EE Skinny pig and small animal thread; Exotics welcome

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I have questions about skinny pig/guinea pig care so here's a thread for that including all small pets and lizards, frogs if desired. My current quest is turning the skinny pig cage over from a paper litter based cage to fleece. So I will need at least a couple fleece liners for the floor of the cage and an unknown number of pee pads.

Has anyone done this? Skinny pigs pee and poop more than regular guinea pigs because they eat more to maintain their temp because very little hair. I was going to start with maybe a 4pk of pee pads, but now I am wondering if that might only give me half a week, instead of a full week b4 laundry.

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This is not him but looks somewhat like him. Moonshadow is a full adult boar (male).

[empress of self-improvement]

I have not done the fleece myself but if you're on Instagram or Tik Tok, there is a girl, kats guinea pigs, who does all fleece and she has info.
My pigs all used Yesterday's News because my first one was allergic to the cedar shavings. She was the most high maintenance wench ever! But she was my baby although she's been gone for 17 years.

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Dec 26, 2021 9:47:12 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I have not done the fleece myself but if you're on Instagram or Tik Tok, there is a girl, kats guinea pigs, who does all fleece and she has info.
My pigs all used Yesterday's News because my first one was allergic to the cedar shavings. She was the most high maintenance wench ever! But she was my baby although she's been gone for 17 years.

Growing up, our guinea pigs were on newspaper. That's not usual now, and I don't get a regular paper. Plus, the local one I get monthly has too many color pages. Not good for pigs or lizards. 

The issue with the fleece is the initial expense, plus laundering, as I have to use a laundry room. If I had my own W/D, I would have switched already. 

[empress of self-improvement]

The pet store had some sort of soft fluffy bedding at one point. I don't know if they still do. Yesterday's News is a brand. I tried regular newspaper but that pain in my butt kept tracking ink all over me.

[empress of self-improvement]

Fleece can be bought on clearance. Check out the Insta, she has some good info.

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Ah, sorry, did not realize that was a brand. I've used Critter Care (Walmart) and Care Fresh mostly. I'm tired of it being tracked everywhere. If I go to fleece, I'll only have to deal with hay bits.

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Dec 26, 2021 10:01:38 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Fleece can be bought on clearance. Check out the Insta, she has some good info.

Thanks, I'm not going to sew though. I've been looking at various Etsy sellers.

I suppose it might work in the short term though. The one piece I have has to air dry, after washing and some drying. I could just double up a piece of fleece for a day.

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 26, 2021 10:05:03 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 26, 2021 10:01:38 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Fleece can be bought on clearance. Check out the Insta, she has some good info.

Thanks, I'm not going to sew though. I've been looking at various Etsy sellers.

I suppose it might work in the short term though. The one piece I have has to air dry, after washing and some drying. I could just double up a piece of fleece for a day.

Believe me, I wasn't thinking about sewing. They sell those cheap ass make your own fleece blanket kits which would probably would work. I think they just entail knotting up ends or something. Never actually paid attention. Oh. Maybe try those bed pads for people. They have ones that are washable , I have 2, and they work. Used to use them when I let mine out so they wouldn't pee on me. Not that it always worked but it's the thought that counts, I guess. They can be washed in the sink or shower.

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I don't want to do a blanket kit, he'll just chew the edges and make a mess of it. At worst, he might ingest the fleece or ties.

I just measured the interior of the cage he is in. It is not a traditional cage. If I had the rack built again, he'd actually go into the cage that needs repairs on the top, which would be roughly 3' x 4' exterior. He is in the one that is split. His interior dimensions are 21.5" x 33.5". Not the best since he's now full grown, but what I've got now. (No real room for a Midwestern cage even if I had one. The other side of this cage houses a crested gecko.)

Here's the high end of guinea pig liners IMO. I have one I purchased before the admin fired me from my job and I was trying to set up the cage for easy care while I was gone for a 90th birthday. Most Etsy sellers using batting in the middle of the pee pads, but both sides are fleece. The water proof layer is a huge plus for me, because cleaning up pee that dries on the floor, is time consuming at best. I currently have a hybrid system with my paper litter, that I use 8x11 paper in layers, that has been printed on that I plan to toss. 

guineadad.com/products/guineadad-liner-add-ons?variant=21227239571545

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This is one example of liners from an Etsy store.


www.etsy.com/listing/712779251/ready-to-ship-2x3-28x42-cc-cage-liners?click_key=feac9291c1f14937c1ed58cee1916dd8c24882db%3A712779251&click_sum=28af22a0&ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1&crt=1&sts=1

2x3 C&C Cage liners are designed to fit the grid cages measuring 28"x42".



Liners are made from 2 layers of quality fleece with a highly absorbent layer in the middle. The top layer is a printed fabric and the bottom is either a corresponding solid color OR another print (double sided print liners will be noted on pictures). These liners ARE REVERSIBLE! A stitch is sewn a short distance from each edge to prevent bunching when washed.

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Guinea pig meme of the moment. Very true for mine.

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Test. Pic of skinny pig.


Failed.    Oh well, more to figure out.

[kadee79]

Some newspapers will sell roll ends of the paper...no print on it.  I used to get for something, can't remember what now...but that was a cheap way to go.  

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The fleece system seems to be quick, but I am using an old herptile cage to house him. Turns out the dimensions I ordered for the liner were correct, but my cage curves, unlike the Midwest cages and others I see on Etsy or YouTube.

All of this would be so much easier if I had my own laundry machines, lived in a house ...

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Skinny pig is happier on fleece although right now he is starting his early whining begging for his Romaine lettuce. 

I've been very unsuccessful at pushing his whining and greens feeding to lunch time. Will change over the fleece today. 

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This morning found a small bit in his cage. Moon Shadow apparently bit off bunny's tail. The tattered tag is still there. He had been using bunny as a stuffy shield to help block the entrance to his tree. Not sure why. I think I will need to launder bunny and perhaps put him in the garbage or a clothing bin. He's last more than two years I think, so that's something. I gave him another carboard toilet roll to chew on.

Wish I had the funds to give him the below. I think he needs to rip something to shreds. I'll see if I have any cardboard shoe boxes to sacrifice.

www.chewy.com/oxbow-timothy-club-tunnel-small/dp/123717
this is his tree, and its survived him fairly well.

www.chewy.com/kaytee-natural-tree-trunk-small/dp/131021