig cages). And of the five pigs, you would think at least one would know how to drive - but no! That seems to be a rare guinea pig talent.

So, he doesn't know it - but Pee Pee is very lucky to have Buttercup. Otherwise they'd never get that Winnebago on the road.

<hr>

Want to read an interesting article on big guinea pig cages?

CLICK HERE to read this EzineArticle---> Big Guinea Pig Cages - The New Standard.

Maybe big guinea pig cages can bring out the star in your cavy...

2010-09-06T08:35:00.001-07:00

Okay, this is not mine - I found this on YouTube.

I know it's not for everyone.

To be honest, the first part of this VDO gives me a headache from all the quick cuts...

But the singing G.P. made me chuckle - starts at 0:45.

I know all of our guinea pigs have been singing (at least wheeking) since we put them into big guinea pig cages.

And did you know that big guinea pig cages are necessary for your pigs' health and well being? Here's an interesting article from EzineArticles--> Big Guinea Pig Cages - The New Standard.

Be sure to read it.

If your guinea pig habitats are too small, your pigs won't be able to play "Eye Spy" - like these guys...

2010-09-05T13:58:00.001-07:00

You know, if your guinea pig habitats aren't big enough, your pigs won't be able to play "Eye Spy" - like these fellas...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-10-eye-spy

Remember: Large guinea pig habitats are best. You don't want your pigs repeating what Buttercup said:

"You know I used to play this with my father all the time. It was nice. There wasn't too much because... we were in a very small box."

For more on saving money on large guinea pig habitats read this --> Guinea Pig Habitats - One Reason Large Manufactured Cages Can Be Expensive.

See why outdoor guinea pig habitats are not the best idea...

2010-09-05T09:56:00.001-07:00

Just another reason that we believe that all guinea pig habitats should be INDOORS.

Sorry to pass along another cavy tragedy... but we need to learn from these incidents...

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/8367175.Hereford_Mum___s_warning_after_guinea_pigs_are_killed_by_dog/

At BlueStoneCommerce, we design all of our cages to be indoor cages because we believe that all guinea pig habitats should be indoor habitats. Besides predators, there are also the hardships of extreme temperatures and inclement weather.

See how to make your indoor pig habitats more stimulating - READ THIS--> Guinea Pig Habitats - Adding Fun Toys - by Kristen Matthews

BlueStone guinea pig habitats - we demand safety - just like Buttercup...

2010-09-04T07:53:00.001-07:00

Could there be guinea pig habitats any more unsafe than a moving Winnebago? Especially one being driven by a roadent?

Well, at least Buttercup has some standards for safety...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-8-click-it-or-ticket

When it comes to safe and conveinent guinea pig habitats, no one builds a better one than BlueStoneCommerce.

Want to read more on guinea pig habitats? CLICK HERE--> Guinea Pig Habitats - Adding Fun Toys - by Kristen Matthews

Till next time - happy pigging,

BlueStoneCommerce

This is why we do what we do...

2010-09-04T05:48:00.001-07:00

There is absolutely nothing more satisfying than receiving an email like this:

Just wanted to drop you a note and a few pictures ….

We got our new cage yesterday and set it up in a jiffy. The directions were user-friendly and VERY easy to follow. Our guinea pigs are going to just love this once they figure it out; they had such a small cage before that they are simply baffled with the amount of space they have to run! I just love to sit and watch them now. Before, the other cage just didn’t make that possible. I am also excited about the prospect of having an easy cleaning experience (if it’s okay to be excited about something like that). Thank you for offering such an awesome product for a value price (and pre-scoring the bottoms of each level)—nowhere else can a person get as roomy of a cage for the price! My guinea pigs are going to love this cage for many years!

Thank you--Kerey Nicholas

I love this part: "they are simply baffled " - that makes us feel so cool to hear that. Because those things that Kerey mentioned are exactly the things that we keep in mind while we're designing our big guinea pig cages.

Want to read more about our big guinea pig cages? CLICK one of the LINKS below:

Big Guinea Pig Cages - A Must for Guinea Pig Health

Big Guinea Pig Cages Available at BlueStoneCages

Thank you Kerey for taking the time to write to us. You made our day!

Thanks,

BlueStoneCommerce

See and download the full gallery on posterous

One of the big guinea pig cages - but interesting for TWO OTHER reasons...

2010-09-03T11:21:00.001-07:00

Found this interesting C&C cage on YouTube. It's not what I would call one of the really big guinea pig cages - but it has a couple of interesting features I would like to point out...

It has a balcony level - this is a cool idea. Balconies and other second levels are a way of building big guinea pig cages without creating a giant footprint. (Same idea as a two-story house. Double living area without doubling the lot size [and the price])

Also want to point out this person's use of materials. Notice that the bottom level is not made of standard storage cubes. It's a pig-pen or pig-run that they have built upon. This may be a good alternative if you want to build a C&C type cage but can't find a source for grids in your area.

For more info on big guinea pig cages CLICK HERE--> Big Guinea Pig Cages Available at BlueStoneCages

I bet Sheila could find guinea pig cages for sale...

2010-09-02T13:04:00.001-07:00

Sheila? Who's Sheila?

Let Pee Pee and Buttercup - those zany out-of-control travelin' guinea pigs show you - in their latest Roadents adventure...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-7-sheila

No need to go out driving around in your Winnebago to see guinea pig cages for sale.

VISIT BlueStoneCommerce TODAY. We have tons of C&C guinea pig cages for sale.

And you might want to READ THIS too --> Guinea Pig Cages for Sale - The Most Overlooked Factor...

Even the best Cavy Cage might not be able to hold a pig in this condition...

2010-09-02T09:45:00.001-07:00

First rule of cavy care: Never give your guinea pig caffeine...

He will surely make a mess of his cavy cage - or - Winnebago?

Back on the road with Pee Pee and Buttercup...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-2-caffeine-high

You don't need a Winnebago to house your pigs. A C&C cavy cage should be sufficient. C&C stands for cubes and Coroplast? And what is Coroplast? CLICK ON THIS--> Cavy Cage - Some facts about Coroplast.

SO much more than rodent cages...

2010-09-02T09:28:00.001-07:00

You've heard me say it before - C&C cages are so much more than rodent cages!

Have a look at this one - it's just a home-built do-it-yourself project. But it looks like a guinea pig city. It's like a guinea pig superplex!

Now you can see the advantages of C&C cages. And you can see that they are far superior to just your ordinary pet store rodent cages.

More info? C&C Cages are so much more than rodent cages. <-- READ THIS.

Desperate need for BIG Guinea Pig Cages

2010-09-01T11:53:00.001-07:00

You think you have a need for big guinea pig cages!!! Think of the size you'd need for this huge-normous guinea pig relative...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-11098596

Ya - that's right (and I quote) "The baby capybara could grow up to weigh as much as an adult man."

A bigger worry than finding big guinea pig cages - where are they gonna find a big enough nest box?!!!

For info on big guinea pig cages for normal sized guinea pigs READ THIS---> Big Guinea Pig Cages - A Must for Guinea Pig Health

Did you know you can get TWO YEARS for cruelty fo your guinea pig?

2010-08-31T14:41:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately, sometimes cages for guinea pigs can become death traps. The good thing is that this lady may receive up to two-years in prison for her little "pig roast" stunt.

Warning - if you love guinea pigs, this is a gruesome story - but, in some way, justice is being done...

http://www.uticaod.com/news/x375098480/Woman-charged-with-animal-cruelty-after-guinea-pig-dies-in-fire

On a more positive note: Want to learn the basics of C&C cages for guinea pigs?

CLICK HERE--> http://ezinearticles.com/?Cages-For-Guinea-Pigs---Why-All-the-Fuss-About-CandC-Cages?&id=4879971

Definitely DO NOT try this at home...

2010-08-30T10:25:00.001-07:00

Fresh from the "What were ya thinkin?" department...

If you have a cat and a guinea pig - remember, there are many sturdy guinea pig cages for sale. Put your guinea pig in one.

Don't get me wrong - I think this is great - but I'm sure most cavies can't get away with this...

Remember - DO NOT try this at home! Got a guinea pig AND a cat - then go out and buy one of the many fine guinea pig cages for sale.

Interested in C&C Guinea pig cages? Read about Guinea Pig Cages for Sale at BlueStoneCages.

Till next time,

BlueStoneCommerce Out

What if cages for guinea pigs had stereos in them?

2010-08-30T07:20:00.001-07:00

What if cages for guinea pigs had stereos in them? Maybe little boom boxes. Would that be a great feature?

Nah - your pigs would probably just fight over the music selection...

See what happens with Pee Pee and Buttercup as they continue to ease on down the road in their Winnebago...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-4-road-tunes

After you've finished the video, you might want to learn more about C&C cages for guinea pigs.

CLICK on this LINK--> Cages for Guinea Pigs - What Features are Important in a C&C Guinea Pig Cage? to take you to an informative article by BlueStoneCommerce.

C&C Cages for Guinea pigs

2010-08-29T19:37:00.001-07:00

Want to know about C&C Cages for Guinea Pigs? Read this --> Cages for Guinea Pigs

What do Beef, fish, Winnebagos have to do with Cages for guinea pigs?

2010-08-29T18:38:00.001-07:00

Nothing. That's right - beef, fish and Winnegagos have nothing to do with cages for guinea pigs - but apparently everything to do with diets for guinea pigs!

Now for a question: What's most important in your guinea pig's diet? Is it more important to give them lots of a) beef or b) fish?

Not completely sure? Watch this video and let the nomadic guinea pigs Pee Pee and Buttercup tell you...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-3-beef-barn

In the mean time, we at BlueStoneCommerce can certainly tell you what's important in cages for guinea pigs.

CLICK HERE to read this article --> Cages for Guinea Pigs - What Features are Important in a C&C Guinea Pig Cage? - Unless of course your pigs are living in a Winnebago.

People are amazed at the size of these guinea pig cages for sale...

2010-08-29T12:43:00.001-07:00

We get tons of YouTube views on these videos that show just two of our guinea pig cages for sale at BlueStoneCages.

This first one is a three-story 2x3 cage with storage (over 7000 views):

This one is even larger - a three-level 2x4 cage with storage (over 1000 views):

Why do we offer such large cages? Read our post Guinea Pig Cages for Sale at BlueStoneCages for a brief history of our guinea pig cage enterprise.

Of Husbands and Other Rodents

2010-08-29T10:37:00.001-07:00

If you're in the market for a new guinea pig cage - it might be because you're considering adopting or buying a guinea pig. If so, you might be interested in this article on basic guinea pig info from a San Francisco Chronical website entitled...

Of husbands and other rodents

And if you do happen to acquire a new pig for the family, think about adopting a new C&C guinea pig cage from BlueStoneCommerce.

I know it's in bad taste to laugh at this, but...

2010-08-29T10:09:00.001-07:00

I know it's in bad taste to laugh at this, but... I can't help it. Yes. I know. It's sad. It's shocking - even tragic. But, you have to admit - there's a humourous component to this story...

Ya, I know. This article is really more about porcelain than an actual guinea pig - or even a guinea pig cage - but, it sure is "interesting". We all love guinea pigs because of their antics and the funny things they do. But sometimes humans can be even stranger. Here's just a teaser from the article:

"Greenhill raised the alarm and fetched his wife,

who saw a knife on the top of a chest of drawers

and a blood-soaked guinea pig on the floor."

(Editors Note: It's important to today's stress-filled world to avoid unneccessary anxiety and tell you ahead of time: No actual guinea pigs were harmed in the making of this news item.)

And if you want more info on a C&C guinea pig cage <-- CLICK HERE to visit the main BlueStoneCommerce website.

Bugs on the windshield? See how these two guinea pigs deal w a similar issue...

2010-08-29T08:01:00.001-07:00

You know, not all guinea pig cages have lids. If you have a cat, you definitely need a lid - let's just say it acts kind of like a windshield. WATCH THIS...

http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-2-cat

After watching these real-life documentaries (they have to be real - I found them on the Internet) of guinea pigs driving around, aren't you afraid that your guinea pigs might sneak out of their guinea pig cages at night and run off with your family vehicle? Yep. So take this handy tip: Hide your car keys under your cat (or dog) at night. You can see from this real-life documentary (nudge, nudge) how guinea pigs react to cats...

Till next time,

Bob

BlueStoneCommerce

Two pigs escape guinea pig cage and drive away in Winnebago...

2010-08-28T18:02:00.001-07:00

Not all cavies spend all of their time in their guinea pig cages.

We know a couple of guinea pigs that like to travel the country in their Winnebago.

Watch the panic when Pee Pee and Buttercup hear the police siren is behind them…

That's right watch the animated antics of two guinea pigs on the road...

CLICK HERE to watch-->; http://bluestonecages.com/roadents/rodents/episode-1-1-officer-pig

While you're there, look for our Special Internet offer on guinea pig cages on the same page...

Teach Your Guinea Pig to Do Tricks

2010-08-25T12:31:00.001-07:00

Can you teach guinea pigs to do tricks.

Watch this VDO - and see this piggy turn circles for treats.

As an added bonus, this guy includes instructions on how to do this in the VDO comments.

So be sure to read the comments if you want to teach this to your pet.

Also - an article I wrote on C&C Cages for Guinea Pigs <--CLICK HERE.

Enjoy,

Bob

BlueStoneCommerce

C&C Cages for Guinea Pigs - What are they?

2010-08-25T12:06:00.001-07:00

What is a C&C cage? Want to know all about the basics?

Watch this 10-minute BlueStoneCommerce VDO and it will explain everything in detail...

Not enough info? Read this article on C&C cages for guinea pigs. <--CLICK HERE to read.

Hope these two resources answer any C&C guinea pig cage questions you may have.

If not - more info available at http://BlueStoneCages.com

Just a quick post,

Bob

Interested in Big Guinea Pig Cages? Here's a really BIG one...

2010-08-22T09:07:00.001-07:00

This BlueStoneCommerce cage is one of the biggest we make - and it's BIG...

I'm sure you can tell from this video what our opinion is of putting guinea pigs in pet store cages - or at least those small rodent cages like the one shown.

Read more from BlueStoneCommerce --> Big Guinea Pig Cages - A Must for Guinea Pig Health

Good health to you and your pigs

Bob Matthews

Cages for Guinea Pigs - Pet Store vs C&C

2010-08-20T11:34:00.003-07:00

This video shows you one of our large cages for guinea pigs with integral storage base: the 2x3x3 Large 3-Level Colonial Open-Top w Storage. This video was made to appear in our eBay listing for this product.

See us stuff poor Charlie into a standard pet store cage. You will notice three things...

1. There is obviously very little room for Charlie

2. There isn't even a food dish in there - that would take up even more space

3. Charlie could use a bigger nest box - he barely fits through the opening - again, that would take up even more room.

If you think we're just hyping you about pet store cages being ridiculously small, HA! watch this...

If you're interested on more info on large C&C cages for guinea pigs ,<---CLICK on that LINK to read more...

While you're at it, come and see us at our website:

BlueStoneCommerce

Cages for Guinea Pigs - Pet Store vs C&C

2010-08-20T11:34:00.001-07:00

See us stuff poor Charlie into a standard pet store cage. You will notice three things...

1. There is obviously very little room for Charlie

2. There isn't even a food dish in there - that would take up even more space

3. Charlie could use a bigger nest box - he barely fits through the opening - again, that would take up even more room.

If you think we're just hyping you about pet store cages being ridiculously small, HA! watch this...

If you're interested on more info on large C&C cages for guinea pigs ,<---CLICK on that LINK to read more...

While you're at it, come and see us at our website:

BlueStoneCommerce

Big Guinea Pig Cages or Exercise - One or the Other

2010-08-20T06:31:00.001-07:00

You've heard me talk many times about how a big guinea pig cages are necessary for guinea pig health.

And by now you know the story - if your pigs can't be in big guinea pig cages, then they need time outside their cages.

Now you can see why.

Watch this cute little guy zip around...

Untitled

2010-08-19T18:27:00.001-07:00

Obviously the embed didn't work in the previous post - here's the link..

enjoy...

Bob

www.bluestonecages.com

Untitled

2010-08-19T18:22:00.001-07:00

I think this could possibly be my favorite guinea pig VDO of all time - found it last year on YouTube - But I still love it today...

as always, lots more guinea pig cage info available from http://BlueStoneCages.com

Cavy Cages — How to Build a C&C Cage

2010-08-18T10:56:00.001-07:00

Buying your cavy cages from the pet store or department stories is usually not the best choice for your guinea pig. Almost all rodent cages available in retail stores are just too small for a full-grown adult cavy. Large manufactured cavy cages are difficult to find or too expensive. So many people these days are turning to do-it-yourself C&C guinea pig cage projects to provide adequate housing for their pets.

Why not visit BlueStoneCommerce today? They are a highly recommended C&C cage seller. And more importantly — they are guinea pig owners. All of their cages are designed with both the guinea pig and guinea pig owner in mind. For more information on how to build your own C&C guinea pig cage, CLICK HERE--> Cavy Cages - The Basics - How to Build a C&C Cage <-- READ THIS

Guinea Pig Cages for Sale - We've reached Number 1000!

2010-08-17T22:24:00.001-07:00

Small business is different from big business. Here at BlueStoneCommerce, we are definitely small business.

Big business sell 1000 units a day - or 1000 an hour.

We've offered guinea pig cages for sale for three years and we just sold our 1000th cage this past Saturday - Aug 14, 2010.

Three years - 1000 cages. So ya, we're small - but our cages are BIG - and that's what counts when it comes to your guinea pigs' health, comfort and welfare.

Don't get me wrong. We're excited about our 1000th cage because that means at least 1000 happy pigs! And that's important to us.

Read all about it CLICK HERE--> Guinea Pig Cages for Sale - More than 1000 Sold!

Till next time...

Cages for Guinea Pigs — Why are People so Excited About C&C Cages?

2010-08-17T16:55:00.001-07:00

BlueStoneCommerce has done it again!

Another informative article on Cages for Guinea Pigs.

Sure, we've been writing about cages for guinea pigs for years. But people are still asking us the basic questions...

What makes C&C cages so good? What are the advantages? etc. etc. etc.

But enough about the questions - How about some answers? You'll want to read this article right away!

CLICK HERE --> Cages for Guinea Pigs — Why are People so Excited About C&C Cages?

Rodent Cages – No Place for Our Guinea Pigs

2010-08-16T11:59:00.001-07:00

Those little pet store rodent cages are not good enough for our pigs. I hope you’ve gotten the word by now!!!

When you get a guinea pig from a pet store (next time consider a guinea pig rescue shelter), they usually try to sell you one of those tiny little rodent cages. Well, common sense should tell you they’re way too small for an adult guinea pig to live in. Waaay too small.

Read what I’ve got to say about this very issue of people trying to jam their guinea pigs into tiny little rodent cages…

And just how do you find a great C&C guinea pig cage? ß CLICK HERE to visit the BlueStoneCages website for more info…

Cavy Cages - A Question About Coroplast

2010-08-15T13:53:00.001-07:00

The following is a cavy cages question for BlueStoneCommerce which was received on our BlueStoneCommerce YouTube Channel:

"I was going to order coroplast on the internet, but how big is one sheet of coroplast?" - mal152010

Just like standard building materials (e.g. plywood, drywall, panelling, etc.), Coroplast is sold in 4-ft x 8-ft sheets.

We like to use the 4mm thickness for building cavy cages (guinea pig cages)

Over the years, many people have reported having trouble finding Coroplast for their cavy cages.

A few have managed to find it in hardware stores like Home Depot. However, I have never seen it in any hardware store in our area.

We have found that the most reliable place to get Coroplast is to contact a local sign shop. In fact, contact several because prices vary greatly. And be sure to tell them that it's for a guinea pig cage. They may just give you a better price it they know that you're not a competitor.

Also, figure out the exact dimensions of the piece you will need ahead of time. Some shops will cut it for you for little or no cost. Even better - some shops will charge you only for the size you get - not for the entire 4x8 sheet.

For more information on Coroplast, CLICK ON THIS LINK --> Cavy Cages - Some Facts About Coroplast (Part 2 of 2)

C&C Cavy Cage - A Lot of Cage for the Money

2010-08-15T13:14:00.001-07:00

In recent years, a lot of people have been putting their guinea pigs in C&C cages. This sort of cavy cage is preferred over manufactured pet store cages for several reasons.

1. Standard pet store guinea pig cages tend to be too small and larger manufactured cages are difficult to find.

2. If you can find them, large manufactured cages can be extremely expensive.

2. C&C cages are an economical alternative to pet store cages.

3. The C&C cavy cage gives your pigs lots of room to exercise and for comfort.

C&C cages are constructed from from metal grids and Coroplast plastic.

The first C in C&C stands for "cubes" and that refers to the storage cubes which are usually built from these metal grids. The second c stands for "Coroplast". Coroplast is the plastic material used to make the litter bins in the C&C cavy cage.

For an informative article on Coroplast, please see the following article:

Cavy Cage - Some Facts About Coroplast (Part 1 of 2)

Also, please visit BlueStoneCages.com for a look at our extensive C&C cavy cage line. <-- Just CLICK ON THIS LINK...

Cavy Cages – Modern Technology Comes to DIY Guinea Pig Cages

2010-08-14T20:01:00.001-07:00

Cavy cages have traditionally come in two styles – the old wood and chicken wire cage, often called a guinea pig hutch; and the tiny rodent cage that we inevitably see on display in the pet store. I am here to tell you by way of this post that in this modern world, those two guinea pig cage technologies have become obsolete.

Perhaps you’ve heard of C&C cages. They have been taking the guinea pig cage market by storm over the past several years.

C&C stands for cubes and Coroplast — the two primary materials used to construct a C&C cage. Cubes refer to the metal grids used to construct household storage cubes or retail store display cubes. These metal grids are used to form the structure and enclosure of the cage.

Coroplast is a corrugated plastic sheet material and is used to form the litter containment tray or bin in this type of cavy cages.

The major advantage of this style of cage is that it is cost-effective. One can build a very large cavy cages for a very little amount of money invested. In fact, this style of cage was originally invented by a guinea pig rescue organization who needed an economical way to house a large number of guinea pigs. Since an enclosure of this type was not available on the market, they simply invented it and built it themselves.

Since that day, thousands of do-it-yourselfers have followed their lead and are building their own cubes and Coroplast cages. You too can join the guinea pig cage revolution the “easy way” by visiting BlueStoneCommerce to see their large selection of C&C cage kits.

Read more about the cage revolution — CLICK ON THE LINK directly below…

Cavy Cages –The Cubes and Coroplast Guinea Pig Cage is Sweeping the Market

Cages for Guinea Pigs – How to Choose One

2010-08-14T16:58:00.001-07:00

Several factors should be considered when picking out cages for guinea pigs. The first thought that may come to mind may be to insure that the cage is sturdy and sound so the guinea pig cannot escape. While this is certainly an important criterion, unless your guinea pig possesses the strength of the mighty Hulk, most cages can easily satisfy this requirement.

But there are, however at least four other not-so-obvious factors that should be addressed when choosing cages for guinea pigs. In fact, this article Cages for Guinea Pigs – What Features are Important in a C&C Guinea Pig Cage? addresses these four factors and answers most of the questions you may have in regard to your next guinea pig cage purchase.

One of the criteria discussed in the previously mentioned article is obvious — size. The cage should be spacious enough for your guinea pig(s) to live comfortably and to get adequate exercise. Many new guinea pig buyers (and by that I don’t mean pig buyers from New Guinea) make the “rookie mistake” of buying the standard pet store cage. This tiny little cage is much too small to house a full-grown guinea pig. In a few short weeks, your pig will have outgrown this tiny “baby cage” and will be having difficulty maneuvering around its tiny living quarters. At this point, you may find yourself out shopping for a new cage…

So, whether you are contemplating buying a guinea pig or you have already made the dreaded rookie mistake of buying that tiny pet store rodent cage, you will need to do some research to help you choose a quality guinea pig cage. The article Cages for Guinea Pigs – What Features are Important in a C&C Guinea Pig Cage? can certainly help. <-- CLICK HERE to read it.

Cages for Guinea Pigs – Should I Buy that Cage at the Pet Store?

2010-08-14T14:25:00.001-07:00

Where do we go to buy cages for guinea pigs? Most of us think first of the pet store. Very often, we end up with that “bargain” starter package — you know — the one with an animal, a water bottle, a food dish, a bag of food and that tiny little rodent cage that gets passed off as a suitable home for your new little pet.

We tend to accept these tiny cages as suitable cages for guinea pigs because that’s simply what we’re used to. Ever since we were small, guinea pigs were housed in these little cages — besides… the guy at the pet store said it was okay.

But it’s not okay. Do a fast experiment for yourself — right there in the pet store if you want to. Take one of those small manufactured cages and start carrying it up and down the aisles.

Throw in a nest box. Then grab a food dish and toss that in too. Hang a water bottle and a hay rack on the inside. Then toss in a couple guinea pig toys — not large ones — just a couple small ones to amuse the pig. Now look in there. Where is there room for the pig? Do these really look like cages for guinea pigs? Or do they look like cages for hamsters? Or mice?

And, while we’re on the subject: there really should be two pigs in there. Guinea pigs are very social creatures and do much better when they have at least one companion.

So, as you can see, cages for guinea pigs need to be much larger than these tiny store-bought rodent cages. And they can…

The solution? See this blog post Cages for Guinea Pigs – Different from Other Cages for the answer. Your pigs will be happy that you read it.

Don’t miss it… CLICK HERE NOW to read it --> Cages for Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pig Supplies – Which Bedding Do You Choose?

2010-05-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Guinea pigs poop every six seconds. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely accurate. But if you’ve ever owned a guinea pig or two, you know what I mean. It seems like, for every pound of food you feed them, you get back two pounds of feces and a quart of urine. That’s why bedding or litter is one of the essential guinea pig supplies you will need. But all bedding materials are not created equally.

Sure guinea pigs are cute and lovable. But they’re also messy. One day you finish building that clean and pristine C&C guinea pig cage and within an hour it looks like the bleacher section in a post-Super Bowl football stadium. Although bedding is one of the most mundane guinea pig supplies, it is also one of the most critical in terms of your guinea pigs’ health. Bedding serves as the “toilet” in your cavy’s cage. It will help keep the cage clean and dry but, if not chosen with care, bedding can also be a health issue for your pigs.

Clay Cat Litter

When people think of bedding, many immediately think of the old-fashioned kitty litter. Clay bedding is very dusty and presents a respiratory health risk for your cavies. Clay cat litter should definitely be avoided.

Cedar Shavings

Cedar shavings are a popular bedding material because the familiar cedar scent helps to cover odors. Unfortunately, that distinctive cedar scent comes from toxic cedar oils. Many small rodents are allergic to wood oils. These oils can cause respiratory problems, rashes and other medical problems. Cedar is a hazardous bedding material that should be definitely avoided.

Pine Shavings

Like cedar, pine also contains wood oil. Although not as toxic as cedar shavings, pine shavings still appear to represent a health risk for your pet. Some debate still exists regarding pine shavings. And conclusions are not as definitive as for cedar shavings. But, if you are interested in creating a healthy home for your pets, pine shavings should still be avoided because they pose at least a potential health risk for your pet.

Aspen Shavings

Aspen is a hard wood. As such, it does not contain the harmful oils that are present in cedar and pine. This is evident because aspen wood (and the shavings) are not nearly as aromatic as the other two varieties. Because it is lacking harmful wood oils, aspen bedding is perfectly acceptable as a bedding material. The downside is that it tends to be a little pricier than cedar or pine shavings.

Paper Bedding

Paper bedding is made from recycled paper or from wood pulp fibers. This type of bedding is the preferred bedding material in terms of health, safety and performance. Because it is compressed during manufacturing, it is a low-dust bedding. It is highly absorbent. These types of bedding retard the formation of ammonia gas from urine—which can be harmful to your pet. Some brands also contain odor-reducing agents.

When it comes to guinea pig supplies, bedding tends to be one of the more unglamorous items. But it plays a very important role in terms of your guinea pigs’ health and welfare.

Yesterday's News Rabbit Litter (10 lbs.)
Yesterday's News Rabbit LitterYesterday's News Rabbit Litter is the first litter tested and made specifically for domestic rabbits and their bathroom needs. Yesterday's News is pelleted from specially processed recycled newspaper, combined with a unique ingredient that eliminates odor on contact and is 100% non-toxic to your pet rabbit.You can feel comfortable in knowing that Yesterday's News is 100% safe, rabbit tested and non-toxic. You no longer need to worry about your rabbit inhaling or ingesting harmful chemicals or dust. Will not harm your rabbit if eaten and won't affect their liver enzymes.No more scraping or caking in your litter pan. Yesterday's News absorbs up to twice the moisture of other litters traditionally used for rabbits.No perfumes or masking odors. BlueStoneCommerce earns a portion of each sale.

BlueStoneCommerce Guinea Pig Supplies Video Links

2010-05-22T22:20:00.001-07:00

We Have Informational Videos!!!

Just a short note to let you know that BlueStoneCommerce has produced a few informational videos on Guinea Pig Supplies (and we are in the process of producing more). Here are links to the videos - you can choose your favorite video website to view them on...

TITLE: Guinea Pig Supplies - The Essentials You Need to Start
CLICK THE LINK to watch on: YouTube, Yahoo, MySpace and DailyMotion

TITLE: Guinea Pig Supplies - What You Need to Get Started
CLICK THE LINK to watch on: YouTube, Yahoo, Metacafe and DailyMotion

TITLE: Guinea Pig Supplies - Guinea Pig Hay Types Explained
CLICK THE LINK to watch on: YouTube, Yahoo, MySpace, Metacafe and DailyMotion

Guinea Pig Supplies – Selecting a Water Bottle

2010-05-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

There’s one thing to remember when purchasing guinea pig supplies: a water dish is fine for a dog or a cat—but highly inadvisable for a guinea pig for at least two reasons. 1) Cavies tend to knock dishes or bowls over quite frequently and 2) they tend to defecate often—and all over the place. (Yes, even in their food and water dishes.) For these reasons, when selecting guinea pig supplies, you would be well-advised to avoid water dishes or water bowls and to equip your cage with a top quality water bottle.

Water Bowls—The Downside

Yes, you can put water in a heavy ceramic bowl to make it difficult for your guinea pigs to knock over. And you can even rationalize that it’s a better system for them because it looks more natural to watch them drink from a bowl than a water bottle. In the wild, they would have lapped up water from a pond or a stream—not sucked it out of a metal tube. But when the day is done, you will still be faced with a filthy water bowl; heavily contaminated with hay, feces, bedding and any other debris that your pigs can manage to fling in there. Yes, our cavies can be (dare I say it?) such pigs.
On the other hand, if your pigs do manage to flip the bowl over (and it’s very probable that they will), it will cause a wet spot in the bedding that can became an appealing breeding ground for mold, fungus, or other undesirable life forms.

The solution, of course, is to use a water bottle with a stainless steel ball bearing sipper tube. This will keep the water protected from contaminants. And, because it attaches to the wall of the cage, it will be free from spills.
Although a bowl is not suitable for offering water to your pigs, it is still a handy item to have. It is a good idea to put a small, heavy dish or bowl directly under the end of the sipper tube to catch excess water. If you watch your guinea pigs drink from their water bottle, you will observe that they do not gently lick the ball bearing end of the sipper tube. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They aggressively attack the sipper tube. They chew on it. They shake it. They chomp, munch and crunch away at it until their thirst is quenched—all the while splashing, slopping and drooling excess water out of the lower side of their mouth because, as I said earlier: cavies can be such what? Right! Pigs.

When shopping for guinea pig supplies, be sure to select a top quality water bottle to reduce the probability of leaking. Yes, water bottles do leak occasionally. But if you find a wet area forming beneath your water bottle, suspect your guinea pigs’ drinking technique first. As I mentioned earlier, a bowl placed underneath the sipper is the solution. But make sure the bowl is heavy and sturdy as your pigs will most likely stand on it to drink.

Water bottles are available in several different styles with a variety features.

Guinea Pig Supplies—Why a Nest Box is Necessary

2010-05-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Guinea pigs are hunted and eaten in the wild. In the wild, it is the guinea pig who struts proudly across large open spaces that is the guinea pig who gets eaten first. The wise guinea pig who scurries and hides, lives to scurry and hide another day. So it’s no wonder that they like to hide for comfort and security. For this, reason, when shopping for guinea pig supplies, always remember to select a suitable nest box.

In the wild, guinea pigs are food. No matter how much we love our little pets, we have to face this reality. The fact that guinea pigs are hunted and preyed upon in the wild is what drives many of their behaviors. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your pigs do not naturally like to be picked up. Eventually, as you handle your cavies regularly and make friends with them, they may learn to tolerate the lifting; but they always look uneasy when you first pick them up. This is because, in the wild, being picked up meant danger. It was never a friendly, loving act. It was usually done by a bird of prey—or a much larger (and hungry) mammal.

It is for this reason that your domestic guinea pig instinctively loves to hide in small places. And it is also for this that a nest box or other shelter should absolutely be at the top of your shopping list of guinea pig supplies if you want your cavy to feel safe and secure.

Nest boxes come in several forms with a variety of advantages and disadvantages.

The Plastic Nest Box

Several varieties of plastic nest boxes are available. Some are shaped like igloos. Others are box-shaped. Some advantages of plastic nest boxes are that they have easy-to-clean surfaces, they come in a variety of colors and guinea pigs will generally not chew them up. Many of them come in translucent colors so that you can see your pigs right through the walls. A popular example of an igloo-shaped nest box is the
PETCO Small Animal Igloo Hideaway .

An interesting variation of the plastic nest box is one constructed from Super Pet Waffle Blocks. The nest box is reconfigurable because it is built from snap-together colorful plastic panels.

The Wooden Nest Box

Wooden nest boxes usually come in simple cube-like shapes. Most are a natural wood color although there are some colorful wooden nest boxes such as the Super Pet Tropical Hide-Out (which also offers adjustable vents to allow airflow through the nest box).

Guinea pigs like to chew on wooden nest boxes. (One manufacturer has even named their product Gnawsome Hut to emphasize this feature.) Depending on your point of view, this is either an advantage or a disadvantage. If you view your nest box as a shelter for your pigs—and only a shelter for your pigs—then you are not going to appreciate them chewing on it. On the other hand, if you view it as a multi-purpose object for your pigs to enjoy as a shelter and as a chew-toy, then this is the choice for you.

The Fabric Nest Box

A less popular option is the cloth tent for guinea pigs. An example of this is the
Super Pet Sleep-E-Tent . Advantages are that it is lined with fleece so that it is soft and plush for added comfort. The disadvantages are that it must be washed regularly. As an added feature, this particular model also unzips to form a hammock for your pigs.

The nest box is an important item that many people overlook. When it comes to guinea pig supplies, many items are frivolous and unnecessary. Other items are absolutely essential for your guinea pigs’ health, safety and wellbeing.

Do you know the difference? CLICK on this LINK for lots more FREE INFORMATION on essential guinea pig supplies . Or, CLICK ON THE PHOTO below for more information on the Super Pet Topical Hide-Out (with food-safe colors):

Super Pet Tropical Hide-Out: CLICK ON PHOTO to Buy
This colorful wood hide-out features adjustable vented sides that open to offer airflow for warm days and close to offer warmth on cool days. Hide-out is made from all-natural pine wood and colored with food safe colors. Easy to assemble hide-out comes with a free bottle of pet-safe glue for permanent assembly. Made in China. BlueStoneCommerce earns a portion of all sales.

Guinea Pig Supplies—Hey! Hay for Cavies Explained

2010-05-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

When we got our first guinea pig, we knew that we also needed a few guinea pig supplies—especially food. We grabbed a bag of hay because we had heard that pigs liked hay. As we looked through the huge offering of guinea pig supplies at the pet store, we noticed that there were many varieties of hay. But the most popular seemed to be alfalfa hay—so we grabbed some of that and headed home—content, dumb and happy with our newest pet. But, we did some research later and found that we had unwittingly made a poor choice regarding our pig’s nutritional needs.

Alfalfa Hay

When we think of hay, we tend to think of grass or fibrous grass-like plants. However, alfalfa is not a grass hay. It is a legume hay. This means that it’s more closely related to peas, beans, lentils and peanuts than to your front lawn. As such, it’s much too rich in protein and calcium for your guinea pig.

Alfalfa hay may be given to guinea pigs with increased protein and calcium needs—young, growing guinea pigs (under six-months of age); convalescing animals and pregnant or nursing sows. However, it should not be given daily to mature guinea pigs as it may cause excess weight gain and may increase the likelihood of kidney stones.

Our exotic pet veterinarian likes to say that alfalfa hay is like a Snickers bar to your pet. It tastes great, they love it, but it’s simply too rich to be eaten very often. Much better to stick to the healthier grass hays like Timothy hay, orchard grass hay or oat hay.

Timothy Hay

In recent years, Timothy hay has become the standard hay for healthy guinea pigs. Unlike alfalfa, Timothy is a grass hay. As such it contains the long strand fibers that are so very vital for your cavy’s digestive processes. And with a much lower protein and calcium content that alfalfa hay, Timothy hay is well-equipped to meet your pig’s nutritional requirements.

Timothy hay is the hay most commonly recommended by veterinarians.

Orchard Grass Hay

As the name implies, Orchard grass hay is another grass hay. Because it is very similar in fiber, protein and calcium contents to Timothy hay, it is also a very healthy choice for your guinea pig.

Oat Hay

Oat hay is highly recommended because it is also a grass hay. It is comparable to Timothy and orchard grass hays in terms of fiber and protein content. It is also slightly lower in calcium content than the other two varieties.

Summary

In terms of nutritional value, Timothy hay, orchard grass hay and oat hay are virtually interchangeable as far as guinea pig health is concerned. All three should be given in unlimited quantities. That is, they should always be available to your guinea pig 24/7. Not only do they satisfy your cavy’s nutritional needs, but they also serve to grind down their teeth in order to keep them from growing out of control.

And while your pig can certainly thrive on any of these three hay types alone, we suggest that when choosing guinea pig supplies, you choose all three (as well as other grass hays). This will serve to add variety to your pet’s diet.

Guinea Pig Supplies—The Top Seven Items You Will Need to Care for Your Cavy

2010-05-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

If owning a guinea pig is new to you, the world of pet guinea pig supplies is probably also new to you. If this describes you, then this article will clear up much of the mystery behind selecting and purchasing the correct guinea pig supplies. If you are an experienced cavy owner, you may still pick up some important tips and details in the words that follow.

7. Pet Guinea Pig Food

When selecting hay for your pet guinea pig, you can’t go wrong with Timothy hay. Exotic animal veterinarians can’t say enough good things about Timothy hay. For some reason, alfalfa hay is very popular for small animals. Read the ingredients list and you will find that very many guinea pig pellets contain alfalfa or alfalfa meal as the primary ingredient. These foods are to be avoided. Small animal vets claim that alfalfa hay is “like a Snickers Bar to guinea pigs”. In other words, it is much too rich for their system. If contains far too much protein and calcium for daily use.

6. Feeder or feed bowl

You will need either a feeder or a feed bowl to dispense guinea pig pellet food to your pet. The advantage of a feeder is that holds a larger amount of food than a bowl so it does not have to be filled as often. It attaches to the side of the cage so that it will not tip over.

A food bowl holds smaller portions so food stays fresher.

5. Hay Rack

In addition to daily meals of Timothy hay-based food pellets, give your pigs unlimited access to Timothy hay in a hay rack. Timothy is nutritious for guinea pigs and is great for their digestive systems.

4. Water Bottle

You will need a good quality water bottle. Water dishes do not work well for guinea pigs as they tend to knock them over. A 16-ounce bottle is a good size for guinea pigs.

3. Vitamin C Supplementation

Guinea pigs, like humans, are unable to manufacture vitamin C in their bodies. Because of this, and because they are unable to store this vitamin in their body, they require vitamin C on a daily basis. The best method is to crush vitamin C tablets and sprinkle on their food.

Putting vitamin C in the water bottle is not recommended. If you change water daily, much of the vitamin C may be thrown away. In addition, guinea pigs sometimes will drink less water because they do not like the sour taste in their water.

2. Bedding or Fleece

If you choose to use bedding, choose a low-dust bedding. Bedding materials like pine chips or clay litter create a lot of dust and may cause respiratory issues in your guinea pigs. Fleece is gaining in popularity. It is more economical in the long run, but it does require frequent washing.

1. Guinea Pig Cage

Most pet store cages are too small for a full-grown cavy. Many guinea pig rescue organizations recommend the following minimum size standards for cages:

One guinea pig: 6-7 sq. ft.
Two guinea pigs: 7.5 sq. ft.
Three guinea pigs: 10.5 sq. ft.
Four guinea pigs: 13 sq. ft.

Cages this large can be difficult or impossible to find in pets stores. A different style cage—C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages—have risen sharply in popularity over the past few years. People often build them as homemade do-it-yourself cages, but you can also readily find them online in kit form. A good place to find a large selection of quality C&C guinea pig cage kits is http://BlueStoneCages.com.

Adopting a new pet into your home brings you not only fun, but also additional responsibility. With the correct choice of guinea pig supplies, you will be able to create a safe, happy and healthy environment for your new cavy friend.

Guinea Pig Supplies—What You Need to Get Started

2010-05-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

So you’ve just brought home your first pet guinea pig. Perhaps it’s just now dawning on you that you don’t really know what you’re going to need in terms of guinea pig supplies. Or maybe you’re farther ahead of the game than I’m giving you credit for. Maybe you are in the process of shopping for your first cavy now and are doing your research on guinea pig supplies ahead of time so you will be well prepared when your little piglet (technically they’re called pups) comes home. Either way, this essay will make the acquisition of your newest family member go as smoothly as possible.

Guinea Pig Cage

Your first and largest purchase will be a cage. The cages provided by pet stores are typically too small for a full-grown cavy. Most rescue organizations recommend the following de facto standards for minimum cage sizes:

One guinea pig: 6-7 sq. ft.
Two guinea pigs: 7.5 sq. ft.
Three guinea pigs: 10.5 sq. ft.
Four guinea pigs: 13 sq. ft.

Cages this large are difficult to find in pets stores. C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages have become extremely popular over the past several years because they allow you to purchase a large cage at reasonable prices. These cages are often homemade do-it-yourself cages, but can also be purchased online in kit form.

Bedding

We recommend paper bedding. Guinea pigs tend to be susceptible to respiratory problems, so bedding materials such as clay litter or pine shavings (bedding materials with high dust levels) are to be strictly avoided. Also, certain woods such as cedar contain relatively large amounts of tree oils. They should also be avoided because tree oils are generally not good for guinea pig health. Paper bedding (often made from recycled newspapers) is highly recommended as it suffers from none of these issues.

Water Bottle

You will need a water bottlethat attaches to the sides of your cage. Water bowls are not suitable for guinea pigs because the cavies like to stand on them (or in them) causing frequent spills. 10-16 ounces is a good size. Be sure to change the water daily so it doesn’t get stale.

Feeder or Food Bowl

You will need either a feeder (which also attaches to the side of your cage) or a food bowl. This item will be used to serve guinea pig feed or pellets to your pet. If selecting a food dish, make sure that it is heavy and stable so that it will not tip when your pet guinea pig decides to stand in it.

Hay Rack

When it comes to guinea pig supplies, one frequently overlooked item is the hay rack. Your pet guinea pig loves hay and it should be readily available to her at all times. One easy way to do this is to use a hay rack which attaches to the wall of your cage. If using a C&C cage, you may be able to find a model with a built-in hay shelter.

Food and Hay

Almost nothing is better for your pet guinea pig than some form of grass hay. Timothy hay is a great choice—containing both high-quality nutrition and the long strand fibers necessary for good digestion. Timothy hay can be given to your pet directly or as the main ingredient in food pellets.

Guinea pigs are a delight and a great addition to the family. But, like any pet, they also create additional responsibility. To insure that they live a happy, healthy and comfortable life; you must provide safe and comfortable living quarters, plenty of clean drinking water, and quality nutritious food.

Do you need guinea pig supplies delivered quickly and conveniently right to your door? CLICK HERE NOW--> Guinea Pig Supplies to visit our pet guinea pig supplies store.

Guinea Pig Cages – How to Build a C&C Cage

2010-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

C&C cages are becoming increasingly popular. Their usage has increased dramatically over the past few years. This is largely because pet owners are beginning to realize that while standard mass-produced pet store cages may be economically feasible to house racks of laboratory guinea pig test subjects, they fail to provide a comfortable and healthy living environment for our much-loved family pets.

So how do you go about building a C&C cage? As a first step, you will need to design your cage. C&C cages can be as simple as a rectangular “fence” placed around the perimeter of a Coroplast box; or as complex as a multi-level “pig mansion” complete with a top, a bottom, ramps and balcony levels. The choice is yours. Literally hundreds of photos are available online to inject inspiration into your cage design efforts.

Some things that you might want to consider when designing your cage are:

• A top or lid for your cage if you have a cat, toddler or other “domestic predators” in the house.

• A wire bottom if the cage is to be placed on a table. Cages with no bottoms can be dangerous for your pigs because once an edge slips off the table; it may drag the entire cage down onto the floor.

• If your cage has a top, be sure that it has large openings to make cleaning and cage maintenance easy. Trying to clean an enclosed cage through a small opening is difficult at best.

Once you have your cage designed, you will need to purchase all of the necessary materials. You will need grids, Corolast and some type of fasteners to hold the unit together.

You can generally obtain grids by purchasing a wire storage cube shelving unit from one of the major department stores. Be sure that the grids have openings that are no larger than 1.5 inches. One of the national department stores has recently changed the design on their storage cube units in order to save costs. The unit is constructed from grids that are 14-inches square. The old design had nine squares alone each edge. The new cost-reduced version uses 8x8 grids.

Various pig rescue organizations have reported guinea pig strangulation deaths and injuries resulting from using these 8x8 grids in C&C cages. It vitally important that these grids be avoided when building your cage. Be sure that if you are using 14-inch by 14-inch grids, that they are the 9x9 variety. As an alternative, insure that the openings are 1.5 inches or less on each side.

If grids are not available in your area, you can often obtain them by contacting one of the several online C&C cage sellers.
Coroplast is generally not available in hardware and home improvement stores. The best way to buy Coroplast is to contact local sign shops. Coroplast is routinely used for outdoor lawn signs. You will want to contact multiple sign shops and get a few quotes as they vary widely in price. If you wish, sign-makers may even be willing to cut it to size for you for a small fee. When contacting sign shops, be sure to tell them you are building a guinea pig cage. They may offer you a lower price when they find that you are not a competitor.

The last thing you will need is a means of connecting all of the grids together. Most storage cube kits come with press-on plastic knob connectors included. Most C&C cage designers use these fasteners to build cages.

As an alternative, you can also use tie wraps or zip ties to hold your cage together. Although they require a little extra work to apply, they offer a much stronger, sturdier and more permanent fastening method than the press-on plastic connectors.

You can also avoid all of the work involved in designing your cage and in finding materials by purchasing a C&C cage kit online. These kits come with instructions and all the materials required to build your cage. Either way, building a C&C cage is a great way to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for your cavies at an economical price.

What if Your Guinea Pig Grew Up to Be Larger Than Your Refrigerator?

2010-01-09T11:05:00.001-08:00

What if you went down to the pet shelter and picked up a cute little guinea pig pup and brought it home to live with you? And what if, as it began to grow, it began eating unusually large quantities of grass and hay and drinking enormous amounts of water – much more than its little guinea pig brothers and sisters? After a few days, you begin to notice that the floor of the cage is beginning to sag a little – but still the pudgy little pig continues to eat.

And as the weeks go on, your cute “little” guinea pig eventually outgrows its cage and you are forced to build a little corral to house it in another room. By now, it’s about the size of a real pig – a potbellied pig. But still it continues to eat. And it continues to grow. It has now become virtually impossible to pick up the “little” guy and put him on your lap to pet him anymore.

By the time it’s done growing, it is the size of a mid-size sedan. And still it continues to eat. Of course, now that it’s more than 1400 times as large as the other cavies in your house, you’ve moved it outside. The floor in your house is no longer able to support its weight – it now weighs in at over 1500 lbs (not to mention the smell).

No doubt about it: if you had such a pig, at more than nine-feet long, it would definitely be the biggest cavy in the neighborhood. But is it conceivable that you could you get actually get a pet like this? Surprisingly you could – but only if you could build a time machine.

Phoberomys pattersoni was such an animal – a 1500 lb. guinea pig (actually an early relative of our modern guinea pig that lived in northwestern Venezuela eight million years ago). Scientists speculate that the large rodent eventually became extinct because it was not able to escape its natural predators as easily as swifter, hoofed animals such as antelopes and gazelles. And it was unable to scurry away and hide from predators as do smaller rodents. It’s a good thing that it did become extinct because we certainly couldn’t afford to buy a cage for it.

Guinea Pig Trivia – A Quiz About Our Cavy Friends

2009-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

Just how much do you know about the guinea pig? Take this short test of cavy knowledge to find out.

1. What are baby guinea pigs called?

a. Puppies

b. Guppies

c. Sprouts

d. Forest Gump

2. Guinea pigs need to be given supplements of which vitamin?

a. Vitamin A

b. Vitamin B

c. Vitamin C

d. Flintstones chewables

3. Which of these animals is the most closely related to the guinea pig?

a. Rabbit

b. Penguin

c. Beaver

d. Forest Gump

4. Where do guinea pigs originally come from?

a. Africa

b. South America

c. K-Mart

d. Their moms

5. When guinea pigs spring into the air, it is called…

a. Percolating

b. Tiddly Winking

c. Popcorning

d. Springing into the air

And now for the answers:

1. Oddly enough, baby guinea pigs are called puppies. You might expect them to be called piglets in order to keep the pig reference consistent – because adult male guinea pigs are called boars and female guinea pigs are called sows.

2. Guinea pigs must be given daily vitamin C supplements because they, like humans, lack a particular enzyme needed to manufacture this vitamin in their bodies.

3. The beaver is most closely related to the guinea pig. (Forest Gump is most closely related to the summer sausage.)

4. Guinea pigs are originally from the Andean region of South America which consists of modern day Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Tribal peoples raised them as food. (I hear they had a guinea pig meat loaf that was to die for. It was great smothered in cavy gravy.)

5. When guinea pigs spring into the air, it is called popcorning. Those of you who answered springing into the air get extra credit for your tremendous grasp of the obvious.

Guinea Pigs – The Importance of Vitamin C

2009-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

You and your guinea pig may have more in common than you realize. Both you and your guinea pig must have vitamin C to survive. Unlike other mammals who manufacture vitamin C from glucose in the body, you and your guinea pig both lack a particular enzyme needed to perform this process. Thus, both human and guinea pig vitamin C requirements must be satisfied by external sources.

Your guinea pig must have a regular source of vitamin C or it will perish. Vitamin C is a water-soluble substance. Fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamins A, D, E and K) are dissolved by lipids – fat globules. Once these vitamins are absorbed by lipids, they are stored in your body’s tissues. Vitamin C, on the other hand, is not stored in the body. It is dissolved by water and any excess vitamin C in your guinea pig’s body will be excreted in the urine. Because vitamin C passes so quickly through your cavy’s body, they must be given supplements on a daily basis.

A great way to supplement your pig’s diet with the C vitamin is to feed them a diet rich in dark leafy vegetables such as parsley, kale or romaine lettuce. Be sure to avoid iceberg lettuce as it is mostly water and empty calories. It is essentially devoid of any nutritional value. As a general rule of thumb - the darker and richer the color of a fruit or vegetable – the more vitamins it contains.

To insure that your pig is getting sufficient amounts of daily vitamin C, it is also recommended that you supplement its diet with vitamin C supplements in the form of tablets or liquid drops. Tablets can be crushed and sprinkled on food or dissolved in drinking water. Liquid supplements can be added to drinking water or sprinkled on your guinea pig’s food.

Be careful when adding vitamin C to your pig’s drinking water. Vitamin C can be destroyed by substances found in tap water in certain regions. Your safest bet is to use distilled or purified water.

Your cavy needs vitamin C to survive. While supplementation is recommended, it should not be the only source of vitamin C for your guinea pig. Your pig’s diet should also contain plenty of dark green vegetables. Since vitamin C is water-soluble, there is little danger of giving too much vitamin C to your cavy. All excess vitamin C will be safely eliminated from the body in the urine.

Guinea Pigs – Who Are They and Where Did They Come From?

2009-12-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

The cute and cuddly little guinea pig has anything but a cute and cuddly scientific name – Caviidae porcellus. The domestic guinea pig is a rodent and, among others, his relatives are the beaver, the mouse and the porcupine. Just where did this cute, cuddly little rodent come from? If you answered “the pet store”, you missed the meaning of my question completely.

The common guinea pig as we know it no longer exists in the wild. The domestic version is the only variety left today. However, relatives of the guinea pig still exist in the wild and from them we can better decipher the natural behavior of these types of animals.

Like most rodents and smaller animals, Guinea pigs are very prolific at reproducing. Due to their high mortality rate in the wild, this ability to reproduce rapidly is necessary to secure the survival of the species.

Guinea pigs are very social creatures. This is why it is highly advisable to keep pet guinea pigs in groups or, at least in pairs. In the wild, guinea pigs lived in groups called herds with a single male as the dominant leader. As with many herd animals, only the dominant male is accepted as mate by the females in the group. This insures that all offspring will be descended from only the strongest of males – another strategy designed to maximize chances for the survival of the species.

When domestic guinea pigs are housed in multi-level cages, they can be seen to scurry quickly down the ramp to the lower level when startled. This behavior is most likely left over from wild herd behavior when the rodents would quickly scamper into the cover of their underground burrows at the first sign of danger.

Guinea pigs originated in the Andean region of South America which consists of modern day Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Around 5000 B.C. the Inca Indians domesticated the guinea pig and used it for a food source. Eventually, they we imported to Europe from South America where the rich kept them as pets during the 17th century. In fact, England’s Queen Elizabeth I kept one herself. It was not until the early 20th century that the cavy made its way to the United States.

The guinea pig has gained a large following in the United States. It makes an idea pet for older children because of its docile and friendly nature and also because it is relatively easy and simple to care for. This adorable little rodent has been around for many centuries – from its existence in the wild - to its early domestic beginnings as a food source for the Incas - until its modern day role as companion and pet for children and adults alike across the United States and Europe.

Guinea Pigs – A Great Pet for Animal Lovers

2009-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Guinea pigs are intensely social creatures. In the wild they used to live in groups called herds. If you are planning on getting a guinea pig, you must realize that, in addition to obtaining a new family member, you are also making a binding social commitment. As descendents of herd animals, guinea pigs do not do well in solitary situations. As such, you must be prepared to set aside significant time each and every day as a guinea pig owner to interact with your pet – an easy and enjoyable task for animal lovers. If you are more of a hands-off admirer of animals – or if your busy schedule prohibits rich daily interaction with your cavy, then it is highly recommended that you get a second or third pig to satisfy your pet’s social requirements.

As I wrote earlier, owning a cavy should be viewed as a commitment. Either you must commit to spending extensive time with your pet each day or you must commit to being a multiple pig owner. Anything less would be a disservice to the animal.

In addition, to maintain good health (like humans) guinea pigs need regular daily exercise. Guinea pigs generally do not tend to use exercise wheels like hamsters. Instead you must either provide a cage large enough for your pig(s) to run around in – or you must give them daily exercise time. They will need to run freely but supervised in a protected room or other large area.

If your guinea pig is sharing the house with a dog or cat, you must take special care to protect your cavy. Dogs and cats are instinctively both predators and may very well view your precious cavy as prey. You will need to insure that your guinea pig is adequately protected from these types of inherent predator animals as well as young children. Very small children, while not technically predators, can still cause great harm to your guinea pig simply by exercising their sense of curiosity and playfulness.

One of the greatest pleasures in life is the joy of pet ownership. Guinea pigs can provide both entertainment and companionship. They can be very playful – especially in groups – racing around the cage, popcorning in the air like tiny Thomson’s Gazelles or nudging one another with their snouts. They can bring a smile to your face as they stand up against the cage wall in the morning and call to you with their squeaky “weeking” noises as they beg for their breakfast. Best of all, they can bring a warm glow to your heart as they relax and purr softly in your lap while you scratch them gently behind their tiny little ears.

Guinea Pigs – Cavies and Children – Are They a Good Mix?

2009-12-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

If children are older and reasonably responsible, they can (and should) take on a role in the care of your family’s guinea pig. With the words: Okay, we’ll get a guinea pig – but you will have to take care of it, many parents are tempted to completely abdicate their pig care responsibilities and assign them all to the child. This is almost never a good idea. While caring for any living creature is a great learning opportunity (and the parent may even tell the child that they are totally in charge of the animal’s health, safety and welfare); ultimately, the final accountability should always remain with the responsible adult.

While full responsibility for your pig’s welfare should never be given to a child, it is actually a good learning experience to assign specific tasks to the children in the family. If the tasks are a life-critical – such as those involving food, water or supplements – the responsible parent must monitor the situation to make sure these duties are not being neglected. Your pigs’ lives depend on it! The parent should give occasional praise and positive reinforcements when the job is well done and they should give reminders and negative consequences when the job is neglected, forgotten or done poorly. Owning a pet is an excellent learning opportunity for your children – but it should never come at the expense of your pets’ health, safety or well-being.

If the task is less life-critical – such as cage-cleaning or giving the guinea pig daily attention and exercise - then monitoring does not need to be as diligent. However, this does not mean that you can simply delegate the task and walk away. Remember that ultimately the responsibility for your pigs’ safety and happiness falls on you - the parent. Also remember that the monitoring of tasks is for two very different and important reasons: 1) to insure the care, safety and comfort of your pet(s) and 2) to teach your kids to be responsible, caring and respectful pet-owners. So even if the task is not critical to your pigs’ health or safety, it is still an important part of your children’s transformation into responsible adults and community members.

It goes without saying that tasks assigned to children should be age-appropriate. That is, life-critical tasks should be assigned to older and more responsible children. Less critical tasks can be assigned to younger and less capable children. In either case, stretch your child by letting them do everything that they are capable of and by periodically adding new and harder tasks, but also be sure to give parental aid, coaching and guidance with any portions of the job that your child is not able to perform correctly.

It is a great learning experience for kids to be involved in the raising of a pet. However, all tasks assigned should be based upon your children’s age and ability. And at no point should you as a parent abdicate your responsibility in the situation. Ultimately, the responsibility for your guinea pigs’ health, safety and welfare rests on your shoulders.

Guinea Pig Cages – Where to Locate Your Cavy’s Home

2009-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

You’ve brought home your new guinea pig(s), chosen a suitable and roomy cage – now, where do you put it? A) Garage, B) Closet C) In front of a window D) None of the above. The correct answer is D) none of the above. Among other requirements, cavies must be kept in a room with a stable temperature - free of drafts and out of direct sunlight. Finding a suitable location for your guinea pigs’ cage is a task that requires careful thought and diligence. When placing your pigs’ new home within your home, several factors should be considered.

Extreme Temperatures Should be Avoided.

You pigs do not tolerate extreme heat or cold very well. They should be kept in a room-temperature environment – a range of approximately 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). This requirement immediately eliminates several areas in the home. Avoid placing the cage directly on heat registers, directly in front of a window, next to a radiator or fireplace or next to the oven. Also avoid putting your pigs any place where they may be exposed to cold drafts. The garage is out – too hot in summer too cold in winter. (The garage poses an additional hazard in that your pigs will be exposed to toxic carbon monoxide gas on a regular basis.) In terms of temperature: a rule of thumb is that your pigs like to live where you do. If you are too hot or too cold, chances are your guinea pigs are too.

Avoid Humid Areas

Guinea pigs’ respiratory systems are not the most robust. Cavies tend to be overly sensitive to upper respiratory infections. As such, placement in high-humidity locations such as your laundry room or near showers and baths should also be avoided. Also be cautious about placing your cavies in a basement area unless a dehumidifier has been installed and the area is well lit.

Avoid Isolation

Guinea pigs are social creatures. As such, they generally prefer to be around activity. Place your pig in or near a fairly high activity area. Great places are generally in the kitchen, living room, great room or family room – or wherever your family typically congregates in the home. Avoid placing your pigs’ home in rooms where it will undergo long periods of isolation or low traffic such as a child’s bedroom, in the basement or in a back hallway.

Choosing a high quality guinea pig cage is only the beginning task in creating a safe and healthy environment for your pet. Selecting a suitable location in your home is an equally critical task. Choose a location with a stable and moderate temperature and low humidity. In addition, chose a location in which your family can share their daily activities with your pigs. Don’t forget – your guinea pigs are family members too.

Guinea Pigs – Guinea Pig Sounds – What is Your Pig Saying to You?

2009-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs are not quiet animals. Guinea pigs make a lot of noise – especially in groups – and are in constant communication with each other and with their owners. As a guinea pig owner, you may be interested in the meaning of some of these sounds.

Loud Squeaking

Loud, piercing squeaking (often referred to as “wheeking”) is generally a cry for food. Your pigs are informing you that they are hungry and asking (actually insisting) that you feed them – NOW. This sound is most often heard around your pigs’ regular feeding time and often starts when your pigs first see you or when they hear the sound of plastic bags “crinkling” or any other clue that sounds like you might be preparing food for them.

Purring

Just like a cat, purring is a soft low-level rumbling sound that generally indicates contentment and comfort. Your pig will often purr when being petted. Listen to the purring for feedback as you scratch your piggy behind the ears or between the eyes. She will tell you when you hit the “sweet spots”.

Rumbling

Rumbling sounds similar to purring but is a deeper, stronger, more intense sound. While purring represents relaxation and contentment, rumbling is more associated with excitement – sexual excitement. You most often hear this sound from male pigs when they are around females who are in season. The rumbling sound is often part of a mating dance commonly called the “rumble-strut” in which the male struts and parades around the female - all the while emitting the rumble sound.

Chattering, Burbling, Muttering

This is a hard sound to describe, but a common one to hear if you own guinea pigs. This is the sound of guinea pig activity. It is kind of like the background din of chatter and conversation you may hear in an office or workplace. You will hear it when your pigs are engaged, active and content. You might hear it when you let your pigs out of their cage to exercise. After they relax and get used to their environment, they often start their low-level muttering as they wander and explore. It often sounds as if they are just muttering to themselves as they focus on different activities.

Teeth Chattering

When your guinea pig is chattering their teeth, it is not a good sound. It is the sound of an angry, frightened or otherwise upset pig. This is the sound of a pig who is annoyed and grumpy. Teeth chattering is a warning. He is saying, “Stay away! Leave me alone!” Two males may chatter at each other as they try to establish dominance over each other. Or your cavy may chatter at you as you try to pick them up – or “annoy” them in other ways.

Guinea pigs are not a silent pet. In fact, their rich, varied and frequent communication is one of the properties that makes them so endearing. The longer you own your pets, the more attuned you will become to the nature and meaning of their auditory messages.

Guinea Pigs – 7 Interesting Facts You Should Know

2009-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

As a guinea pig owner, you no doubt have a keen interest in learning about their origins, habits, behaviors and characteristics.

1. Guinea pigs are herd animals – that is, their wild ancestors used to live together in groups called herds. As such, guinea pigs are very social creatures and do not do very well in solitary situations. Consider purchasing more than one guinea pig rather than a solitary pig. Two pigs is only slightly more work than one and your pigs will be very much healthier and happier if they live in the company of other cavies.

2. When housing two pigs together, a male a female couple make the best combination – just be sure at least one of them is “fixed” or you will soon be looking at your own private herd. Two females are the next best choice and almost always get along. Two males can sometimes be confrontational and aggressive toward each other unless they were raised together. Be very cautious when introducing two boars to each other as they may not initially get along.

3. As social animals, guinea pigs also enjoy the company of human companions. Your cavy may be shy at first and hide from you - that’s okay. Remember that this was a very useful trait out in the wild where almost everything they encountered was trying to eat them. If you are gentle and affectionate with your pet, they will in time, come to enjoy being petted and spending time with you.

4. As you interact with your pigs, try to do so at their level. Make an attempt to avoid towering over them as you stand near their cage. Remember, in the wild all predators came at them from above. They were assaulted by either ground-dwelling animals that loomed above them, or birds of prey that struck from out of the sky. On the other hand, friends and companions approached them at their own level.

5. Just like humans, guinea pigs need regular exercise. In general, standard pet store cages are too confining and are the equivalent of you or I spending our entire lives living in a bathroom. Larger cages – especially C&C (cubes and Coroplast) cages are preferred by many today and are a much healthier environment for your piggies. Good guidelines for cage size are to allow between six and seven square feet for a single pig and at least 7.5 square feet for two pigs living together. When it comes to living space, more is better.

6. Humans and guinea pigs share a common physiological trait. Neither can manufacture vitamin C within the body. Unlike many other mammals who synthesize vitamin C from glucose in the body, humans and your cavies are both missing a particular critical enzyme needed to carry out this process. Thus, guinea pigs and humans must both satisfy their vitamin C requirements through external sources.

7. Guinea pigs like to eat many kinds of fruits and vegetables. Generally the darker and richer colored a fruit or vegetable is, the more vitamins and nutrients it contains and the better it is for your cavy. In general, avoid pale light-colored items like iceberg lettuce which provide only empty calories.

Guinea pigs are cute and lovable animals that make wonderful pets. They are generally good natured and relatively easy to care for. The seven facts presented describe just a few of the behaviors and characteristics that make the guinea pig such an endearing and lovable animal.

Guinea Pig Cages – Why Your C&C Cage May Need a Bottom

2009-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

In today’s short article, we are going to talk about bottoms. No – I don’t want to discuss your bottom – or even your guinea pig’s bottom. I want to talk about the need for incorporating a bottom when designing and building your C&C cage.

Go online and search for web pages and articles on how to build a C&C cage. The vast majority of results returned will show how to build a cage that looks less like a cage and more like a corral. If you examine it closely, you will note that this simplistic class of designs consists simply of a Coroplast bin or tub surrounded by a wire grid fence.

And I am not knocking this system. It is an absolutely fantastic and innovative design. It is both effective and efficient in its simplicity. It provides a lot of space for the money. And in my opinion, of all cubes and Coroplast designs out there; this simple, basic “pig corral” is the most economical and cost-effective design that can be had. However, there is one caveat – and it is an important one.

In my mind, this class of bottomless cage is generally safe only when used on the ground. Let me explain why.

To make visualization easier, let’s ignore the litter bin for just a moment. Suppose we place just the “fence” on a table. That’s right; we would have just a wire grid rectangle sitting on a table. Here’s a common scenario: A standard folding table is 6-feet (72-inches) by 30-inches wide. A common size for C&C cage width is 56-inches by 28-inches. So there is plenty of room (8-inches to spare) on each side. There is only an inch to spare in front of and behind the cage.

If we nudge the cage forward until the front wall of the rectangle slips off, there is really no problem. The front edge of the fence will now rest on the two sides and these two sides still hold the structure on the table as long as it’s not pushed too far off the front edge. The same goes if it’s pushed off either side. The cage will sit on the front and back walls.

The trouble comes when the rectangle is bumped diagonally off the table so that it slides off one of the corners (for instance the front-left corner). In this case, the entire left side wall and the front wall are nudged off the edge. The remaining two walls (back wall and right side wall) are unable to support the cage so it falls off the table diagonally.

Now let’s put the Coroplast bin back into the corral. Slide the cage off the front or side – once again, no problem. The cage rests on two opposite sides with the litter bin still contained within. But, nudge it diagonally off the table and it slides off the table – and depending upon weight distributions and forces, it may very well pull the litter bin onto the floor with it. At the very least, it will probably create a large litter catastrophe for you to clean up. At worst, you could be looking at an injured pig.

Now let’s add a bottom to our cage. Nudge the cage diagonally off of the table and two sides no longer fall off the edge. Even with two edges off the table, the cage does not fall off the table because it now rests on its bottom.

If you are having difficulty imagining the situation I have described, see our descriptive BlueStoneCommerceYouTube video which very effectively exhibits this situation.
When considering a C&C cage design, many people consider a cage bottom to be an unnecessary addition. And if the cage is to be placed on the ground then, except for adding some structural reinforcement, the cage bottom serves little purpose. If, on the other hand, the cage is to be placed on a table, then a cage bottom can make the cage considerably more stable, more reliable and safer for your pigs. As an alternative, you can also fasten the cage to the table top to prevent movement or attach a lip to the table edges so that the cage cannot be bumped off.

Guinea Pigs – How to Exercise Your Guinea Pig

2009-12-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

With a hamster, you can just toss a wheel in its cage and it’ll hop right on it and chug away – going nowhere – and he’ll be perfectly happy. It reminds me of the people you see at the health club - chugging away on their elliptical trainers – going nowhere – but getting healthier. Toss a wheel into your guinea pig’s cage and see what happens. Chances are she’ll chew on it – that is until she gets bored and ignores it.

You also know what to do with a dog. Put it on a leash and take it for a walk. When was the last time you saw anyone outside walking their guinea pig? What’s good for dogs is not necessarily good for guinea pigs.

So how do you give your pig exercise to make sure he stays healthy and happy?

Simple – you let him run free. Find a safe area in your home that is confined and free of hazards like electrical cords. Guinea pigs are notorious chewers and, given the chance, can easily chew through the insulation on an electrical cord and electrocute themselves.

Cavies spend most of their lives in their cage. If your pig is confined in an area too small to exercise (such as a standard size manufactured cage), she will need to get at least 25 minutes of free-running exercise every day. If your pig is being kept in a larger C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cage, then she may be already getting a fair amount of exercise.

If your cavies live in a large cage, watch them when they are in their home. Do they scurry around a lot? Do they run “laps” around the cage? Do you see a lot of popcorning? Do your pigs generally walk and move around much of the time?

If so, then you can be sure they are getting at least some exercise. My recommendation is that if your pig is generally active in its cage, then it should still get out to really stretch its legs and run free at least 25 minutes every other day. If you have a sedentary pig who generally just eats and sleeps, then - even though it may live in a large cage - I still recommend that it get out to explore and exercise daily for at least 25 minutes.

Even if your pig is “hyperactive” in his cage I still recommend that he get out at least every other day for nothing other than mental stimulation. Changing your pig’s environment and exposing him to new and exciting situations will stimulate his brain and cause new neural connections to form. Pigs are curious little creatures who love to wander and explore – sniffing and nibbling on new objects as they discover new things.

Guinea pigs spend most of their lives confined in their living quarters. If you have provided them with a large cage such as a C&C cage, then they will have a greater opportunity for exercise in their own home. Regardless, your pigs should still get out and explore daily, if possible, to insure that they get adequate exercise and mental stimulation. It is your responsibility as a caring pet owner.

Guinea Pigs – The Role of the Guinea Pig in Today’s World

2009-12-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Guinea pigs – we’re all familiar with this small rodent. We know what they look like and what they’re used for. They’re cute little rodents and they are pets. As far as most of us in the western world are concerned, that’s the complete story. But there is much more to the tale of the guinea pig’s history and its contribution to human society across the globe.

In the United States and Europe guinea pigs have become popular pets. Known and revered for their docile and friendly nature and for their cute demeanor, guinea pigs are adored by children and adults alike in the west. They have become the family pet of choice in thousands of households. They are relatively easy to care for and inexpensive to own. They are generally good natured and rarely bite.

Guinea pigs live an average of about five years and may even live to seven years. They are best kept indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. They do best in a standard “room temperature” setting (65 to 75 degrees).

In addition, serious cavy breeders raise these animals as show animals. Guinea pigs are exhibited in sanctioned events across the nation. The American Rabbit Breeders Association is the official registry for cavies in the United States.

Unfortunately, the common usage of the “guinea pig” label in our English language is derived from one of our poor cavy’s more unpleasant roles – that of the laboratory test subject. They were used extensively in the 1800’s and 1900’s as research test animals. So much so that the name guinea pig gradually became a popular idiom denoting a test or sacrificial subject. Fortunately for the guinea pig, this usage is decreasing as laboratories turn increasingly more to other rodents – most notably rats and mice.

In South America, the story is very much different and bleaker for our furry little friend. The cavy has a completely different history in this area of the world. The guinea pig originated in South America. Today there are no guinea pigs left in the wild. However, in years past when they did live in the wild – South America was their stomping ground. The originally came from in the Andean region of South America. Nowadays this region is made up of modern day Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.

The Inca Indians domesticated this little beast around 5000 B.C. and raised it for food. Because of this unfortunate precedent, the cavy is still eaten today in this region of the world. In small Indian villages, people still raise the little rodent for food just as western farmers raise and eat barnyard animals.

Yes, we think of the guinea pig as only a pet – as a companion for our children and for us. But this creature has other roles – some familiar and some extremely foreign to us. They are raised and sold by breeders to be used as show animals. Some guinea pigs are specially bred and sold to research companies to be used as laboratory test subjects. And in South America, they are a food source. We should be grateful for the guinea pig. Over the years, this seemingly insignificant little rodent has contributed to the human race in many ways.

Guinea Pigs - Characteristics of the Common Guinea Pig

2009-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past century, the guinea pig has become a popular pet in the United States. While we are all familiar with this common animal, there are many facts concerning it that are not necessarily common knowledge. Please read along as we discover and discuss some interesting facts about this common and loveable house pet.

The guinea pig has a very delicate bone structure. Because of this, guinea pigs bones break fairly easily. For this reason guinea pigs should be handled carefully and loosely. Never squeeze or hug a guinea pig tightly. Also, one must be very careful to insure that guinea pigs are not dropped from excessive heights nor allowed to jump from high surfaces such as tables, chairs or sofas.

Guinea pigs have a total of 14 toes. Each front paw has four toes and the back feet each have three toes. When guinea pigs walk or run, they do so only on these toes. The entire foot rests on the ground only when the pigs are standing.

Unlike squirrels, mice or many other rodents; when eating, guinea pigs do not sit on their haunches and grip food between their front paws. Their style is to feed more like a horse or a dog – simply standing on all fours and grazing out of a dish, a bowl or from the ground.

In general, guinea pigs are friendly, congenial and peaceful animals. Two females can easily live with each other with little or no conflict. A male and a female nearly always get along very well (although one of the pair should obviously be neutered in order to prevent an in-cage population explosion). Two males, if raised together will also generally make a good pair. However, if a new male is introduced into another male’s home, there will most likely be some hostile behavior – at least in the beginning.

Two males in the presence of one or more females are a bad idea. They can become quite aggressive and adversarial toward one another as they compete for the females. In the wild, guinea pigs used to live in packs. The pack’s dominant male was the only male allowed to mate with any of the females. This increased the chances of survival of the offspring because it insured that all of the children were descended from the strongest and fittest male available. Although guinea pigs no longer exist in the wild, this holdover behavior can still be observed in our domesticated pigs.

Guinea pigs have a very acute sense of hearing. Like dogs, they are able to hear frequencies or tones above the human range of hearing. Human beings can only hear frequencies up to 20 kHz (vibrations at 20,000 times per second) whereas cavies can hear frequencies as high as 33 kHz.

The guinea pig is very dependent upon its very keen sense of smell. The cavy’s sense of smell is one-thousand times more sensitive and discerning than that of a human being.

The guinea pig is an animal that is very common to most of us in the western world. And although it is quite familiar to us as a family pet and as a laboratory animal, there is much information about this little rodent that is not commonly known. I hope that the newly-gained knowledge from this discussion will help you to better understand the actions and behaviors of your own pet guinea pigs as you interact with them on a daily basis.

Guinea Pig Cages – Is Your Guinea Pig Cage Large Enough?

2009-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Your choice of cage is one of the most important considerations in determining the quality of life that your guinea pig will enjoy while living under your care. One must keep in mind that the cage is much more than just a container or enclosure to contain the cavy; it is the most major and important element in your pig’s immediate living environment. As such, the selection of a cage for your cavy is a serious matter and should be not be taken lightly.

When considering a cage, be sure that your pig has plenty of room to move around and be comfortable. Most importantly, your pig needs room to exercise. If the quarters are too cramped, your pig will not move around much and will not get its much-needed exercise. Guinea pigs do not use exercise wheels like hamsters. Because of this they need a cage large enough to facilitate walking, hopping, “popcorning” and other full-body exercise.

Also remember that the pigs will not be the only objects taking up space in the cage. You will need to provide them with a comfortable nest box or other similar shelter. In addition, your pig will need other accessories such as a food dish, hay rack, water bottle and perhaps some toys.

As a general rule, most standard pet store cages are too small and cramped to allow adequate living space for your cavy. And to make matters worse - once you place the nest box and all the other accessories we mentioned above in the cage, there is little room left for the animal.

How do you know if a cage is big enough? There are various guidelines for sizing guinea pig cages that can easily be found online. These criteria are based upon the number of cavies being housed. However, in my opinion, the best cage-sizing method is to simply use your own common sense: if your pigs look cramped – they are cramped. Put yourself in their place. How would you like to spend your entire life living in an enclosure the size of your bathroom? If you put a nest box, bowl, etc. in a cage and it leaves an area that is only one or two body-lengths long for your pig to live in; it’s only common sense that this cage is too small.

Due to the fact that manufactured cages are generally too small to provide a healthy environment for your pigs, a new type of cage has emerged over the past few years and is rapidly gaining in popularity. This type of cage was invented by a pig rescue organization in order to economically house a large number of pigs. This type of cage is called a C&C or cubes and Coroplast cage. These cages are much larger than manufactured pet store cages and offer a much healthier environment for your pigs. These cages are being built from scratch by do-it-yourselfers or purchased as kits from a growing number of online C&C cage sellers.
C&C cages are constructed from metal wire grids and sheets of corrugated plastic. The metal grid panels are fastened together to form the walls of the enclosure and the corrugated plastic sheet is formed into a bin or pan to contain the bedding as well as your pigs’ waste materials. This combination allows an efficient and economical design which provides a large and spacious enclosure for your pets at a relatively low cost.

When purchasing or building an enclosure for your pet guinea pig, be sure to provide adequate living space to insure that your pig enjoys a healthy environment. Most manufactured pet store cages do not meet modern pet enclosure standards. As a result, people in increasing numbers are turning to C&C cages to provide the spacious environment that their pets need and deserve.

Guinea Pig Cages: The Most Commonly Overlooked Factor in Choosing a Cage

2009-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

When you go shopping for a guinea pig cage, what are the things you consider? Color? Price? An attractive design? People choose their cages based upon many different criteria. However, there is one extremely important factor that often gets overlooked or ignored.

The most commonly overlooked factor in choosing a guinea pig cage appears to be cage size. Sure, people may think they look at cage size when purchasing a cage. But, judging by the number of small, “standard” pet store cages still being purchased every year, it is clear that people do not really look at cage size.

Let’s do a little thought experiment. The average guinea pig is about 9 to 15 inches in length. The average height for a human is roughly 5’4” to 5’10”. An average pet store cage is 24-inches by 16-inches.

Put yourself in your pig’s place. An equivalent size room for you would be approximately 8-ft by 12-feet - the size of a large bathroom or a small bedroom. So, living your entire life in a large bathroom or small bedroom may not seem horrible – but it would certainly be a challenge to get a significant amount of exercise in a space that small.

Another related factor that I’m convinced that people do not consider when sizing a cage are the additional accessories that your pig requires - such as a nest box, a food dish and a hay rack.

So let’s return to our hypothetical equivalent room. When we add a nest box to our pig’s cage, we are adding an item that is perhaps 10 to 12-inches on each side. That might be equivalent to building a seven-foot by seven-foot storage shed and placing it our hypothetical equivalent room with us.

Add a food dish to your pig’s cage (about half the size of your pig) and it’s like throwing a kiddie pool – three-feet in diameter in the middle of the floor in our room.

Of course we’re going to need a water bottle. This would be roughly equivalent to something the size of a hot water heater standing in the corner of our equivalent room.

A hay rack is has a footprint of approximately four by seven inches. So adding a hay rack to the wall might be roughly equivalent to pushing a couple of nightstands up against one of the walls in our hypothetical equivalent room and placing them side-by side.

Does this sound like a lot of room? Does it sound like someplace you would like to spend the rest of your life? Let us review.

We start by moving into an 8 x 12 room – an area roughly the size of a large bathroom or a small bedroom. Next we put up a 7x7 storage shed in the corner. This leaves us with an eight-foot by five-foot space in front of the shed and a useless one-foot by seven-foot narrow strip along the side of the shed.

Then, to make matters worse, we place a three-foot wading pool, a water heater and two nightstands in our remaining 8x5 living space. What does this leave us with? We are left with a very small and cramped area in which to live. And, worst of all, our health begins to suffer because exercise becomes a nearly impossible task.

When you buy your next cage, consider the situation from your pig’s point of view. Look – really look – at the space situation facing your guinea pig and select a cage big enough to provide an adequate and comfortable living space. Over the past several years, C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages are gaining in popularity for this very reason – they provide a spacious, healthy environment for a reasonable price.

Guinea Pigs – How to Care for Your Cavy

2009-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

The guinea pig – also known as a cavy – is one of the more popular pets in North America. This is largely because they are friendly, docile and amiable creatures. And with few special needs, they are also relatively easy to care for. There are many varieties of guinea pigs varying in color, size, markings and hair type.

When choosing a cage for your guinea pigs, be sure to select an enclosure with adequate ventilation and sufficient floor space. Never put your pig in an aquarium or a deep-walled box. The ammonia fumes produced by your pigs’ urine can cause respiratory problems for your pets if they are concentrated by glass or other solid walls and not allowed to dissipate into the surrounding air.

Also be sure to provide ample living space so that your pigs can live comfortably and enjoy the opportunity for sufficient exercise. A standard rule of thumb for living space requirements is to allow a minimum of 6 square feet for a single pig, 7.5 square feet for two pigs living together, 10.5 square feet for three cavies and 13 square feet for four pigs. Keep in mind that these are minimum requirements. When it comes to cage size – more is always better.

Your cage should be filled with bedding to absorb urine and keep your pigs clean and dry. Clay litter should never be used. Dust from this type of litter can also cause respiratory problems if inhaled by your pigs. Bedding produced from recycled newspaper is an effective and healthy choice.

Fleece is becoming a popular alternative to bedding. Fleece does not absorb the urine, but allows the liquid to wick through - thereby keeping your cavies dry and happy. A layer of absorbent material should be placed under the fleece in order to contain the urine after it passes through the layer of fleece.

Guinea pigs are fond of fresh fruits and vegetables. Be sure to choose fruits and vegetables that are dark in color. In general, lighter colored fruits and vegetables are lacking in nutrition. Never feed your cavy pale-colored vegetables (such as iceberg lettuce) which offer very little besides water and empty calories.

Like humans, guinea pigs lack a critical enzyme that allows its body to manufacture vitamin C. For this reason, it is critical that your cavy receives a vitamin C supplement every day.

It you want your guinea pig to like and trust you, you will need to treat it with respect. Never handle it roughly. When picking it up, always support your guinea pig’s bottom from underneath. Also, your cavy’s bones can be easily broken, so be careful not to squeeze your guinea pig too tightly nor drop it from excessive heights. The more you handle your guinea pig (providing you handle it gently), the more comfortable it will become with you.

The guinea pig is one of the most popular pets in North America for many reasons. It can be an affectionate and enjoyable little animal friend when treated with kindness and respect. And with appropriate parental guidance, its docile and friendly nature makes it an excellent pet for a young child.

Guinea Pigs - The History and Origins of the Guinea Pig

2009-12-01T06:00:00.001-08:00

Guinea pigs and humans share a history of more than 10,000 years. The cavy originated in Central and South America. In the wild, their domain extended through Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. The cavy was domesticated by the Inca Indians somewhere around 7,000 or 8,000 years ago. They were used as not only a food source but also as a sacrificial animal – sacrificed to the sun god - in religious ceremonies.

In the wild, guinea pigs lived in small groups or herds. For this reason, they are inherently social creatures and do not do well if kept in solitude. It is recommended that they be kept at least in pairs.

Cavies first made their way back to Europe on the ships of Spanish conquistadores during the 1500’s. They eventually also came to Holland, England and France. At first, these pets were reserved only for the wealthy and elite. They were much too expensive for anyone but the rich. But their ability to reproduce so quickly soon made the European supply of guinea pigs swell. As the price fell, popularity of the little beast increased as they became affordable to the common people of Europe. It was not until the 1800’s – more than 300 years after it landed in Europe - that the cavy finally made its way to the United States.

Sadly, in the mid 1800s, the cavy was put to use in laboratories as a research test subject. In fact, it was used so extensively for this purpose that its name eventually became synonymous with this function. Fortunately for the guinea pig, this usage has dropped off in recent years as laboratories turn to other rodent species for these purposes.

In any event, it is not known for certain how the guinea pig received its name. It is obviously not a pig, nor is it from Guinea. People have speculated that perhaps roasted guinea pigs reminded Europeans of suckling pigs (piglets). Others suggest that the cavy may have been transported to Europe on ships from the port of Guiana. Others feel that the guinea pig’s squeal may have reminded people of a pig’s squeal. In the end, the origin of the guinea pig’s unusual name has most likely been lost to us forever.

The proper name for the guinea pig is the cavy (pronounced kay-vee). This name is derived from the scientific name: Cavia porcellus. Technically speaking, guinea pigs are caviomorphs. Caviomorphs are South American rodents who share the following characteristics: a single pair of mammary glands, four toes on each front foot and three toes on each back foot.

The history of the guinea pig has been intertwined with that of humans for thousands of years. The cavy was first domesticated as early as 5,000 B.C. by the Inca Indians of South America. They were brought to Europe in the sixteenth century and they made their way across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States of America in the 1800s. And today they have taken their place, here in North America, as one of our most favorite pets.

Guinea Pigs – A Cavy Q&A

2009-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

The guinea pig is one of the most popular pets in North America. In spite of this, there are many facts about this little creature that are not commonly known by most people. Please join me as I attempt to explore (sometimes successfully) some facts regarding the history and characteristics of our friend the guinea pig.

Author’s note: No pigs were harmed in the writing of this article.

Q: How much do guinea pigs weigh at birth?

A: Guinea pigs (also known as cavies) only weigh in at around three ounces at birth.

Q: When guinea pigs are born, do they hold them up by their legs and spank them like human babies?

A: No! Absolutely not. (See author’s note above).

Q: How large do they get to be when they grow up? Do they weigh more than a sweet potato? They’re kind of shaped like a sweet potato.

A: The average adult boar (male) weighs around three pounds. The smaller adult sow (female) averages only about two pounds. I don’t know how much the average adult sweet potato weighs.

Q: What is the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

A: This one deserves a two-part answer: 1) Neither one is a mammal and 2) remember, we’re talking about guinea pigs!

Q: How big do guinea pigs get? How long is the average adult cavy?

A: As adults, guinea pigs average about 9 – 14 inches in length. (At least as long as most adult sweet potatoes).

Q: How long do guinea pigs live? How long would that be in dog years?

A: On average, this little rodent has a life expectancy of about five to seven years. I don’t know how long that would be in dog years – but I can tell you from experience; in husband years, it’s about seven minutes.

Q: How come dog years are a measurement of time whereas light years are a measurement of distance?

A: Yams and sweet potatoes are both angiosperms. However, yams are from the Dioscoreaceae family whereas sweet potatoes are botanically unrelated and are from the Convolvulacea family…

Q: What do you call baby cavies? Piglets? Piggies? Kittens? Sprouts? Futons?

A: Nope, oddly enough, although adult males are called boars and females are called sows; baby guinea pigs are not called piglets (or futons). They’re called pups. So, if our dog gave birth to pups, I’m sure it would really confuse our guinea pig because...

(our dog is a male).

Q: What is a group of cavies called? A pack? Flock? Covey of cavies? Gaggle of guineas? A pride of pigs?

A: Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong… and… wrong. A group of guinea pigs is called a herd.

Q: Herd of guinea pigs?

A: Of course I’ve heard of guinea pigs! (Rimshot).

Q: What’s a henway?

A: Not fallin for that one.

A: How come a cavy’s eyes are on the sides of its head instead of in the front like ours? Doesn’t that make it harder to wear glasses?

Q: In the wild, guinea pigs are a prey animal – that is, they get eaten. Their eyes are on the sides of their heads in order to widen their field of vision and allow them to better detect predators. Also, most cavies wear contact lenses because – glasses on a guinea pig? That’s just silly.

Guinea Pig Cages – The Most Important Element in Guinea Pig Cage Cleaning

2009-11-27T08:43:00.001-08:00

One of the most important factors in insuring that your guinea pig cage is easy to clean is ironically also one of the most overlooked criteria in cage selection. If you want to be assured that the next cage you purchase will be easy to clean and maintain, be sure to read on.

When we purchase a cage for our guinea pigs, we consider many factors – size, color, durability, attractiveness, etc. These factors vary depending upon our individual tastes and needs. But the ultimate bottom line is: we want to be sure that the cage we choose is not only good for the pig but also good for the pet owner.

In order to make cage-cleaning an easy task, it is absolutely essential that your cage be equipped with large openings. If your cage is fitted with small openings, you will begin to have trouble even before you begin the cage-cleaning process.

Before you begin cleaning, you will need to move your pigs out of their cage and to another area. If you have ever tried to catch a guinea pig through a small opening, you will realize just how difficult it is. In order to easily pick up your cavy, you need to use both hands to guide or funnel the pig in toward your body where it can be gently captured.

If you have a small opening, you will not be able to use both hands. Instead, you will have to learn to execute something I call the “scramble and grab” technique. In other words, the pig will scramble around the cage while you attempt to implement the single-handed grab. This is not an easy task and, even after you get good at it, it may still require several attempts to capture your pig(s).

Now it’s time to clean the bedding out of your cage. If you have a small, standard pet store cage; you will simply disconnect the top wire portion from the plastic litter tray and dump the small amount of litter into a waste receptacle. Some pet store cages have lids that swing up to create a very large opening. Others have a very small door on the side. Either way, cleaning is no problem because removing the top essentially creates a large opening for you to work with.

However, we strongly advise against putting your cavy in a small pet store cage because it is far too small to provide a healthy living environment for your pig. So it doesn’t meet the win-win criteria mentioned above. In other words, it’s good for you (easy to clean), but bad for your pig (unhealthy living conditions).

In recent years, largely due to the internet, people have become more informed about humane and healthy guinea pig living conditions and many are recognizing that standard pet store cages are sadly inadequate in terms of space requirements. While they may have been economically feasible in the past to house laboratory guinea pig test subjects, they fail to provide ample space for our much-loved family pets.

Because of this, people have been turning to C&C (cubes and Coroplast) cages as a much-healthier alternative – and this is great for the pig. However, many of these C&C designs are equipped with small doors (approximately one square foot). Once again our win-win criteria are violated. This type of cage is good for the pig – but bad for the human owners.

A large cage – like a C&C cage – may hold as much as 25-lbs. of bedding. You can imagine how time-consuming it can be to remove 25-lbs. of soiled bedding through a small opening. Then, you have to clean the entire bottom with vinegar and water and replace 25-lbs. of bedding – again, all through that small opening.

A great solution is to get a cage with a large opening. Cages with entire sides that fold down like a pickup truck tailgate are available and can make cage-cleaning very much faster, easier and less frustrating. Bedding can be shoveled out easily. And the large opening offers easy access for cleaning. Alternatively, the entire Coroplast bin can be slipped out through the large opening for very easy cleaning. And lastly - putting in fresh bedding is a snap. No more endlessly shoveling tiny amounts through a little opening. The bedding can be poured in directly from the bag.

Large openings are a factor that most of us rarely consider when selecting a new guinea pig cage. However this situation must change if we wish to save hours of time and frustration in our cage-cleaning routines.

Guinea Pig Cages – C&C Guinea Pig Cage Danger Alert

2009-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

In recent years, C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages have grown steadily in popularity and have taken over a significant segment of the small animal pet cage market. A quick online search will reveal several web sites that now offer instructions for building basic rudimentary cages. In addition, a number of C&C cage retailers have sprung up online and offer C&C cages in kit form. The main reasons for the growing popularity of this cage technology is that 1) very large cages are available – generally much larger than those offered in pet stores and 2) C&C cages are relatively inexpensive. By virtue of these factors – the consumer can get a lot of cage for the money. However, as the old caveat goes: Let the buyer beware. There is one serious potential hazard that the responsible pet owner must watch for when buying or building their own C&C cage.

As I mentioned previously, several sites offer instructions on building simple, basic C&C cages. Many of them also list sources for materials. A few national department store chains are recommended as sources for metal grids. The problem is that much of this information is now several years old and some of the grid sources have modified their products.

A few years ago, one of the national department store chains was a great place to buy grids for C&C cages. They were available as cube or shelving unit kits. The kits contained both the metal grids and plastic connectors needed to fasten them together. The square grids were 14-inches on each side and were laid out in a 9-space by 9-hole grid. Thus, each opening was approximately 1.5 inches square. And these girds made absolutely wonderful cages.

As the economy took a turn for the worse, the company had this product redesigned in order to take material out of it and save cost. The new product now contained grids that had only 8 spaces per side. Thus, each space was slightly bigger – only around a fifth of an inch. No big deal if you were building a shelf to hold stuffed animals, comic books or your hat collection from Sweden. However, that fifth of and inch was a very big deal to C&C cage builders and owners.

Shortly after the design change, guinea pig rescue organizations began receiving reports of guinea pig strangulation deaths. Many of the organizations began issuing warnings to avoid 8x8 grids and only use 9x9 girds. Several also contacted C&C cage retailers with the same warning. In fact, it was through contact with these organizations that our company first heard of this issue.

After deciding on the C&C technology, you will have two choices in realizing your cage. You can design and build your cage from scratch out of grids, corrugated plastic and other hardware that you purchase yourself. Or you can order your cage in kit form and build it with the instructions and materials provided. Either way, be absolutely sure to use only grids with spacing of 1.5 inches or smaller. When using 14-inch grids, be sure to use only 9x9 girds and absolutely avoid 8x8 grids.

Guinea Pig Safety Alert! - Why Your C&C Guinea Pig Cage May Need a Bottom

2009-11-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

This video will show you how to help AVOID SERIOUS INJURY to your guinea pigs. Most people do not consider this factor when buying or building their C&C cages. See why not having a cage bottom may spell serious disaster to your pigs (and possibly your carpet) in certain common situations.

Guinea Pigs – Are You a Good Candidate for a Guinea Pig Owner?

2009-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Guinea pigs are wonderful pets with great dispositions. They require little maintenance and make terrific pets for older children. But guinea pigs are not for everyone. Here are just a few factors to think about before running down to your favorite animal shelter or pet store to pick one up.

Guinea pigs do not do particularly well living alone. They are social creatures who crave the company of others. Consider the lifestyles and personalities of you and your family. Will your new addition be truly integrated into your family and get lots of attention—not just in the beginning when you first bring it home—but for its entire life? Or will it be largely ignored and become “just an obligation” once the initial novelty has worn off? Or, if you cannot give it enough attention, are you willing to house two or more pigs together so that they can keep each other company?

With the joys of pet ownership also comes responsibility. Are you willing to commit to long-term care and feeding for your new pet for its entire life? Guinea pigs on average, live five to six years - and some can live as long as eight years. So remember, when you bring home a guinea pig, you are bringing home another living being. And ultimately, you will be the one responsible for its health and safety for the remainder of its life.

Are you emotionally strong enough to suffer the loss of your pet in the future? As I said earlier, guinea pigs typically live about five to six years. While this may be a long time in terms of making a commitment to your animal; it is a relatively short time in relation to the life span of you or your children. In other words, as indelicate as it sounds, it is likely that you will someday have to watch your pet die.

This is neither bad nor good - it’s just life. However, it can be a good learning experience for your family in terms of learning how to handle death and loss in a healthy way. But it can also be a very unpleasant and difficult time.

Our family has owned many pets from guinea pigs to rabbits to dogs. We’ve had fish, snails, mice and even frogs. And, inevitably, we have sadly lost many pets. Over the years, the woods in our backyard have become a small pet graveyard. But on the whole, those pets have all contributed so much more to our family during their lifetimes than they ever took away with their deaths. For us, the positives far outweighed the ultimate negative of pet ownership.

On the other hand, my sister-in-law was devastated by the death of her ferret. So much so that she vowed never to own another pet again. For her, the negative overwhelmed the positives. Which type of person (or family) are you? You should know before you bring home a guinea pig.

Bringing home a new pet is exciting – but it also implies a serious commitment. Are you willing to spend time with your pet and give it the attention that it needs? Are you willing to commit to this stewardship for the entire life span of your new animal? And are you emotionally prepared to handle the inevitable bad times that come with the good experiences that your guinea pig will provide? If you can say yes to all of these questions, then you are a good candidate for a guinea pig owner. Enjoy.

How to Make a C&C Guinea Pig or Rabbit Cage Chew-Resistant

2009-11-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Is your guinea pig or rabbit chewing your C&C cage - or are you concerned that they might? See how to make your C&C guinea pig or rabbit cage chew-resistant in this informative DIY (Do-it-yourself) video.

Guinea Pigs – A Quick-Start Guinea Pig Owners Guide

2009-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

So you’ve just brought your new guinea pig home from the shelter or pet store. And now, you’re not entirely sure what to do. Let us help you get off to a good start with this Quick-Start Guinea Pig Owners’ Guide.

First of all, if you’ve just returned from the shelter or pet store with a single pig, we strongly recommend that you turn right around and go back. Guinea pigs are social creatures and tend to do better when there are at least two pigs living together. Two females are a good combination. Two males can live together in harmony as long as they have been raised together. And while it is possible to introduce two grown males to each other, it does require patience and care. A male and a female are the very best combination, but of course one of them needs to be “fixed” in order to avoid a future in-cage population explosion.

Your first task is to choose a cage. Pet store cages tend to be too small to adequately house a single pig – not to mention multiple pigs. Use the following guidelines when choosing a guinea pig enclosure:

One guinea pig: 6-7 sq. ft.

Two guinea pigs: 7.5 sq. ft.

Three guinea pigs: 10.5 sq. ft.

If you cannot find one large enough at the pet store, you can always build your own cage or buy one online from a reputable cage seller. In recent years, C&C (Cubes and Coroplast ) cages have become quite popular because they provide a lot of cage for the money. Check out the resource box and the end of this article for a link to some online C&C guinea pig cage stores.

Place a nest box, a piece of PVC pipe or other enclosure inside the cage. Pigs like to hide out in cozy little places and providing a hiding place inside the cage will make your pigs feel happier and more secure.

Never place your pigs in an aquarium. Yes, some people do house their pigs in an aquarium, but it is very bad for their respiratory system. Toxic ammonia gas forms as your pigs urinate inside the enclosure. In a wire cage, there is adequate ventilation to carry this gas away. However, in an aquarium the ammonia gas is contained by the glass walls forcing your pigs to breathe it in all day long.

Fill the cage with bedding. Avoid cedar chips and cat litter made from clay. Both are very bad for your guinea pig’s respiratory system. A litter made from recycled newspaper works very well. Also, many people have begun to line their cages with an absorbent material covered in fleece. The fleece allows liquids to wick through into the absorbent layer.

In general, Timothy hay is very good for you pigs. Your pigs can have it in virtually unlimited quantities. Alfalfa hay should be given much more sparingly. Alfalfa hay is richer and will cause your pigs to gain excessive weight.

While, commercial pellets are fine for your guinea pigs, however, they are also very rich and should be given in small quantities as a supplement to the main diet which should consist mostly of fresh vegetables and fruits. Only vegetables with rich dark colors should be chosen. Iceberg lettuce should never be fed to your pigs; it is mostly empty calories with little nutritional value.

Don’t forget to install a water bottle in your pig’s cage. Water dishes do not work well – as pigs tend to tip them over.

Above all, don’t panic. Guinea pigs are wonderful animals and do not require an excessive amount of care. Remember that guinea pigs do better in pairs or groups than living alone. Be sure to provide adequate living space. C&C cages are a popular choice nowadays because they do provide a lot of room for a reasonable price. Provide a comfortable hiding place for your pigs – many nest boxes are available for guinea pigs. An upside-down small cardboard box works well too (although guinea pigs like to chew so you may have to replace it often). Feed your pig mostly deep-colored fresh veggies and provide a water bottle. That’s all you need to get started.

To learn more, pick up a good guinea pig reference guide - visit http://www.bluestonecages.com/ and see the left sidebar for a link to a couple quality guinea pig care guides.

BlueStoneCommerce C&C Guinea Pig Cages

Guinea Pigs and the MLB (Major League Baseball) Playoffs

Guinea Pigs Cannot Live Solo - It's the law

If your'e looking for a guinea pig in the Arizona area...

Rodents of Unusual Size

Guinea Pigs Give Back

News Flash - Last 2x4 Colonial Cavy Cage GONE!!!

Is the Cavy Cage you want still in stock?

You should never let your guinea pig outside of their cavy cage...

HURRY! Choose your Cavy Cage before they're all picked over...

Only a FEW DAYS LEFT of full guinea pig cage selection...

Who's going to take care of the 5 pigs in the big guinea pig cages at home?!!!

Safety First! Guinea Pig-Proofing Your Home

Sorry - another Guinea Pigs Cages test post

Keep your pigs from getting injured! Your C&C cages for guinea pigs may SO need a bottom!

Here's a reminder - don't get caught without a cage...

When are big guinea pig cages ABSOLUTELY necessary? When you have...

Cages for Guinea Pigs - This one is a really interesting and unique guinea pig habitat...

OTHER PEOPLE's cages for guinea pigs - Good ideas / bad ideas

Communicating with Cages for Guinea Pigs

Autumn is the season to think about new cages for guinea pigs

How to organize cages for guinea pigs - watch this video...

Ya - What big guinea pig cages you'd need to house THESE guys...

Are big guinea pig cages as large as a Volkswagon?

WARNING! C&C cage shortage scheduled for October 7, 2010...

WARNING!!! Mr. & Mrs. BlueStoneCommerce Going to Hawaii

If you have a particular guinea pig cage model in mind, or a particular option…You have until Oct 6, 2010 to order.

Click on this LINK--> Money-Saving Guinea Pig Cage Special Offer

Are our guinea pigs spoiled?

The BlueStoneCommerce guinea pig roster...

Are your guinea pigs hiding in their cavy cages because they're afraid of aliens?

I absolutely dread, hate, DESPISE doing this guinea pig task...

Did you know skin tumors are kind of common in guinea pigs?

Yah - Our guinea pigs don't know how to drive either...

Maybe big guinea pig cages can bring out the star in your cavy...

If your guinea pig habitats are too small, your pigs won't be able to play "Eye Spy" - like these guys...

See why outdoor guinea pig habitats are not the best idea...

BlueStone guinea pig habitats - we demand safety - just like Buttercup...

This is why we do what we do...

One of the big guinea pig cages - but interesting for TWO OTHER reasons...

I bet Sheila could find guinea pig cages for sale...

Even the best Cavy Cage might not be able to hold a pig in this condition...

SO much more than rodent cages...

Desperate need for BIG Guinea Pig Cages

Did you know you can get TWO YEARS for cruelty fo your guinea pig?

Definitely DO NOT try this at home...

What if cages for guinea pigs had stereos in them?

C&C Cages for Guinea pigs

What do Beef, fish, Winnebagos have to do with Cages for guinea pigs?

People are amazed at the size of these guinea pig cages for sale...

Of Husbands and Other Rodents

I know it's in bad taste to laugh at this, but...

Bugs on the windshield? See how these two guinea pigs deal w a similar issue...

Two pigs escape guinea pig cage and drive away in Winnebago...

Teach Your Guinea Pig to Do Tricks

C&C Cages for Guinea Pigs - What are they?

Interested in Big Guinea Pig Cages? Here's a really BIG one...

Cages for Guinea Pigs - Pet Store vs C&C

Cages for Guinea Pigs - Pet Store vs C&C

Big Guinea Pig Cages or Exercise - One or the Other

Untitled

Untitled

Cavy Cages — How to Build a C&C Cage

Guinea Pig Cages for Sale - We've reached Number 1000!

Cages for Guinea Pigs — Why are People so Excited About C&C Cages?

Rodent Cages – No Place for Our Guinea Pigs

Cavy Cages - A Question About Coroplast

C&C Cavy Cage - A Lot of Cage for the Money

Cavy Cages – Modern Technology Comes to DIY Guinea Pig Cages

Cages for Guinea Pigs – How to Choose One

Cages for Guinea Pigs – Should I Buy that Cage at the Pet Store?

Guinea Pig Supplies – Which Bedding Do You Choose?

BlueStoneCommerce Guinea Pig Supplies Video Links

Guinea Pig Supplies – Selecting a Water Bottle

Guinea Pig Supplies—Why a Nest Box is Necessary

Guinea Pig Supplies—Hey! Hay for Cavies Explained

Guinea Pig Supplies—The Top Seven Items You Will Need to Care for Your Cavy

Guinea Pig Supplies—What You Need to Get Started

Guinea Pig Cages – How to Build a C&C Cage

What if Your Guinea Pig Grew Up to Be Larger Than Your Refrigerator?

If you have a particular guinea pig cage model in mind, or a particular option…
You have until Oct 6, 2010 to order.