Guinea pigs are social rodents, available in a wide variety of domestic colors and coats. These are all descendents of a type of wild South American rodent. Guinea pigs are friendly and curious pets. They are a little larger than most pet rodents, and do require some additional care.

You may find guinea pigs sold as Abyssinians, Peruvians, or with various other names. This usually refers to the type of coat and it’s length. All guinea pigs require the same care, regardless of their coat. The only exception to this is that long haired types of guinea pigs may require some additional grooming.

Housing and Environment

Because guinea pigs are social, they appreciate being kept in pairs or small groups. They are not as prolific as other rodents, but unless you are sure you can find homes for plenty of baby guinea pigs it is best to keep them in same sex groups. Males may get along, but unless they have been introduced when young it is safer to avoid keeping males together.

Please look at the general small animal care sheet for information on housing. The primary difference between housing for guinea pigs versus other pet rodents has to do with their larger size.

Guinea pigs are one of the largest of the common pet rodents. Given their size and their need for exercise, they need fairly large cages. While most pet rodents can comfortably live in a small aquarium, a couple of guinea pigs should have somewhere around four square feet of floor space. This would be about a 55 gallon or 40 ‘breeder style’ aquarium, although the height does not need be more than about 12”.

Advantages and disadvantages of plastic and wire cages are discussed in the general small animal care sheet. The issues regarding wire floored cages discussed in the general care sheet do apply to guinea pigs as well as smaller rodents. Please keep this in mind when you choose a cage, as some retailers still market wire floored cages for guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are more active during the day than other pet rodents. For this reason, you can place their cage in a more active part of the house, as long as they are undisturbed in the evenings.

Substrate

The appropriate substrates discussed in the general small animal care sheet are fine for use with guinea pigs. They do tend to have fairly concentrated urine, so a bottom layer of pelleted wood or other odor absorbing substrate may be especially appropriate.

Diet

Use the Zeigler Monster Diet for guinea pigs as the primary diet for your pet. This is a complete diet formulated to meet the special needs of guinea pigs. Never use rabbit pellets for your pet; even though the food looks the same, the formulation is different. Guinea pigs need more folic acid and vitamin C in their diets, making rabbit food an inadequate diet.

Treat foods can be offered occasionally, but if you give too many treat foods you can cause problems leading to deficiencies if your pet is eating more treats than their staple guinea pig diet. You may want to save the treat foods for when your pet is out of it’s cage interacting with you; your pet will associate you with the treat foods, and you can more easily monitor how much your pet is eating.

Maintenance

The general small animal care sheet provides details regarding feeding, watering and cleaning your guinea pig’s cage. Because guinea pigs are larger than most pet rodents, please be sure that they have a large enough water bottle, and that you refill it every day.

Handling

Guinea pigs vary in their tolerance of handling. Some guinea pigs enjoy being handled, while others tend to be a bit squirmy. Most guinea pigs will initially be nervous when you handle them, but many of them will become tame and enjoy handling.

Pick up your guinea pig by scooping it up from underneath with one hand, making sure to support it’s hind legs. Guinea pigs will kick and struggle if their hind legs are suspended. Place your other hand on top of the guinea pig to keep it from jumping. You can then hold it in your lap or up to your chest.

Some guinea pigs like to be handled and pet. Even those guinea pigs that are nervous being handled will still grow to enjoy interacting with their owners as they get used to you. You can play with your guinea pigs in small room as long as you keep a close eye on them. Alternatively, some owners create a playpen of sorts where they can interact with their guinea pigs. Any high-sided pen, or even a baby pool, can work well for this.