Guinea Pig
Species Summary
Guinea pigs are very sociable creatures that like to squeak as a form of communication. Most will start squeaking at the rustle of a bag and have very good temperament. The live for around 5-6 years and are very active.
Please do further research than this page, as this is just to give a general idea of the type of care that guinea pigs require. We have linked further resources at the bottom of the page, however there are plenty more trusted sites that will give even more information about these guys.
Housing
Guinea pigs require at least 150cm x 60cm / 60” x 24” / 5ft x 2ft - or equivalent floor space.
Continuous floor space (all one level, shelves etc do not count towards main space)
Bar spacing small enough not to risk head getting stuck
Indoors (or in heated & insulated outdoor space) October - April
If outdoors, must be predator-proof (fine wire can be bitten through by foxes etc)
Enclosure Ideas: C&C grid cage, Panelled puppy pen, DIY wooden cage, Large hutch, Shed, Wendy house
Information Sources: PDSA (150cm x 60cm), Woodgreen Pets Charity (rec: 180cm x 60cm)
Guinea pigs enjoy enrichment from safe chew toys, hides and tunnels. The base of their cage can either be lined with thick newspaper covered in wood shavings or absorbent blankets. Guinea pigs should live in a quiet environment to prevent stress and should be spot cleaned daily with full cleans being done at least twice a week. Below are some ideas of guinea pig setups, the bigger space the better.
Diet
Guinea pigs should eat a mixture of mainly hay (around 80-85%) and grass with some high quality pellets and fresh veg to help aid vitamin C intake as they cannot produce it themselves. Guinea pigs should have a limited amount of fruit if any to prevent them from having too much sugar. If ever unsure if a food is safe for your guinea pig always do some extra research first.
Companionship
Guinea pigs are very sociable creatures and must be kept in at least (same sex) pairs to ensure not only their happiness but their health as well.
Health
Guinea pigs hide any illnesses on instinct so reading up on the warning signs to help identify any health issues before they worsen and doing frequent health checks is crucial. As guinea pigs have constantly growing teeth without proper diet and safe chews dental issues can quickly occur.
Handling and Socialisation
Guinea pigs are often resist being picked up at first but become quite comfortable with it relatively quickly. If possible they should be handled at a young age to ease vet visits and health checks as well as transportation for cleaning, nail trimming and brushing. Guinea pigs should never be held on their backs and must be held gently but firmly to prevent them from jumping from your arms and potentially damaging their fragile backs.