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What vegetables can guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs can eat a wide range of vegetables, and leafy greens should make up most of their daily cup. The table below brings together the lists from the RSPCA, PDSA, Burgess, Wood Green, VCA and the Humane World for Animals. "Daily" means it can go in the everyday mix. "A few times a week" means it is safe but limited, usually because of sugar, calcium, oxalates or gas.
| Vegetable | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Romaine, gem and dark leaf lettuce | Daily | Good base green; avoid iceberg and pale lettuce |
| Bell peppers (any colour) | Daily | The richest common source of vitamin C |
| Coriander (cilantro) | Daily | Popular leafy herb, listed by VCA and Burgess |
| Rocket (arugula) | Daily, small amounts | Safe green, fairly high in calcium |
| Carrot tops | Daily | Safe green; the root is the sweet part |
| Spring greens and savoy cabbage leaves | A few times a week | Cabbage family can cause gas |
| Celery and celery leaves | Daily, chopped small | RSPCA "eat often" list; cut stalks into short pieces |
| Cucumber | Daily, small amounts | RSPCA "eat often" list; mostly water |
| Courgette (zucchini) | A few times a week | Burgess lists it and its flowers as safe |
| Green beans | A few times a week | Burgess lists them as safe |
| Watercress | A few times a week | Rich in vitamin C but very high in calcium |
| Parsley | A few times a week | High in vitamin C and calcium |
| Carrot | A few times a week | Sweet; small pieces only |
| Broccoli | A few times a week | Good vitamin C, but can cause gas |
| Kale and spinach | A few times a week | High in calcium and oxalates |
| Cauliflower leaves and stalks | A few times a week | Cabbage family; Burgess lists leaves and stalks |
| Tomato, ripe flesh only | Once or twice a week | Never the leaves, stems or green fruit |
| Peas and baby sweetcorn (corn) | Occasionally | Burgess lists them; PetMD avoids them as starchy |
Where sources split, we have taken the careful side. Parsley is on the RSPCA's "eat often" list, but PetMD counts it among the calcium-rich greens to give only occasionally, so we put it in the middle. Peas and sweetcorn are listed as safe by Burgess but PetMD warns against them for their starch, so treat them as an occasional extra rather than a staple.
What are the best veggies for guinea pigs?
The best vegetables are the ones that give plenty of vitamin C without much calcium or sugar, and bell peppers top that list. Guinea pigs cannot make vitamin C, so their veg has to supply it every day alongside fresh pellets. Guinea Lynx's food chart compares foods by 10-calorie portion:
| Food | Vitamin C per 10-calorie portion | Portion weight | Calcium note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow bell pepper | 68 mg | 37 g (1.3 oz) | Low |
| Red bell pepper | 41 mg | 32 g (1.1 oz) | Low |
| Green bell pepper | 40 mg | 50 g (1.8 oz) | Low |
| Watercress | 39 mg | 91 g (3.2 oz) | Very high, 109 mg |
| Parsley | 37 mg | 28 g (1 oz) | High |
| Pak choi (bok choy) | 35 mg | 77 g (2.7 oz) | High, 81 mg |
A strip of pepper every day is the easiest way to cover vitamin C. Guinea Lynx notes that vitamin C starts to fade once produce is picked, so fresh is better than veg that has sat in the fridge for a week. Our guide to vitamin C for guinea pigs covers how much they need.
How much veg should a guinea pig eat a day?
About one cup of mixed fresh vegetables per guinea pig per day, says PDSA, which is roughly a teacup or a good handful. The Humane World for Animals gives 1/2 to 1 cup, and PetMD suggests 1/2 to 1 cup with two or three types a day. The smaller amounts suit a small or older guinea pig; the larger suit a big, active adult.
Here is how to build a daily plate:
- Start with leaves. Fill about two thirds of the cup with dark lettuce, coriander, carrot tops or rocket.
- Add vitamin C. Add a strip of bell pepper, about the size of your thumb, for each guinea pig.
- Add one extra. Rotate a "few times a week" vegetable, such as a broccoli floret or a slice of courgette, so no one food dominates.
- Split it. Give half in the morning and half in the evening, as Guinea Lynx suggests, and take away anything left uneaten.
- Introduce new foods slowly. Add one new vegetable at a time, in a small piece, and check droppings stay firm for a day or two.
What fruit can guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs can eat most common fruits as an occasional treat, in small pieces, once or twice a week. Fruit is high in sugar, and VCA warns that too much can cause serious diarrhoea. PetMD says fruit should be less than 5% of the diet.
| Fruit | A sensible portion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | A thin slice; RSPCA's limit is a quarter of an apple | Remove pips |
| Blueberries | A few berries | Listed by PDSA and Burgess |
| Strawberries | Half to one berry | Good vitamin C, but high in oxalates |
| Kiwi | A small slice | Good vitamin C (VCA) |
| Melon (cantaloupe) | A small cube | Listed by PDSA and Guinea Lynx |
| Pear | A thin slice | Remove pips |
| Banana | A thin slice | Very sweet |
| Grapes | A couple, seedless and halved | Burgess: once or twice a week |
| Cherry and plum | A small piece | Always remove the stone (pit) |
Always take out pips, seeds and stones. Oxbow notes that many contain traces of cyanide and are a choking risk.
What herbs and wild plants can guinea pigs eat?
Many kitchen herbs are safe. Burgess lists basil, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme. Give leafy herbs such as coriander and dill freely, and stronger herbs like rosemary, sage and mint as a sprig rather than a bunch.
From the garden, Burgess lists dandelion leaves, plantain, herb-Robert and cow parsley, and Guinea Lynx adds clover. PDSA says only pick plants you can identify, away from roads, dog-walking spots and anywhere sprayed with weedkiller. Fresh grass is excellent too, but never lawnmower clippings. See our page on whether guinea pigs can eat dandelions for how much to give.
What food can guinea pigs not eat?
These foods are a firm no, from PDSA, Burgess and Oxbow:
- Potato and potato skin
- Onion, garlic, leeks and chives
- Avocado
- Rhubarb and its leaves
- Mushrooms
- Tomato leaves, stems and unripe tomatoes
- Iceberg and pale lettuce
- Chocolate, sweets and sugary treats
- Meat, eggs and dairy
- Bread, pasta, rice, crackers and cereal
- Nuts, seeds and peanut butter
- Hot chilli peppers
- Buttercups, daffodils, poppies, tulips and toxic houseplants
For how vegetables fit with hay and pellets, read our guinea pig diet guide, and for the rest of their care, our complete guinea pig care guide.
Guinea pig food questions
Can guinea pigs eat iceberg lettuce?
It is best avoided. The RSPCA lists iceberg lettuce as a food to avoid, and VCA says it is mostly water with little nutrition. Burgess adds that pale lettuce can cause diarrhoea. Give romaine, gem or other dark leaf lettuce instead: they are just as crunchy and far better for a guinea pig.
Can guinea pigs eat the same vegetables every day?
A few, yes, but variety is better. PDSA suggests five or six different kinds a day and limiting any one type. A steady base of leafy greens plus pepper is fine daily, then rotate the extras so no single food, especially a high-calcium or gassy one, is given in large amounts day after day.
Can guinea pigs eat citrus fruit like oranges?
Sources disagree. VCA and the Humane World for Animals list orange as a vitamin C fruit, while the RSPCA lists citrus as a food to avoid and Burgess says it can upset their stomach. We would follow the careful side: skip it, or give a very small piece rarely, and use peppers for vitamin C instead.
Do I need to wash vegetables for guinea pigs?
Yes. Guinea Lynx and VCA both say to rinse vegetables well before feeding, to remove soil and any spray. Shake or pat off the extra water. Take away any fresh food that has not been eaten by the end of the day, before it wilts or goes off.
Can guinea pigs eat carrots every day?
Not as a daily staple. Carrots are sweet, so the RSPCA puts small pieces of carrot in its treat group, a few times a week. The leafy carrot tops are a different story: Burgess and VCA list them as a safe green, and they can go into the daily mix.
Which vegetables give the most vitamin C?
Bell peppers lead the list. In Guinea Lynx's food chart, yellow pepper gives 68 mg of vitamin C in a 37 g (1.3 oz) portion, and red and green peppers about 40 mg in 32 to 50 g. Parsley, watercress and pak choi (bok choy) are also rich, but they are high in calcium, so give them in smaller amounts.
Sources
- RSPCA: A healthy diet for guinea pigs
- PDSA: Your guinea pig's diet
- Burgess Pet Care: Feeding your guinea pig
- Wood Green: Guinea pigs, your day-to-day guide
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Guinea pigs, feeding
- Humane World for Animals: Guinea pig feeding
- PetMD: What can guinea pigs eat?
- Guinea Lynx: Vegetable and fruit chart
- Oxbow Animal Health: Foods guinea pigs should never eat
