Guinea pig In a 29g?

I have a 29 gallon that's currently filled as a fish tank, but I was wondering if I could use it for something besides fish. Like a Guinea pig.. If this is possible, I was planning on putting a platform in the Middle with stairs leading to it to allow more room. I also have a few more questions.
1- Is this plan ok?
2- Can they roam around the house without a hamster ball type thing? (Being monitored of course)
3- Can they be house trained? (I know it sounds like a silly question)
If all of the above is a yes, The plan is to only put him/her in the cage at night, and when she/he is not able to be monitored. (Is this also ok?)
All other advise is welcome as I he never owned a Guinea pig or hamster before. (Best bedding to use, toys, etc.)
If its not possible to have a Guinea pig, how about 3(?) Robot dwarf hamsters?

 

1 ) Guinea pigs should not be in a glass box at all, not to mention that is way too small. The best habitat for guinea pigs is actually making one out of those wire shelf cubes, 2 by 3 grid for one guinea pig. Here is a great site on that:



check out their forums too.

2) Hamster balls are really bad for their health, so I wouldn't get one of those anyways. You will need to completely guinea pig proof your house if this what you want to do. No open cords, wires, toys, rugs, nothing they can chew on.

3) They can be potty trained, but not all of them. Completely up to the guinea pig.

I also would not put a hamster in a glass box either. You could do something like a reptile such as anole, or leopard gecko.

 

A 29 gallon would make a good home for a guinea pig. Just make sure it's a good swimmer

 

a 29 gallon would make a good home for a guinea pig. Just make sure it's a good swimmer

lol!

 

Had a few hamsters as a kid always managed to escape by climbing out the top of wire cages they could open the hatch, then I got an acrylic cage stopped the mess around the cage and they couldn't climb out best purchase for a hamster but agree too small for a guinea pig

 

So this 29 gallon would be fine for dwarf hamsters?
(If yes) then I have the same questions..
For #2 would it be better if they went around my room (no longer entire house due to their small size) in a hamster ball? Or could I let them roam free (around my room, supervised)?
Also, how many could I get?

 

Again I disagree with putting hamsters in a fully enclosed glass box of any kind. They and guinea pigs are susceptible to upper respiratory infections, that is why they need air flow in their habitats. It's also why those hamster balls are more like death balls. I wouldn't let a hamster roam free at all even if just contained to one room, they are destructive can chew into walls then hide and well die.

another ideal would be a tarantula or maybe do some type of fire newt or frog.

 

Take clk89's advice. I learned it the hard way. Please don't subject another creature to death or misery.

 

I think I'll just stick with the fishes then
Thanks for the help.

 

You know you could do rats if you put this on top of the tank:



Rats love to climb and are super sweet animals for pets.

 

No problem!

I used to have a RoboskI hamster... She was so tiny and adorable. We got her a very large 3 story house and there were tubes for her to go up and down in. She was so small.... We let her free roam the house in a hamster ball, but the hamster ball had holes in it to let air through. The cats would chase her around in her hamster ball but of course under supervision. She died of an eye infection. In my mom's hands. While I was at school. My dad picked me up from school and told me the news. In a very dadish way. Haha But seriously. I was 6. We buried her and she remains under the grass in my backyard to this day

 

No problem!

I used to have a RoboskI hamster... She was so tiny and adorable. We got her a very large 3 story house and there were tubes for her to go up and down in. She was so small.... We let her free roam the house in a hamster ball, but the hamster ball had holes in it to let air through. The cats would chase her around in her hamster ball but of course under supervision. She died of an eye infection. In my mom's hands. While I was at school. My dad picked me up from school and told me the news. In a very dadish way. Haha But seriously. I was 6. We buried her and she remains under the grass in my backyard to this day

Awe sorry to hear that story fisharegreat. I use to love the pocket pets like hamsters, rats, and guinea pigs. I just don't like that they don't live very long their life span is about five years. I've buried many, and dealt with mites, infections, as tumors. It's why I want a chinchilla or bunny who can live as long as a dog.

 

Awe sorry to hear that story fisharegreat. I use to love the pocket pets like hamsters, rats, and guinea pigs. I just don't like that they don't live very long their life span is about five years. I've buried many, and dealt with mites, infections, as tumors. It's why I want a chinchilla or bunny who can live as long as a dog.

I'm trying to convince my parents to let me get a ferret or two, cuz I know that they live long, but I'm getting a new tank and fish for my birthday sooooooooooo I can't ask. Hehe

 

More thinking,
What is the biggest lizard I can keep in this tank?
Could I keep a chameleon?
I was actually looking for something that I could hold without the fear of being bitten (tarantula)
I was looking at ball pythons, would one of these be ok? (Mom will probably say no, so also answer other question )

 

A chameleon will work a bearded Dragon will work. A ball python will get too big

 

A bearded dragon will not work nor will a chameleon. A chameleon usually needs a taller area to climb, and bearded dragon gets huge. Bearded dragons are like the common pleco of the reptile world start off tiny, then grow huge and often end up unhealthy due to too small of a habitat.

The biggest reptile I would recommend is a leopard gecko. I actually have a leopard gecko so if you need info. on proper care let me know.

 

No, I've decided (again) that I'm going to stick with my fish
I actually just got two ferrets, so I'm probably not going to get anything else anytime soon

 

What about frogs (not sure what type) you could put a small water feature in and have a few fish with them if the tank is tall enough? Just another idea. . .

 

No, I've decided (again) that I'm going to stick with my fish 
I actually just got two ferrets, so I'm probably not going to get anything else anytime soon 

Awe I'm sorry. I feel like I just keep shooting down your ideals. I hope you have fun with your ferrets.

 

Its fine, I want the very best I can give for my pets
Thank you I really hope I enjoy them.. So far they are great. They love being petted and don't mind being held, so they're perfect.
I hope your parents let you get these fun little furry creatures Fisharegreat You won't regret it.

 

No, I've decided (again) that I'm going to stick with my fish 
I actually just got two ferrets, so I'm probably not going to get anything else anytime soon 

JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want ferrets so badly.............. My parents even used to have ferrets. It's like they're taunting me.

 

All my hamsters and gerbils have been in glass tanks or plastic tubs. Never had a problem even when allowing for dust bathing. However, I go for floor space which means it also gives more wire lid area per height. If you want to give height then a 20 long has the same footprint as a 29 and put a topper on it so they have more air circulation and can still dig in the bottom. With petco's $1/g sales my gerbil cages have been getting upgraded. Love the 40 breeders and they cost less than a "gerbil habitat" or those little plastic cages with bars that your hamster will be squished in and your gerbil will chew out of. The tops aren't overly expensive but we build our own. Getting home depot to cut it all so it's just a couple mins with a staple gun and slide the lid on. Beyond that it's just a space issue then since I have 8 gerbil clans.

My guinea pigs are also in solid sided cages but they are open top and 24-30" wide with the smallest being 30x30" and that's pretty much been downgraded to emergency use. I have seen glass enclosed guinea pigs that remained healthy for years but again we're talking more like a 40 gallon breeder or a custom plexiglass design so there is far more surface area than depth and may be specially drilled for increased air flow. My chinchillas are all in wire cages with custom metal pans to replace the plastic ferret ones and wood ledges, long shelves, and houses that they spend more time on than the floor. Chinchilla fur does not handle moisture buildup at all and their respiratory systems are almost as sensitive as a bird.

 

when you say you're sticking to fish, do you mean fish? or aquatic pets? because you could make an awesome adf or African clawed frog tank, or even a really cool shrimp habitat in the 29 gal. can we see pictures of the ferrets???? I bet they're adorable!!! you're so lucky!!

 

I know your question has already been answered, but just to add on- guinea pigs need a minimum cage size of 7.5 square feet. The preferred cage size for 2 guinea pigs is 10.5 square feet. It's not recommended to house them alone.
Some guinea pigs are unable to get along with other guinea pigs (a VERY small number of guinea pigs have this problem when properly introduced), but generally they should at least be housed in pairs. This means a large cage with room to run, a constant supply of hay, and double everything. 2 bowls, water bottles, houses.
They should be fed pellets and fresh veggies 1-2 times a day.

 

Wouldn't the minimum size be in cubic feet?

 

Wouldn't the minimum size be in cubic feet?

Glad that's what you took from my post.

 

Glad that's what you took from my post.

No need for the attitude! I was just wondering if it's just a foot print thing or is there a hight requirement, and if so what?

 

No need for the attitude! I was just wondering if it's just a foot print thing or is there a hight requirement, and if so what?

Most people use C & C cages because they're fairly cheap and easy to build, plus you can make just about any size and shape. Each grid used for C & C cages is 14 inches.
Some owners make a top for the cage, but it's not necessary. 14 inches is adequate to keep guinea pigs in. (The exception being if a male can smell/sense a female nearby- I have heard of them escaping in these cases)

Here's a link to more info: https://www.guineapigcagesstore.com/about-candccages

 

You could just use the 29 gallon as a fish tank! Perhaps get fish you never had before. We could and would help with your stocking for more interesting fish.

 

You could just use the 29 gallon as a fish tank! Perhaps get fish you never had before. We could and would help with your stocking for more interesting fish.

Could an axolotl live in a 29? I'm not sure if OP has any interest in them but that would be pretty cool if so.

 

The sq ft per guinea pig was started as a matter of opinion laid down by one group who has taken over most of the forums. It is not the USDA requirement, far less common on other media sources, and many people keep them in many different types of setups from slightly smaller cages to acres worth of outdoor runs. I find the way guinea pig and giant cuy (same species but more like 6-8lbs) are kept in other countries to be interesting as well as what's been taken and modified from those countries to work here in the US. Especially as we start to breed and import more and more of the giant cuy in the US.

Aside from the range of sizes I've seen wood slat floors done fine, most commonly seen in countries with bamboo as a regular building item, and I've seen wire floors and plastic poultry floor mesh made to work with no bumblefoot. I've heard of tons of problems with giving guinea pigs igloos or narrow opening houses to hide in and I've seen the many people who do it without an incident. I've tried a little of it all and am always tweaking.

I did not intend to state sizes as facts. I mentioned the various sizes only to show the increased open space compared to side height for air circulation and I applied it to the gerbils and hamsters as well. Air exchange is just too poor in something shaped like a 29g. Actually I don't even like them for fish unless running the venturI valve on a powerhead or a low water level with a lot of hob filter splash. Moisture buildup can happen easily in a tall versus wide enclosure. Moisture buildup can even be a problem in an open top 30x30" (6.25sq ft) with a pair or a small group of young ones if you have a humid climate and don't use something really absorbent underneath like pine pellets with other bedding or puppy pads and cotton for fabric lined cages. Aside from urine guinea pigs, somewhat chinchillas, and less so gerbils or hamsters can also be messy with their water bottles and get water in the bedding under them.

 

Agree! however for pets especially when it comes to small animals you want to provide the biggest. Guinea pigs which are social animals are herders and stuff they travel together which is why you want them to have more room not only for their well being but with a larger cage your able to add more toys and watch them roam around. I own a dwarf hamster and I have him in a bin cage the size of a 40 breeder. Most people do not know that hamster in the wild naturally travels miles at night.

 

I think our pets should have more then just the bear minimum of space. Unfortunately, not all of us have big enough homes for that.

 

Agree! however for pets especially when it comes to small animals you want to provide the biggest. Guinea pigs which are social animals are herders and stuff they travel together which is why you want them to have more room not only for their well being but with a larger cage your able to add more toys and watch them roam around. I own a dwarf hamster and I have him in a bin cage the size of a 40 breeder. Most people do not know that hamster in the wild naturally travels miles at night.

Yep, I have my dwarf hamster in the same setup. They need a lot more room than people realize. The cages they sell at pet stores barely have enough room for a house, food bowl and wheel.

 

Sense this is no longer about Guinea pigs, I made a new thread

 

The thing is if you can't provide the best for your pets and can only provide the bare minimum then rethink about getting the pet. With many small animals people think that the wheel is all they need but don't for get many rodents burrow and scavenge so you should have at least 5 inches if bedding