CAGE SIZE The bigger the better. The area that you provide you cavy must be as spacious as possible. A large cage is considered the healthiest way to house your cavy. Cavies need at least 70 square centimetres of cage space or 7.5 square feet. This is the minimum requirement that is needed for a cavy. 76cm x 91cm of cage space is preferred to ensure your cavy remains healthy and happy. Male guinea pigs need at least 1 square metre of cage space, to prevent fights over territory. If your cage is too small it may be difficult for successful introductions. See graph below for cage size requirements: # of Guinea Pigs Cage Space in Cm Cage Space in Sqm One 76 x 91 0.7sqm Two 76 x 127 0.7sqm - 1sqm Three 76 x 157 1sqm - 1.2sqm Four 76x 193 1.2sqm - 1.3sqm Benefits of large housing Increase/Adequate Exercise: Guinea pigs regularly like to run and exercise according to their own body clock. Even with time outside of their cage a cavy will need to exercise in its own time. A large cage ensures this is possible, and your cavy will remain fit and healthy. Smaller cages limit exercise space and time. They do not provide ample space for exploration and laps. It is not possible within a small housing option to give your cavy the exercise it requires daily, only a large cage can provide this. Promotes Health: Cavies who receive regular exercise are less prone to obesity related issues such as , liver, heart and respiratory distress and disease. They are free to exercise within their own time and according to their own schedule. Boars will also be less prone to developing impaction problems. Numerous exotics vets agree that regular exercise is increasingly important to ensure and prevent problems related to impaction. By providing a large cage you are not only ensuring a fit and healthy cavy, but are preventing future health issues. Smaller cages do not promote a good health ethic for your guinea pig. Not only will cavies be increasingly susceptible to obesity related issues, but impaction problems as well. It is is in the best interests of your cavy to ensure it is housed in adequate and suitable living quarters. Ability to Express Natural Behaviour: Cavies need a large area to explore, pop corn, rumblestrutt, perform laps and this requires a certain degree of space. Smaller cages may enable a cavy to exhibit natural behaviour however it restricts the amount of movement that can be obtained and a cavy cannot express this behaviour to the extent as it would in a larger environment. Guinea pigs should be given the freedom to exhibit and effectively communicate with one another without having objects or walls preventing this or getting in their way. Boars also need a great deal of space to prevent fights. If your cage is too small there will be no room for boars to have ''time out'' from each other which could lead to injuries and blood shed. Boars must have a minimum 1 square metre in order to retain social interactions with each other peacefully. For the safety of you cavies it is vitally important that they be given a large area to work out who is the dominant cavy. This rule also applies to sows. Easier to Clean: A large cage is easier to clean than a smaller cage. In smaller environment mess is compacted into a tight area which can run the risk of ammonia building up, which can cause respiratory distress. Large cages provide owners with the ability to clean up mess effectively. Mess is not compacted resulting in cavies not walking through their own waste, which is unhealthy. Provides Mental Stimulation: Large cages can provide cavies with the space to play, popcorn, and not to be confined to a small boring environment. Small cages limit the amount of accessories you can add, you do not have the ability to change them around or add extra tunnels. Large housing provides owners with the adaptability of changing the inside of their cage and cavies are not faced with a confined space but the freedom to move around and play according to their own schedule. More Social:Happy healthy cavies are more social with their owners. They will interact more as they are comfortable with their own environment. You have decreased health issues as they are receiving the adequate amount of exercise within their cage, resulting in less frequent vet visits and bills.