The ABCs of C&C Cages
Your guinea pigs might enjoy "helping" you build your C&C cage during floor time.
Many cages you will find in pet stores or online are simply much too small to comfortably house a guinea pig. Guinea pigs need space to run and play, and will be unhappy and bored in a small cage. Since guinea pigs are social animals, your guinea pig will most likely share a cage with a companion. Two guinea pigs need plenty of space to prevent quarreling and frustration.
A large, spacious cage that is well-ventilated is a must. The best guinea pig cage will allow easy interaction between you and your guinea pigs without bars or awkward doors getting in the way.
What’s the solution, you ask? The cage that easily fits these requirements is a C&C cage. If you’re unfamiliar with this fantastic type of cage, please visit Guinea Pig Cages. They are customizable to your space requirements, easy to build, and are extremely affordable if you play your cards right. These cages are truly phenomenal, but sometimes it can be a little confusing to make sense of how to go about buying supplies, choosing the size, and building the cage. My hope is to quell the confusion and help you understand how it works.
First, consider size. Your guinea pig needs plenty of space. You will need to decide how large your cage will be before you can set it up in style. You’ll also need to consider where you’ll put the cage and if the cage will fit in your selected area. Keep in mind that each cubes is 14 inches square.
| Number of Guinea Pigs | Absolute Minimum | Personal Preference |
|---|---|---|
| One Guinea Pig | 2×3 | 2×4 (or larger) |
| Two Guinea Pigs (Female + Female Pair) | 2×3 | 2×5 (or larger) |
| Two Guinea Pigs (Male + Male Pair) | 2×4 | 2×5 (or larger) |
| Three Guinea Pigs | 2×5 | 2×6 (or larger) |
Please note: 2×3 does not mean two feet by three feet; instead, it refers to the length in width in grid numbers. For example, a 2×3 is two grids wide and three long, with each grid being 14 inches square.
Before you build your cage, you’ll need to plan a few things:
How big will your cage be? Going beyond the minimum requirements will ensure a healthy and happy guinea pig.
What about location – where will the cage be placed around your home? The area should be naturally well-lit but not in direct sunlight and in an area where there is plenty of not-too-noisy traffic. Temperatures should not go below 65 degrees and not above 75 degrees. Typically good locations include living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and wide hallways. The kids’ bedroom is usually a poor choice for the location of the cage because it is much easier to forget about your guinea pig when the cage is tucked away and out of sight.
Once you have planned out the size and location of your cage, you now need to purchase supplies. There are many different sources of C&C cage supplies, but it will depend on your cage size where you should purchase the grids and connectors.
If you are building a 2×3 C&C cage, this set from Bed Bath & Beyond has enough cubes and connectors and will still leave you with seven extra grids. If your cage is larger than a 2×3, you will have to connect the cubes with zip/cable ties. This set has enough cubes for a 2×6 but only enough connectors for a 2×3. You can buy multiple boxes to form larger cages as well.
Seville Classics is another option. You can go one of two ways here. First, you can buy separate cubes and separate connectors. Second, you can buy the starter kit with cubes and connectors included together. In order to successfully buy from Seville Classics, you must know exactly how many connectors and cubes you’ll need:
| Size | Cubes | Connectors |
|---|---|---|
| 2×3 | 10 | 20 |
| 2×4 | 12 | 24 |
| 2×5 | 14 | 26 |
| 2×6 | 16 | 32 |
Do not mix different brands of cubes or connectors, as the connectors are usually only compatible with the same brand of cubes.
You’ll also need coroplast to build your cage. Coroplast is a corrugated type of plastic that is lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. You will need to cut it to size with a razor blade or box cutter. You will also score and fold up the sides to form the topless box that will be the base of the cage. The connected cubes will form an enclosure around the coroplast box. One sheet is eight feet long and four feet wide, so be prepared with an SUV and someone strong to help you roll up the sheet for transport. If you are asked for thickness, 4 mm does the job. It comes in many colors and is available at sign shops. You can get it cheapest straight from the sign shop distributor. A 4’ x 8’ sheet is enough for a cage size 2×6 or smaller.
Before you go shopping for coroplast, call around and ask about prices. Be sure to explain it is for a C&C cage for guinea pigs. Ask about any slightly damaged or unusable pieces they don’t want. Remember to have your measurements in mind when you pick up your coroplast so you are sure you’ll have enough to build the bottom for your cage.
Ready to start building? Visit Guinea Pig Cages to begin.
Good luck building your C&C cage!
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In Australia, you get the Ibex cubes from Bunnings, they are located in the storage aisle, with the plastic modules aisle. Sadly you only get 5 grids but heaps of connectors, and it costs $13 per pack.
There are several corflute suppliers, and some will even give it to you for free if they have scraps.
Just wondering how you go about making one of these with a top? We need a top over our pets, to keep the cat away.
Sturdy lids can be made out of closet shelving. You can find out more on http://guineapigcages.com/safety.htm (scroll down to the bottom, and there’s a couple of galleries with ideas on how to make enclosed cages).