Our in-depth guide on Do guinea pigs require light at night can provide you with additional information.
To the contrary, if you want to use the light to decorate the space in an aesthetically pleasing manner, you may need to consider the threat that it poses and take precautionary measures from the outset.
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What are the threats fairy light possesses for your guinea pigs?
Pets are at risk from a variety of hazards caused by fairy lights. According to reports, thousands of pets are harmed or killed every holiday season as a result of those festive lights.
Every year, the RSPCA issues a warning about those lights, and yet here we are, putting the lives of our pets in danger. But what is it about those adorable lights that has everyone so worked up?
What kind of harm can fairy lights cause to our guinea pigs? Here are some of the potential dangers that fairy lights may pose to our safety:
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Chewing the light bulb & cables
Guinea pigs are known to chew on a variety of objects, including wires and light bulbs. If your guinea pigs end up chewing on the wire or the bulb, the risk of electrocution and threat to their lives is extremely high.
Guinea pigs are curious creatures, as you are probably aware, and they are also quite intelligent.
Consider this: You may believe you have placed the lights at the top of the cage, where they will pose no threat to your guinea pigs—but reconsider!
It’s possible that your guinea pigs will be able to reach the wire or pull the lights if they climb on something.
The lights might not be too difficult to reach for your guinea pig if you have one who can jump quite high (and sometimes even out of the cage), as mine can.
There are a plethora of options to consider before putting a light in the cage, and you should do so before proceeding.
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Getting entangled
If the strings of lights come loose from the hooks to which you have attached them, or if your guinea pigs get a hold of the hanging string, they may end up pulling the light or, in the worst case scenario, becoming entangled in it.
Entangling can cause your guinea pigs to become anxious, and they may injure themselves while attempting to remove the light from their cage.
These lights also pose a risk of electrocution if your guinea pigs chew through the wire that connects them. So be on the lookout!
Short circuit and fire
Short circuits and fires in homes are frequently caused by low-quality fairy lights that are readily available on the market at a low price.
A number of incidents have been reported in the past in which overheating of the lights resulted in a house fire.
It is possible to overheat a computer for a few hours if you forget to turn it off while you are away.
Consider the danger this poses to the security of your home and your pet before turning on those lights.
Disturb their day/night cycle
According to studies, using bright lights in the cage during the day and at night can often cause the guinea pigs’ biological clock to become out of sync, causing them to become depressed.
Your guinea pigs may become confused about the time of day, whether it is morning or night, and this can result in health problems for them.
The fact that guinea pigs prefer to be in the dark rather than the light is also a little-known fact among the public.
They prefer to be alone in the dark because it makes them feel more secure. The bright light can be particularly distracting for some of them, especially at night when they are sleeping for an extended period of time.
When using light to illuminate the area around and inside your guinea pig’s cage, keep this in mind.
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How can I minimize the risk for our guinea pigs?
You should be aware of the dangers that fairy lights pose to your guinea pigs by now, correct?
Now, if you still want to use those lights, we’ll talk about some of the ways to reduce the risk as much as possible.
Get a good quality light
Always choose to purchase a high-quality product, especially if you intend to use it in close proximity to your pets.
It is often the case that purchasing high-quality fairy lights will help to reduce the likelihood of overheating and fire hazards.
Always look for copper-wired material light fixtures rather than aluminum-wired fixtures.
These lights have a high heating point and tend to last longer than other types of lights. They are also relatively safe.
Always remember to purchase only fairy lights that are CE certified. I’ve experimented with those lights in the past and found them to be quite effective for me.
Place the light up high
Make certain that the lights are placed at a height where your guinea pigs will not be able to reach them.
It is recommended that the cage be raised between 24-36 inches above the cage floor. Although the majority of guinea pigs are incapable of climbing much higher, some are capable.
In most cases, it is preferable to be safe rather than sorry, especially when it comes to guinea pigs.
Lights should never be attached to the top portion of the cage. Many owners choose to do so; however, if there are any leaks in the cable, there is a risk of electricity passing through the cage wire itself.
Instead, I’d hang the lights above the cage with some strong hooks to keep them in place. Also, double-check that the lights are properly secured and that there are no strings that could fall into the cage.
Using a timer
The use of timers or turning off the lights in your home when you are not present is recommended if you are not present all of the time.
It is possible to use a timer to automatically turn on and off the lights as needed, thereby reducing the likelihood of overheating or any other potential hazards.
Light timers also help in case of any short circuit, so better to get one if you plan to use the lights.
Other lights for decoration?
The use of timers or turning off the lights in your home when you are not present is recommended if you are not present all of the time.
It is possible to use a timer to automatically turn on and off the lights as needed, thereby reducing the likelihood of overheating or any other potential hazards.
Is battery-powered light a safe option?
The answer is yes, a battery-powered fairy light is significantly safer for our guinea pigs than a regular light because it does not pose the risk of a fire.
The majority of battery-powered lights make use of LED lights rather than incandescent bulbs, which results in very little heat being generated.
However, if your guinea pigs manage to get their mouths on the battery, they run the risk of becoming entangled or chewing it up completely.
These batteries contain hazardous chemicals that can be harmful to our guinea pigs if they are consumed. As a result, caution is still advised!
