Temperament and company
Guinea pigs are herd animals. Kept alone, a guinea pig is bored and feels unsafe, so keep them at least in pairs: two females, a neutered male with a female, or males that get on. Human company does not replace one of their own kind, and a rabbit is not a suitable companion or enclosure mate.
Guinea pigs talk: they whistle for food and purr quietly to each other. In a new home they hide first, so give them a few quiet days to settle.
Housing
Guinea pigs need a roomy, well-ventilated home with a solid floor: a wire floor hurts their feet. The more space to run, the better; the cage should be the bedroom, with a safe pen to exercise in every day. Each guinea pig needs a hideaway of its own so none is left without shelter.
Keep the home away from draughts, direct sun and heat: guinea pigs cope badly with heat. Clean wet spots daily and change the bedding regularly. Exercise wheels and balls are not suitable for guinea pigs.
Feeding
The bulk of what they eat should be good hay or fresh grass, available all day: chewing it wears down their ever-growing teeth and keeps the gut working. Add a small amount of pellets made for guinea pigs and fresh leafy vegetables every day.
Like people, guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so they need it from their food every day: from guinea pig pellets and vegetables rich in it, such as peppers or parsley. Food made for rabbits or other rodents is not suitable. Clean water must always be available, and new foods should be introduced gradually.
Handling
A guinea pig is a prey animal and reads a hand coming from above as danger. Let it get used to your voice and smell first, and offer a vegetable from your palm. To lift it, support the chest with one hand and the hindquarters with the other, and hold it close to you and low to the ground.
Children should stroke a guinea pig sitting on the floor, with an adult watching: a fall from a child's arms can injure it badly.
Everyday health care
Check your guinea pig every week: clear eyes, nose and ears, a clean coat around the rear, nails and front teeth that are not overgrown. Weigh it regularly: weight loss may be the first sign of illness you notice. Long-haired guinea pigs need combing.
Find a vet who sees rodents before you need one, so there is no searching when it matters.
What you will need
- A roomy cage or pen with a solid floor Cages · 923 products
- Bedding Bedding · 401 products
- Hay available all day Food · 2,670 products
- Pellets made for guinea pigs Food · 2,670 products
- A heavy bowl and a water bottle Bowls & Feeders · 258 products
- A hideaway for each guinea pig Kennels & Houses · 165 products
- Untreated wooden chews Treats · 966 products
- A carrier for trips to the vet Carriers & Crates · 57 products
The links lead to product categories, never to a product or a brand. Not a recommendation.
When to see a vet now
See a vet straight away if your guinea pig stops eating or passing droppings, breathes with effort, is dull, has diarrhoea or you see blood. Guinea pigs hide illness for a long time, so even a short spell off food means it should be seen.
Sources
Lifespan, weight, social needs and diet are taken from these sources. The text is our own.