# guineapigcage.com.au

> Independent guinea pig cage and housing guides for Australian owners. Sizes are in square metres and centimetres, prices in AUD, and advice is based on published welfare guidance (mainly RSPCA Australia). The site sells nothing, takes no commission and has not hands-on tested the products it lists; product picks are assessed from published specifications.

Key facts:
- A pair of guinea pigs needs at least 1 m² of flat, continuous floor. RSPCA Australia recommends an enclosure of at least 2 m × 0.5 m and 30 cm high for two guinea pigs, and says bigger is better.
- A 2 × 4 grid C&C cage (about 71 × 142 cm) gives about 1 m² of floor.
- Lofts, ramps and extra levels do not count toward floor space.
- Many pet-shop cages sold in Australia give only about 0.5 m² of floor, about half what a pair needs.
- RSPCA Australia notes guinea pigs can suffer heat stress from 24°C, so outdoor hutches need full shade and a heat plan.

## Tools
- [Guinea pig cage size calculator](https://guineapigcage.com.au/size-calculator/): floor space in m² for any group size, with an example C&C grid layout.
- [Best guinea pig cages in Australia, checked on paper](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/researched-picks/): 5 cages, pens and hutches sold in Australia, compared on floor area against RSPCA Australia guidance. Last checked 25 September 2026.
- [Guinea pig cage types compared](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/compare/): floor space, typical AUD price, cleaning effort and welfare rating by housing type.

## Cage guides
- [What size cage does a guinea pig need? Australian size guide](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/guinea-pig-cage-size-guide/): How much floor space guinea pigs need in square metres, by number of pigs. Based on RSPCA Australia guidance, with other welfare figures compared.
- [C&C guinea pig cages: a guide for Australian owners](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/c-and-c-cages/): What a C&C (cubes and Corflute) guinea pig cage is, what size to build, what it costs in Australia and where to buy grids and Corflute.
- [Indoor guinea pig cages, playpens and hutches compared](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/indoor-cages-pens-and-hutches/): Indoor guinea pig cages, playpens and hutches compared: which give a pair the 1 m² they need, and what to check before you buy in Australia.
- [Keeping guinea pigs outdoors in Australia: hutches, runs and safety](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/outdoor-hutches-and-runs/): How to keep guinea pigs safely outdoors in Australia: hutch and run size, shade, heat limits, foxes and snakes, and care through each season.
- [How to build a cheap DIY guinea pig cage (C&C) in an afternoon](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/diy-guinea-pig-cage/): Step-by-step instructions for a cheap 2 × 4 C&C guinea pig cage from storage grids and a Bunnings Corflute sheet, with a shopping list and measurements.
- [Cheap guinea pig cages in Australia that are still big enough](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/cheap-guinea-pig-cages/): The cheapest ways to get a properly sized guinea pig cage in Australia, comparing cost per m² for DIY C&C cages, playpens, joined cages and second-hand.
- [Guinea pig playpens: using a play pen as a cage or for floor time](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/guinea-pig-playpens/): How to choose a guinea pig playpen in Australia: panel, wire and fabric pens compared, working out floor area from panel count, flooring and safety tips.
- [Outdoor hutch for guinea pigs: an Australian buying guide](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/outdoor-guinea-pig-hutch-buying-guide/): What to check before buying an outdoor guinea pig hutch in Australia: real floor size, ramps, mesh, latches, timber, cleaning access and price ranges.
- [Lofts, ramps and two-storey guinea pig cages: are they safe?](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/guinea-pig-cage-lofts-and-ramps/): Are multi-level guinea pig cages a good idea? How to make lofts and ramps safe, what angle a ramp should be, and why loft space doesn't count toward your cage's floor size.
- [Can guinea pigs and rabbits live together in the same hutch?](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/can-guinea-pigs-and-rabbits-live-together/): Why RSPCA Australia advises against housing guinea pigs and rabbits together: injury, bullying, disease and diet. Plus what to do if yours already share a hutch.
- [Is my guinea pig cage too small? Signs and cheap ways to upgrade](https://guineapigcage.com.au/cages/is-my-guinea-pig-cage-too-small/): How to tell if your guinea pig cage is too small, how to measure it properly, and five cheap ways to upgrade a pet-shop cage without starting again.

## Care and setup guides
- [Setting up your first guinea pig cage: the step-by-step checklist](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/setting-up-your-first-guinea-pig-cage/): How to set up a safe guinea pig cage in Australia: where to put it, how big it should be, bedding, hides, hay, water and a daily care routine.
- [Keeping guinea pigs cool in an Australian summer](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/keeping-guinea-pigs-cool-in-australian-summer/): What temperature is too hot for guinea pigs? Danger temperatures, signs of heat stress, and practical ways to keep guinea pigs cool in an Australian summer.
- [The best bedding for guinea pigs in Australia](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/best-bedding-for-guinea-pigs-australia/): Fleece, paper bedding, hay and wood shavings compared. Which guinea pig bedding is safest, most absorbent and easiest to care for in Australia.
- [How to clean a guinea pig cage (daily, weekly and deep clean)](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/how-to-clean-a-guinea-pig-cage/): How often to clean a guinea pig cage, what to spot-clean daily, a step-by-step weekly clean-out, safe cleaning products, and tips for fleece and C&C cages.
- [Indoor vs outdoor guinea pigs in Australia: which is better?](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/indoor-vs-outdoor-guinea-pigs-australia/): Should guinea pigs live indoors or outdoors in Australia? Heat, predators, social contact and space compared, plus how to combine both.
- [Why does my guinea pig cage smell? How to get rid of the ammonia smell](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/guinea-pig-cage-smell/): What causes a smelly guinea pig cage, why the ammonia smell matters for your pigs' health, and eight practical fixes for bedding, cleaning, cage size and airflow.
- [Keeping guinea pigs warm in an Australian winter](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/keeping-guinea-pigs-warm-in-winter/): How cold is too cold for guinea pigs? Safe temperatures, signs your pigs are cold, and practical ways to keep indoor and outdoor guinea pigs warm through an Australian winter.
- [Where to put a guinea pig cage in your house](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/where-to-put-a-guinea-pig-cage/): The best spot for a guinea pig cage: which rooms work, what to avoid (sun, draughts, heaters, noise), and whether a cage should sit on the floor or on a table.
- [Water bottle or water bowl for guinea pigs?](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/guinea-pig-water-bottle-vs-bowl/): Should guinea pigs drink from a bottle or a bowl? The pros and cons of each, how much water guinea pigs drink, how to check a bottle is working, and how to stop leaks.
- [Guinea pig cage ideas: enrichment and layouts to stop boredom](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/guinea-pig-cage-enrichment-ideas/): Cheap, safe guinea pig cage ideas: zoned layouts, hides, tunnels, foraging boxes, safe chews and DIY toys. Plus how to tell if your guinea pig is bored.
- [Introducing a new guinea pig: neutral ground and cage setup](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/introducing-guinea-pigs-cage-setup/): How to introduce a new guinea pig step by step: quarantine, meeting on neutral ground, normal dominance behaviour vs real fighting, and how to set up the cage so the bond lasts.
- [Guinea pig carriers: vet trips, moving house and holiday care](https://guineapigcage.com.au/care/guinea-pig-carriers-and-travel/): How to choose a guinea pig carrier, how to keep guinea pigs safe in the car, a moving-house checklist, and how to arrange care when you go on holiday in Australia.

## Optional
- [About and contact](https://guineapigcage.com.au/about/)
- [Editorial policy and disclosure](https://guineapigcage.com.au/disclosure/)