Potty training?
Has anyone successfully trained a guinea pig to use a litter box in their cage? My Pumbaa is really good at using a litter box during floor time, and also good at signaling me to put him back in the cage to poop/pee when I have him out for lap time, so I'm wondering how possible it would be. He clearly has his favorite bathroom spots in the cage, but he also has a habit of pooping where he eats and while he walks around.
My two unpaired boars go wherever they happen to be, which with Scruffy is just about everywhere. Mr Bubbles has two main spots where he lays down to sleep and most of his business is done in those two spots, but if he has to go, he just does it where he's at. Sammy and Dean each have a corner picked out and do pretty much most of their business there. Litter box is a relatively loose term as far as guinea pigs go since cat litter should not be used with them, but I have heard of training them to use a flat pan or box lined with paper or something like that. I've never tried it and I wouldn't know how to do it or where to even start.
While it would certainly make things easier for me, I don't worry about cleaning up their messes. Hence it's not worth it to me to potty train mine. When I got guinea pigs, I took on a responsibility to care for them in every way they need me to, including that daily task. I don't mind cleaning their messes. Guinea Pigs are one of the least gross pets to clean up after. They never smell unless they are neglected.
While it would certainly make things easier for me, I don't worry about cleaning up their messes. Hence it's not worth it to me to potty train mine. When I got guinea pigs, I took on a responsibility to care for them in every way they need me to, including that daily task. I don't mind cleaning their messes. Guinea Pigs are one of the least gross pets to clean up after. They never smell unless they are neglected.
Oh well, wishful thinking.
Reno, our floor time litter box is a shallow plastic dishpan with Carefresh bedding in it (what we use in Pumbaa's cage). It's pretty amusing to see him run across the room and hop in to do his business, then hop out and go back to exploring.
Bpatters, I started off with fleece for my dearly departed sow, and she would only poop in the corners of the cage! I was totally spoiled. But after a couple of years of washing fleece, I'd had enough and switched to Carefresh - which she took as license to poop everywhere instead. It was nice while it lasted.
Reno, our floor time litter box is a shallow plastic dishpan with Carefresh bedding in it (what we use in Pumbaa's cage). It's pretty amusing to see him run across the room and hop in to do his business, then hop out and go back to exploring.
Bpatters, I started off with fleece for my dearly departed sow, and she would only poop in the corners of the cage! I was totally spoiled. But after a couple of years of washing fleece, I'd had enough and switched to Carefresh - which she took as license to poop everywhere instead. It was nice while it lasted.