Dutch rats are small animals that make fun and lively pets. Since guinea pigs spend a lot of time in their cages, it is important that you make sure that the cage you use is of the right size and is equipped with the necessary things, such as food, water, bedding and toys, to keep your guinea pigs happy and happy. You.
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Part 1 of 3: Choosing and Laying a Cage
Step 1. Consider the size of the cage to be used
In the United States, The Humane Society (a non-profit organization focused on animal welfare) noticed that most cages for guinea pigs sold in stores were too small. In fact, these cages are actually more appropriate to be used as cages for smaller animals, such as hamsters and gerbils.
- Unlike other animals, the Dutch rat needs more space than a room with a high roof. They need ample space to move and exercise to stay healthy.
- If the cage you use is too small, your guinea pig may feel bored and stressed. Just imagine if you have to live your whole life in a wardrobe, with very narrow space for activities and fun.
- The size of the cage that is too small is also associated with the emergence of certain health conditions. If the cage used is too small, chances are your guinea pig will develop pododermatitis (bruising on the joints of the hind legs) from sitting or standing for too long on dirty cage mats.
- If you have more than one guinea pig, it would be better if you buy a larger cage. In this way, each Dutch rat can have its own area.
- A larger cage can also provide convenience for you. Since each guinea pig will have a separate toilet area from the play or living area, the cage becomes easier to clean.
Step 2. Follow the guidelines for proper cage size
Generally, the recommended standard cage area for one guinea pig is 0.2 square meters. However, this size is still not enough because there is not enough room to meet the needs of the guinea pig, including a place to eat, a place to drink, a nest, and an area to defecate. Therefore, follow the following guidelines which provide more space and consider the number of guinea pigs to be placed in the cage:
- 1 Dutch rat - Cage with an area of 0, 7 square meters (minimum). It is recommended to use a larger cage. Try to use a cage with a size of 80 x 90 centimeters.
- 2 Dutch rats - Cage with an area of 0, 7 square meters (minimum). It is recommended to use a cage with an area of 1 square meter. Try to use a cage with a size of 80 x 130 centimeters.
- 3 Dutch rats - Cage with an area of 1 square meter (minimum). It is recommended to use a cage with an area of 1.2 square meters. Try to use a cage with a size of 80 x 150 centimeters.
- 4 Dutch rats - A cage with an area of 1, 2 square meters (minimum). It is recommended that you use a larger cage, measuring approximately 80 x 190 centimeters.
Step 3. Consider placing the cage in your home
The location of the cage placement is very important. For hygiene reasons, as much as possible do not place the cage in or near the kitchen. There are several factors you need to consider to determine the right place to put the cage, such as:
- Air temperature - Make sure your guinea pig is not exposed to extreme temperatures. Dutch rats don't like very cold, hot, or humid places and can get sick if they live in such places. The ideal air temperature for Dutch rats to live is between 19 to 24 degrees Celsius. Do not place the cage near a drafty area, such as a door or window, and place the cage in a high place.
- Owner activity - The guinea pig likes to be around the owner and his family members, and can get more attention if the guinea pig can be seen or heard easily by the owner. The living room can be a great place to put a cage, as long as you can make sure your guinea pig has a place to rest and hide if he needs some time to himself.
- Noise - Dutch rats have very sensitive hearing, so their cage should not be placed near radios or music players, televisions, or other sources of noise.
Step 4. Make sure the cage is in a safe place out of reach of children or other pets
Place the cage in a place where it's easy for you to monitor interactions between your child and the guinea pig, so your guinea pig doesn't escape or get hurt. Also, protect your guinea pig from other pets (especially cats and dogs) by placing them where they cannot reach them.
Step 5. Choose a safe place to put the cage, both inside and outside the house
Some people keep guinea pigs indoors, so that guinea pigs are ensured to be safe from extreme weather changes and predators. Meanwhile, there are also some people who keep Dutch rats in cages. If you want to keep guinea pigs indoors, try taking your guinea pigs outdoors regularly so that they get vitamin D, which is beneficial for healthy bones and teeth. If you keep them in an outdoor cage, make sure you check on them and interact with them daily, as guinea pigs need the attention of their owners on a daily basis. Bring your guinea pig into the house in case of extreme weather changes.
Also, keep in mind that the guinea pig is a sociable animal and can thrive better when it interacts with humans. Therefore, keeping guinea pigs outdoors can limit the possibility of socializing or daily interactions with their owners
Part 2 of 3: Providing Basic Needs
Step 1. Provide a cage mat for the Dutch rat cage
Don't use cedar or pine shavings as bedding, although both are widely available and sold as bedding for smaller animals. Both of these ingredients contain phenols that are harmful to the health of Dutch rats. Therefore, buy a cage base made of paper or straw. Both of these materials can retain heat, thus providing warmth for your guinea pig. Dutch rats also enjoy digging in their cages and making tunnels, so make sure you provide bedding that is about 5-8 centimeters thick. This way, the spilled water can be adequately absorbed (and your guinea pig can dig deeper holes or tunnels).
The guinea pig likes clean and dry bedding, so you need to change the bedding every week and remove any wet or soiled bedding every day
Step 2. Provide water for the guinea pig
To keep your guinea pig healthy and happy, make sure you provide clean and fresh water. In general, guinea pig drinking bottles can be a better choice of drinking water containers than water bowls because, apart from not being easily stepped on or overturned, the water will not easily get dirty with materials in the cage, such as food, cage mats, and the like..
- Try to use a 1 liter glass drinking bottle. You can also buy plastic bottles, which are easier to find and widely available at most pet stores. Hang the bottle on the outside of the cage, but make sure the end of the straw goes into the cage and is within reach of your guinea pig.
- Provide fresh water for your guinea pig to drink every day (even if the bottle is not completely empty). Wash the bottles once a week when you clean the cage. You can use a bottle brush to brush the inside of the bottle, especially if there are dirt or hard-to-remove particles. You can also use a cotton swab to clean the mouth of the bottle straw to prevent the straw from clogging.
Step 3. Place the food bowl in the cage
Like other animals, guinea pigs also need food to survive. If possible, use ceramic food bowls instead of plastic ones. Ceramic bowls are not easily tipped over or kicked, and are not easily damaged by being bitten by a Dutch rat. In addition, ceramic bowls are also more durable than plastic bowls.
- Choose a bowl that is wide and shallow so your guinea pig can place its front paws on the rim of the bowl. Generally, Dutch rats like to eat in such a position.
- For hygiene reasons, make sure the food bowl is placed away from the toilet area.
- Clean the food bowl as necessary if your guinea pig kicks the bedding into the bowl or soils it.
Step 4. Provide food in the cage
Although guinea pigs rarely overeat, you need to provide a balanced amount of pellets, hay and fresh vegetables.
- Straw - Straw (hay) is the main type of food for guinea pigs. Straw is the main source of fiber and can be used both as food and as bedding. Straw also helps smooth the digestive system of Dutch rats. Give your guinea pig fresh timothy hay, or orchard hay as an alternative.
- Pellets - To ensure your guinea pig gets all the nutritional requirements it needs, provide pellets that are specially manufactured for guinea pigs. Give a small amount of crushed pellets (all types of pellets are usually the same shape), about a teaspoon each day. Pellets should be given after you provide hay that can be chewed by the guinea pig to keep their teeth growing. If pellets are used as a type of food and the main source of calories, the teething of guinea pigs cannot be controlled or your guinea pigs may become obese. Try to buy pellets made from timothy hay, not alfalfa. Pellets like these usually contain added vitamin C. However, because the quality of vitamin C in pellets can decrease after the pellet package is opened, it is important for you to continue to supplement your guinea pig's vitamin C needs by providing vegetables that contain lots of vitamin C.
- Vegetables - Vegetables are a major source of vitamin C for guinea pigs and can provide additional nutrition. Giving vegetables helps diversify food choices and makes the guinea pigs enjoy their food more. Choose green leafy vegetables such as kale, Indian mustard, spinach, and romaine lettuce (a type of lettuce) because these types of vegetables contain lots of vitamin C. Other vegetable options that can be given are bell peppers, Brussels sprouts (brussel sprouts), carrots, cucumbers, peas, and tomatoes. You can also experiment and try to find out your guinea pig's favorite vegetables! However, keep in mind that some types of vegetables can cause excess gas in your guinea pig's digestive system, so they should only be given in small and occasional amounts. These types of vegetables, among others, are bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and collard greens.
- Fruits - Dutch mice love fruits! Try giving fruits that are high in vitamin C, such as cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwi, and papaya. However, because fruits contain a lot of sugar, give them in limited quantities and only a few times a week. Fruit should not be given more than 10% of your guinea pig's diet. Also, be careful if you give apples to guinea pigs because the acids in apples can sometimes cause allergic reactions (watch for bruising or scabs around your guinea pig's mouth).
Step 5. Make sure the food served is fresh
Since guinea pigs need a large amount of fresh food, you should keep checking their cage and removing any inedible or rotting food. It is recommended that you inspect the cage to see if there is any uneaten food about an hour after you put it in the cage.
Make sure you complete the nutritional needs of guinea pigs by providing pellets that are high in vitamin C. Because once the food packaging is opened, the quality of the vitamin C contained in the food begins to decline, it is important that you don't rely too much on formula food as a source of vitamin C for your guinea pigs. Also, make sure you check the pellet mill date. Discard any existing pellets if they have passed 3 months after the milling date
Step 6. Avoid feeding your guinea pig any other type of food
Some types of food can cause digestive problems in guinea pigs. One way to tell if a certain type of food is affecting your guinea pig is to watch if your guinea pig is passing too fine a stool, or even having diarrhea. In general, avoid giving dairy products, chickpeas, garlic, raw and dried beans, onions, potatoes, and rhubarb to your guinea pig.
- Avoid feeding chewy and sticky foods, such as peanut butter, as they can choke your guinea pig. In addition, the types of food that are at risk of choking guinea pigs are nuts and seeds.
- Avoid giving food with a sharp texture, such as crackers or chips, as these can hurt your guinea pig's mouth.
- Avoid feeding processed or fast food, including chocolate and candy.
- If you give your guinea pig a balanced amount of pellets, hay, fruits and vegetables, you don't need to give your guinea pig the treats that are usually sold in pet stores. However, if you want to give it a special treat, try mixing ground oats with pellets.
Step 7. Clean your guinea pig cage regularly
Every day, the dirty area must be cleaned immediately. Thorough cleaning of the cage should be done once a week.
- Every day, make sure you throw away uneaten food and provide fresh water. Also discard any uneaten pellets or any debris.
- Once a week, replace the soiled bedding and clean the cage thoroughly. Remove all items in the cage and brush the bottom of the cage with warm water. Make sure that all parts of the cage are dry before you put in the new bedding. Thorough cleaning of the cage, changing of the bottom of the cage, and brushing of the bottom of the cage should be done once a week, and make sure all parts of the cage are dry before you put in the new bedding.
Step 8. Make sure your pet guinea pig has friends
Dutch rats are basically social animals. In addition, keeping 2 guinea pigs is not much different from keeping 1 guinea pig.
- Keeping more than 2 guinea pigs will keep them from getting bored when you can't keep them company.
- The area of the cage required for 2 Dutch rats is the same as 1 Dutch rat, which is about 0.5-1 square meters.
- If you have friends, the Dutch rat will be more confident and easy to trust. In general, guinea pigs are easier to care for if they feel safe and are more confident.
Part 3 of 3: Providing Comfort and Entertainment
Step 1. Put some toys in the cage
A wooden block or cardboard box can be an interesting toy, because guinea pigs love to chew things. The guinea pig's teeth never stop growing, so by chewing on toys, the guinea pig's teeth can be maintained. Blocks of wood can be found in pet stores. When buying wooden blocks or other types of toys, make sure you are not buying wooden blocks or painted toys.
- You can also make your own toy for your guinea pig using items you have at home, such as paper bags, cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes of toilet paper, and so on.
- Make sure you only include large toys. Small toys are at risk of choking guinea pigs if they are swallowed.
- Provide a hammock for your guinea pig. Another great addition to your guinea pig cage is a small crib. You can find small cribs for guinea pigs at pet stores. While cribs are usually used for ferrets, cribs can also be used by guinea pigs. However, make sure you keep an eye on your guinea pig's activity after the crib is installed in the cage to make sure it's safe to climb on.
Step 2. Provide a hiding and solitary place for your guinea pig
You can put a small house or tunnel inside a guinea pig cage. Every guinea pig needs a place to shelter or hide. Some guinea pigs are very shy and prefer to hide under things and get some 'privacy'. Again, things like small houses or tunnels you can buy at pet supply stores, or you can make your own at home, to save money, of course.
For example, you can buy tubes or tunnels from pet supply stores. However, to save money, you can make your own using an empty can. Make sure you remove the can lips (both plastic and metal) from both ends, as well as any labels attached to the can. To make a small 'house', use a plain (unpainted) shoebox that is no longer used. Your guinea pig will love the house. If chewed, the little house will not harm his health
Step 3. Pour out lots of love and attention
Even if your guinea pig is in its cage, you should still pay attention to it. Dutch rats love to interact with humans. By pouring out love and care, you are helping your guinea pig to feel at home and comfortable in his cage.
- Interact with your guinea pig several times a day. It is important that you handle your guinea pig every day, and touch or rub it as often as possible. You can also take him out of the cage and let him run around in small spaces or other enclosed spaces. This can be an activity you can try to incorporate into your guinea pig routine. Make sure you only let your guinea pig run around in rooms that don't have small openings so your guinea pig doesn't escape or get lost. It's also important to keep an eye on your guinea pig so that he doesn't chew on things, including dangerous items like power cords or telephone wires.
- Because of its instinct as an animal that likes to socialize, the guinea pig will be happier if it can live with another guinea pig (or even more). If you want to make your guinea pigs have more friends, there's nothing wrong with having one more guinea pig.
Warning
- Make sure your guinea pig cage is spacious enough to accommodate the following four aspects: a place to hide, a place to eat, a place to pee, and a place to run around.
- Make sure your guinea pig doesn't chew or eat anything dangerous. Items that may cause choking should not be placed in the cage.
