Last updated on March 30th, 2023 at 04:28 pm
Many guinea pig owners report finding cockroaches in their guinea pigs’ cages.
Surely you are also worried and wondering why this phenomenon is happening, do guinea pigs attract cockroaches?
Guinea pigs do not attract cockroaches, dirt attracts cockroaches into their cage. Cockroaches love heat, humidity, and darkness. Guinea pig droppings are food for cockroaches, just like any other dirt in the cage.
Regular cleaning of the cage is necessary so that cockroaches do not appear.
What should we know about cockroaches?
There are more than 4000 species of cockroaches, and the American cockroach is the most common species in homes, while the German cockroach is mostly found in hotels and restaurants.
Cockroaches eat various things, starting from food, guinea pig droppings, and other things.
The interesting thing about cockroaches is that they can go about a month without eating. Cockroaches breed very quickly, especially where the climate is warmer.
They can live without food, but they can’t live without water for more than a week, so they need access to water, sewage pipes, and water supply.
Cockroaches do not like cold climates, they need warmer climates and dark places, as well as silence.
My experience with cockroaches is that I can usually see them after midnight when it’s quiet and dark, mostly in the toilet near the water drain.
In the summer I see them very often, while in the winter very rarely, because in the winter time they run away to the ground where it is warmer than to be in the open space.
Are cockroaches dangerous to guinea pigs?
Cockroaches are not dangerous to guinea pigs, but they can disturb your pets when they see them inside the cage.
If you see cockroaches, you should remove them using gloves. When cockroaches appear in your home, expect to see them in the guinea pigs’ cage in a short time.
Their target is not the guinea pig, but they are looking for food and water.
What attracts cockroaches?
Roaches like places where it is dark, where there is moisture, and where it is warm, at my house I usually see them first in the bathroom and then in the kitchen.
Cockroaches like silence and then they usually move when it is quiet and dark. Leaving unwashed dishes in the kitchen can attract cockroaches very quickly.
That is why it is very important not to leave garbage, especially food because they will attract them the most to come to your home and the cage of the guinea pigs.
What to do to prevent the appearance of cockroaches in the cage of guinea pigs?
Roaches are very unpleasant to look at, especially when you see them in a guinea pig’s cage.
That is why we will recommend a few steps to get rid of cockroaches more easily and prevent their occurrence.
A clean cage
Guinea pigs’ cages should be cleaned regularly to prevent cockroaches.
Remains of food and water are a target for cockroaches, so be sure to clean them regularly.
Do not use a container for water that can be spilled, it is best to put a bottle of water for the guinea pigs.
Food
food attracts cockroaches, so you must be careful not to leave food anywhere in the open.
If you spill food for guinea pigs, you should clean it up immediately, if you don’t want cockroaches to come after it.
Water attracts cockroaches
Along with food, water is the thing that most attracts cockroaches to your home and guinea pig cage.
Therefore, do not put a bowl of water in their cage, use a water bottle.
You can put a water bottle that doesn’t leak and won’t drip on the guinea pig floor.
Can you use insecticide to get rid of roaches in a guinea pig’s cage?
Yes, you can use insecticide to remove cockroaches from your guinea pig’s cage, but you need to remove your pet first.
The guinea pig should not inhale any of the insecticides and must be put aside while you clean the cage with the insecticide.
Once you are done cleaning you can return the guinea pig to its cage.
What are the natural ways to remove roaches from guinea pig cages?
In addition to insecticides, there are also natural ways to remove roaches from your guinea pig’s cage.
Natural ways are not that dangerous for the health of guinea pigs and they are very effective to get rid of cockroaches.
Here are some natural ways to get rid of cockroaches.
Baking soda and sugar
Mix baking soda and sugar and you have a great mixture to kill cockroaches.
Place them in small containers in several places around the home and around the guinea pigs’ cage.
Sugar tricks cockroaches into trying to eat it, and baking soda will kill them.
Bay leaf
A very simple solution for cockroaches is to use a bay leaf.
The smell of bay leaf will make cockroaches run away from the places where you put them.
Place some leaves around the guinea pigs’ cage and they will escape from it.
Boric acid
Boric acid or powder is very good for killing cockroaches.
You just need to put a small amount in cracks and places where you think they might be hiding or where they pass.
Just be careful, because boric acid is dangerous for both humans and guinea pigs, you must never touch it.
Essential oils
Essential oils are another tool that can help keep cockroaches out of your home and guinea pig’s cage.
Take essential oils of peppermint or rosemary, soak cotton balls and place them around the guinea pigs’ cage.
The smell of these oils will drive the cockroaches out of the cage and the guinea pigs will no longer be annoyed by the roaches.
What are the most common cockroaches in the United States?
There are many different species of cockroaches, more than 4000, of which there are about 50 species in the United States.
However, the following cockroaches can often be found in their homes:
- American cockroach
- German cockroach
- oriental cockroach
- Australian cockroach
How do roaches get into our home?
They usually come together with the food we bring home, or in boxes, backpacks, and furniture.
We don’t notice them, but they find a way to get into our bag and then we bring them into our home.
The biggest problem is that they reproduce very quickly through the release of pheromones, and can produce about 250 cockroaches from one cockroach in a year.
Read more: Is It Safe For Guinea Pigs To Chew Wood? Let’s Discover
Conclusion
Cockroaches are not dangerous for guinea pigs, but they are very unpleasant as an appearance.
They appear in places where there are leftover food and water, such as the guinea pig’s cage.
That’s why you need to clean the cage regularly so that you don’t let the guinea pigs get annoyed by seeing a bunch of cockroaches in their cage.
There are several natural ways, but also pesticides, to make it easier to deal with cockroaches in your home and guinea pigs’ cages.
Read more: Why Do Guinea Pigs Fight? Let’s Discover
