Guinea pig care: the complete guide

How to care for guinea pigs: the basics

Guinea pig care comes down to five things: company, space, hay, vitamin C and a vet who knows them. Get those right and most of the problems owners run into never start.

Guinea pigs are grazing animals from South America that live in family groups. The RSPCA says wild groups have 5 to 10 animals and that pet guinea pigs are active for up to 20 hours a day, sleeping in short naps rather than one long night. That is why they need room to move at any hour, food in front of them all the time, and a friend to talk to. They are vocal, gentle and rarely bite, and they live long enough (5 to 8 years, says the MSD Vet Manual) that the setup you choose now will be with you for a long time.

If you are still deciding, read our guide to guinea pigs as pets first, then how much a guinea pig costs to buy and keep and where to get a guinea pig. Rescues have plenty of bonded pairs waiting.

How much space do guinea pigs need?

Two guinea pigs need at least 1 m² (about 10.5 sq ft) of floor on one level, and more is better. Most cages sold as "guinea pig cages" are smaller than this.

Sources differ, but the welfare groups cluster around the same figure. The Humane World for Animals prefers 10.5 sq ft (76 × 127 cm, or 30 × 50 in) for two. RSPCA Australia sets a pair's minimum at 2 × 0.5 m (79 × 20 in). Wood Green asks for 153 × 61 cm (5 × 2 ft) for two females and 182 × 61 cm (6 × 2 ft) for two males. The PDSA goes further, with a 1.5 × 1 m (59 × 39 in) hutch plus a 2 × 1 m (79 × 39 in) run. We follow the 1 m² figure as the floor, not the goal, and add a big run or room time every day. Height matters too: the RSPCA says young guinea pigs need about 30 cm (12 in) for their "frisky hop".

Our guinea pig cage size guide has the full table by number of guinea pigs, and our pick of the best guinea pig cages shows which ones actually meet it.

How to set up a guinea pig cage indoors

An indoor setup needs a solid floor, deep bedding, hay that never runs out, a hide for each guinea pig plus one spare, and a water bottle or bowl. Here is the order we would do it in.

1. Pick the spot. Choose a calm room that stays around 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F), away from radiators, sunny windows, draughts and loud speakers. Keep it out of the kitchen and away from cats and dogs.
2. Lay the floor. Use a solid base, never wire, which hurts their feet. Add at least 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) of paper bedding or a washable fleece liner.
3. Add the hides. The RSPCA says to give one more hide than you have guinea pigs, so three for a pair. Hides with two doors stop one guinea pig trapping another.
4. Set up the kitchen. Put a big hay pile or rack at one end, with a heavy bowl for pellets and veg. Guinea pigs eat and toilet in the same place, so this end will need the most cleaning.
5. Add water. A bottle stays cleaner; a heavy bowl is easier to drink from. Many owners offer both. The RSPCA says to check water twice a day.
6. Finish with enrichment. Tunnels, willow or fruit-tree sticks to chew, and scatter-fed forage in the hay. The RSPCA suggests avoiding plastic toys.

For layouts, read our guinea pig cage setup guide. For bedding choices, see the best bedding for guinea pigs, and for hides see our pick of guinea pig hides and houses.

What do guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs eat mostly grass hay, with fresh vegetables and a small portion of plain pellets every day. Hay should be about 75% of the diet and available all the time, says PetMD.

Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, and the University of Florida vets put their need at roughly 10 to 30 mg a day. Peppers, kale and parsley are good sources. Vitamin C breaks down in air, so the RSPCA says to replace pellets fresh each day rather than topping them up. Avoid iceberg lettuce, potato, garlic, onion, avocado and anything sweet or dairy.

Start with our guinea pig diet guide, check any food on our list of what guinea pigs can eat, and read vitamin C for guinea pigs for the best sources.

Do guinea pigs need a friend?

Yes. The RSPCA says guinea pigs should not be kept alone and are happiest in pairs. Good pairings are two females, brothers raised together, or a neutered male with one or more females. Unrelated adult males can work but may take several tries.

Rabbits are not suitable companions. The RSPCA warns that rabbits can bully or injure guinea pigs, eat a different diet and do not understand each other's signals. See our guide to pairs and groups for introductions step by step.

How to look after guinea pigs day to day

Most of guinea pig care is a short daily routine and a bigger weekly clean. Here is the list we would pin to the fridge.

Every day

• Refill hay so there is always more than they can eat
• Give fresh veg and replace pellets with a fresh portion
• Check and refill water, twice a day (RSPCA)
• Remove wet bedding, droppings and old food
• Check each guinea pig is eating, moving and passing plenty of dry droppings
• Give run or floor time, ideally a few hours
• Brush long-haired breeds

Every week

• Change all the bedding and wipe the base (or wash fleece every 3 to 5 days)
• Check front teeth and nails (RSPCA)
• Weigh each guinea pig on kitchen scales and note it down
• Wash bowls, bottle and hides

Every month

• Empty the cage, scrub with a pet-safe cleaner or half vinegar, half water, and dry fully (PDSA, University of Florida)
• Trim nails, at least monthly (University of Florida)

Our cage cleaning routine walks through each step.

Keeping guinea pigs healthy

Healthy guinea pigs are bright, chatty, eat all day and pass plenty of firm, dry droppings. They hide pain, so the RSPCA advises checking them every day and seeing a vet at least once a year.

Signs to act on the same day: not eating, fewer or no droppings, drooling or dropping food (often a teeth problem), sneezing with discharge, fast or noisy breathing, hunching and hiding. Purdue's vets class watery diarrhoea and a guinea pig that stops eating or drools constantly as needing an immediate vet visit. In warm weather, check their back end twice a day, because urine staining can attract flies.

Our guide to guinea pig health covers the common problems, and how long guinea pigs live explains each life stage.

Temperature: keeping guinea pigs warm and cool

Guinea pigs do best at 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F), the RSPCA says, and handle heat badly. Above 26°C (79°F) risks heatstroke, and below 15°C (59°F) they can get chilled, so outdoor guinea pigs should come inside when it drops that low. The PDSA says above 24°C (75°F) is already uncomfortable.

Read our guinea pig temperature guide for summer and winter setups.

Handling, taming and play

Guinea pigs are prey animals, so most dislike being chased or lifted at first. Scoop them with one hand under the chest and the other under the rump, hold them close against you, and sit on the floor while they settle. Never hold one upside down. PetMD notes squeaking and wriggling are normal while they adjust.

Taming takes days to weeks of quiet hand-feeding. See how to tame and bond with a guinea pig, learn what they are telling you in guinea pig behaviour explained and guinea pig sounds, and keep them busy with enrichment ideas, the best guinea pig toys and floor time and playpens.

How to care for newborn guinea pigs

Newborn guinea pigs mostly look after themselves with their mother's help. They are born fully furred, with eyes open and teeth through, and are walking within hours, according to Purdue and RSPCA Australia. Your job is to leave them in peace, keep food and water easy to reach, and remove the father.

1. Take the male out straight away. RSPCA Australia says a sow can fall pregnant again 2 to 15 hours after giving birth.
2. Leave them undisturbed. Pups often do not nurse for the first 12 to 24 hours, and the sow and litter should be left quiet during this time.
3. Make food reachable. Pups nibble hay, veg and pellets within days. Put low bowls and loose hay on the floor and a water bowl or low bottle they can reach.
4. Weigh them. Pups usually weigh 45 to 115 g (1.6 to 4 oz) at birth. RSPCA Australia says pups under 60 g (2 oz) have a poor chance, so see a vet if any are tiny or not gaining.
5. Separate the boys at 3 weeks. Pups are weaned at about 3 weeks. Males must leave their mother and sisters by then, since they can mature very young.

If the mother dies or will not feed them, call a vet who sees guinea pigs that day. Hand-rearing is hard and needs a vet's feeding plan.

Choosing your guinea pigs

Breeds differ mainly in coat. Short-haired guinea pigs need a weekly brush; long-haired ones need daily grooming and regular trims. Browse guinea pig breeds, types and colours, then find a name in our guinea pig names list. For more curious details, try surprising guinea pig facts.