Can i put my guniea pig in a 10 gallon tank.

Question

I think it migh be to small but if i play with it alot maybe not.

Answer 1

Absolutely not! That is nothing short of abuse!

Firstly, tanks are NOT suitable for guinea pigs. The glass tends to cause high temperature and humidity - which are unhealthy. And the lack of ventilation causes a build up of toxic ammonia that will make your piggie very ill.

Guinea pigs should be housed in open cages - not any of the glass or plastic enclosed types.

Secondly - it is way too small. Have you ever seen a fully grown guinea pig? They are almost the size of the tank! A piggie would barely be able to move or turn around!

It would not be able to get any form of exercise, or have any company or toys.... in short it would be unfit, unhealthy, and miserable.

A single guinea pig needs at least 7.5 - 8 sq feet of floor space. However, they are a social species and need the company of their own kind. A pair of piggies should have 10.5 sq feet of space. I have 2 girls in a 13 sq foot cage and even that seems small.

Basically the cage needs to be big enough to physically hold the guinea pigs, plus one hidey per pig (eg a pigloo) and a few toys (eg tunnels to run through, cardboard boxes, etc), food and hay etc. And after all that - it still needs to have enough space left over for the piggies to move around freely, run laps and popcorn.

Consider this - most people think lab animals are housed in awful conditions... yet a 10 gal tank is too small to legally be used in a European laboratory!

Please do not underestimate the importance of proper housing.... It is well known, scientific FACT that too small, or barren (ie boring) cages cause a whole host of health and welfare problems.

These include:

Reduced fitness

Impaired immune response, and increased healing time

Muscular-skeletal disorders

Abnormal behaviour (eg stereotypies or depression)

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Hormonal changes (increased "stress" hormones (cortisol) and reduced "relaxed" hormones

Reduced learning ability and memory

Reduced lifespan!

Seriously, I would not keep a hamster on a 10 gallon tank - let alone a guinea pig!

I would seriously suggest a c+c cage. They are very cheap and really easy to make - and they are the best homes for guinea pigs.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/index.htm

Finally - all piggies need time out of their cage to explore etc.  But no amount of floor time makes up for a cage that is too small. Your guinea pig will spend almost all of its day - every day - in its cage - so it must be big enough for the animal to exercise, play and exhibit normal behaviours on its own terms.

Keeping a piggie in a 10 gal tank would be like you trying live (including toilet, eat and sleep) in a toilet cubicle!

Answer 2

no bad!

Answer 3

You should have a normal wired cage for your Guinea pig.  It's best for them to be able to jump up a bit and have a nibble on the bars.

Answer 4

i think that is too small, because i had two mice in a tank a that size (small feeder mice), and it was small for them.

So i'd say no.

Answer 5

yes , as long as its just one, but put some pine shavings or something over the glass where bit doesnt get to cold or hot

          p.s my mom owns a top amearican pet shop and thats what we keep most of ours in.

Answer 6

That's way too small, don't do that