guinea pig toys
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Guinea Pig Toys
Toys are a great way to add to your guinea pigs daily activities and mental stimulation. In order to make the best use of toys, make sure that you have the basic ground work for fun and enjoyment planned out. Many people complain that their guinea pigs just sit in their cage all day without moving. Sometimes this is due to personality. Other times this can be caused by missing crucial components of your guinea pig’s lifestyle.
First of all, your guinea pig will need a cage large enough to accommodate your guinea pig, toys, supplies, and plenty of room to run around. The page we have set up on guinea pig cages should have all the information you need to get started on this. If there isn’t enough room to play in the cage, it is safe to say that toys will not fix the situation.
Do not forget that most guinea pigs are happiest with another playmate (just remember not to mix males and females unless you are looking for babies.) If you do decide to add a second guinea pig be sure to check out our page on guinea pig cages to estimate the correct cage size for two guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs need daily exercise outside of their cages. Most people say 30 min or so of time to run around in a safe environment works like a charm. Just make sure that you do not have long hanging strings, electrical cords, or spots where your guinea pig can hide and you cannot retrieve him or her.
Make sure your guinea pig has a safe hiding hut in his or her cage. Many guinea pigs are timid and need a hiding area in order to feel secure.
The Most Important Guinea Pig Toy: Hay!
Guinea pigs are happiest when they have something to chew all day. Hay is also extremely healthy and improves digestion. However, you may not know that guinea pigs also consider hay to be an excellent toy. Simply sprinkling a stack of hay into the middle of the cage can prompt your guinea pigs to start running around. Many guinea pigs also love to tunnel through hay. Just remember – buy timothy hay not alfalfa as you want something relatively low calorie.
Light for throwing: paper bags, toilet paper rolls, paper ball with treat inside, treats on string dangling from top of cage
Hiding: tunnels (PVC is good and cheap), shoebox, paper bag, other card board boxes with doors or holes cut out.
Snuggling: Guinea pig cozies. These are basically sleeping bags for guinea pigs. Small stuffed animals are also sometimes enjoyed.
Climbing: Bricks – inexpensive AND have the bonus of wearing your guinea pig’s nails down naturally. Just make sure you do not stack them up high as you always want to prevent injury from falls.
Rolling: Old socks rolled into a ball, tennis balls, etc.
Playing: Mirrors of various sizes. Make sure these are hung outside the cage as they may not be pet safe.
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