Are Guinea Pigs A Good Fit For My Family?
You walk into the pet store and your kid makes a beeline for the animals and announces they want a guinea pig! You’ve been thinking of getting them a new pet so why not?
Furry potatoes, aka guinea pigs, can make great pets but they are a lot of work. I wouldn’t necessarily say they would make a good pet for every child, but if your child is a real serious animal lover who has been responsible for pets in the past then it could work out great!
You walk into the pet store and your kid makes a beeline for the animals and announces they want a guinea pig! You’ve been thinking of getting them a new pet so why not?
Furry potatoes, aka guinea pigs, can make great pets but they are a lot of work. I wouldn’t necessarily say they would make a good pet for every child, but if your child is a real serious animal lover who has been responsible for pets in the past then it could work out great!
Well, although they are cute, furry, and lovable they require a lot of time and space. At the pet store, people usually only see the pigs hiding under their little house and not moving around much. While that is how they are sometimes, that is definitely not how they always are.
They require A LOT of space
Guinea pigs are herd animals, and therefore are happier with a buddy. Each guinea pig should have a minimum of 7.5 square feet of space. So with a buddy that means their cage should be a minimum of 15 square feet. Boys should have even more if possible.
Guinea pigs poop A LOT!
Guinea pigs poop ALOT! I’m talking it goes in one end and comes out the other minutes later. Depending on what bedding you use and how many piggies you have will determine how much and how often you clean the cage, but this is not a pet that you can leave in a cage and not do any cleaning for a week. At least, not if you have a nose and can smell.
Guinea pigs need socialization
Guinea pigs need socialization. Guinea pigs are sensitive little creatures who need a companion and want to be loved by you! Guinea piggies are prey animals so that is why they run and hide a majority of the time when you approach their cage, but that doesn’t mean they like to be ignored. The more time you spend with your pig *hopefully* the more he will warm up to you and begin to trust you.
Guinea pigs have a special diet that is very vital to their health
Piggies have a special diet that is very vital to their health. Guinea pigs are unable to produce their own vitamin c and so it’s up to you to make sure they get enough in their diets or else they could get Scurvy, which is a disease that manifests when they don’t get enough vitamin c.
Furry potatoes. That is what a lot of guinea pig owners lovingly call their pet guinea pigs. Soft, round, and squishy pretty much describes them! Although, yes they can be a lot of work, it is not at all uncommon for people to buy 2 guinea pigs and later wind up getting a whole herd! I’m talking people who have 6, 10, 12 guinea pigs!
great personality
Besides *looking* cute, they are also pretty sweet. As I said, because they are prey animals they are a little shy, but with some time, patience, and hand feeding, they will often warm up to you and even wind up like being held and cuddled! For such a small pet, they also have BIG personalities.
creative housing
Housing! Yes they need a lot of space BUT it doesn’t have to be a plain rectangle cage that sits in the corner of your room. People have gotten so creative over the years building cages out of a multitude of materials.
C&C cages are another very popular housing choice for guinea pigs. Cubes and Coroplast (C&C) cages are easy to assemble and are completely customizable. (More on this later). Some other ideas include using plexiglass, repurposed materials (such as an old chicken coop, desks, tables, door, etc., and wood.
their noises 🙂
Their noises! Something that I think makes guinea pigs very special and unique pets is that they are very vocal about their feelings. Pigs LOVE a clean cage and they will definitely let you know how grateful they are! Guinea pigs do something called popcorning which basically looks how it sounds. The guinea pig will jump straight up in the air and shake their head a little bit and run around like a dog who has the zoomies! And this is why they need ROOM! They can also get pretty loud when it comes to treat time!
Guinea pigs squeal when they know they are about to get goodies. My pigs will hear the very specific noise of the vegetable drawer being opened in the next room and go nuts! Another famous noise to make your piggies get excited is the rustling of a bag. Most often their hay or pellets come in a bag, and they know this! Some piggies show you they love you by making a purring/rumbling noise and even vibrating!
(Pigs also make a bunch of other noises which mean other things but we will save that for a later discussion.)
guinea pigs have a longer lifespan than other small pets
Guinea pigs have a longer lifespan than some other small animal pets and can live from 5 – 8 years old on average.
This is really a matter of opinion and what you are looking for in a pet. Both sexes have both good and bad traits and the same goes for different breeds. If you search online for the nicest guinea pig you will get a bunch of different answers based on people’s preference.
My personal favorite is the Absynnian breed. That is the breed with crazy hair going in all directions. I say they are my favorite due to how they look. I have heard that Abbys are sassier and have more attitude then other breeds and because of those traits, it makes them bolder and friendlier with their humans.
However, I have two male Absynnians and while one is sassy with attitude, my other one is just a complete sweetheart.
I have also heard that American guinea pig breeds are also a good choice because they are friendly as well. What I think it really comes down to is each guinea pig’s individual personality.
Now choosing a sex is a whole other thing! Female guinea pigs are said to be better ‘housekeepers’ as they are pretty tidy. If you have heard that guinea pigs can be potty trained, it is going to be much more likely to be a female.
Boys are notoriously messy! But again, there are always exceptions.
Females also sometimes get along with a buddy better than males might. Females will accept a new sow into the herd easier than males would. That is not to say that females don’t have their squabbles, it is just more likely that they will be able to work through it on their own without needing to be separated.
If you are wanting a herd of guinea pigs (you would be surprised at how many people wind up growing their herd!), then it might be a better option for you to get females.
Boys are more territorial which can create a problem with their buddy.
Sometimes when boys go through puberty they get a little feisty. A lot of times they will work it out, but if blood is drawn they must be separated right away. Keep this in mind if you are considering a boy. If you have boys that need to be separated, your best option would be to put a divider in your cage or get two separate cages and put them side by side. This is what I am doing with my boys now. This way they still have a friend close by they can talk to but they have their own space. If you decide to get two different cages, keep in mind that means MORE space so be prepared.
the tricky thing about male guinea pigs:
You always hear “guinea pigs need a buddy no matter what or they will be depressed!”
As perfect as it would be to just have your boars all get along, it sometimes doesn’t work out that way. Believe me, I know. I have 2 boars that are currently separated.
If you have to separate your boars, next you will hear “they have to be RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER and be able to SEE each other.”
Well, yes. As before, that would be great, in a perfect world.
the story of squish & raisen, two boars who can't live together
When I had to separate my boars because my younger one (Raisen) was going through puberty and leaving little sores on my older one’s (Squish) rump, they literally could not see each other. If Raisen saw Squish he would go nuts trying to figure out how to get to him, which in turn stressed Squish out.
This happened at the height of Raisen’s adolescence when his hormones were going crazy. As time went on, I was able to test and see if things would change.
After some time, I was able to have small holes in their cage divider so they could smell each other. Finally, I now have a c&c grid divider that is completely see through! Eventually, I would love for them to be able to be together again, but it will take a lot of time. Raisen is fine now, but Squish is so traumatized, if he sees Raisen, he runs away all terrified.
As much as you love your guinea pigs and want them to live happily ever after, unfortunately some pigs write their own happy ending, and if it doesn’t line up with how things are “supposed to be” that is ok.
Single pigs can survive and live happy lives if they are not able to get along with cagemates. As long as you know that you have at least tried to give them a friend, you should feel secure in making the decision to keep a single guinea pig.
Another thing about females is that they don’t grow as large as males.
Sows also tend to be more shy and skittish than males. Males are typically more bold and curious and therefore, tend to explore their surroundings more. This curiosity also leads to male pigs being more curious about you too! Because of this, male guinea pigs can sometimes be more social and more interested in getting cuddles.
Now that you know more about guinea pigs, let’s talk about what you will need for your new pigs:
Habitat
Making sure you buy your guinea pigs a nice big well ventilated habitat should be priority number one. There are several different types, shapes, and sizes for you to choose from. Some examples of suitable cages include: the Guinea Habitat Guinea Pig Cage by Midwest, Cubes and Coroplast cages (C&C cages), the Oxbow Enriched Life Small Animal Cage, and even DIY cages. I have a blog post that offers a more in depth look at acceptable cages for your guinea pig.
bedding
Bedding should be the next item you will need for your new guinea pig cage and it is very important! The bedding you choose for your guinea pig cage will determine how often you clean the cage.
There are several different options for bedding including what can be found at your local pet store or some options that can be even found at your local fabric store! Compressed paper bedding and aspen shavings are the most common acceptable choices offered at pet stores.
You can also use other absorbent materials like fleece, fleece liners, or bath mats, which are more cost efficient. My personal favorite is bath mats. Read more about the different bedding used for guinea pig cages here.
food and accessories
Guinea pigs are herbivores. Their diets consist of pellets, hay, veggies, and some fruits. Some store bought guinea pig foods are better than others.
pellet food
Choosing a simple pellet food is your best choice, rather than one of those mixes with pretty colors in it. Surprisingly, some of the food sold at pet stores actually have things in them (like seeds) that are not good for guinea pigs.
Hay
Guinea pigs should always have access to an endless supply of hay at all times. Hay makes up 75% of your guinea pig’s diet. In fact, guinea pigs cannot go longer than 24 hours without hay or else they could die. That is how vital hay is to your guinea pig’s diet.
Alfalfa hay is extremely high in vitamin c which is why it is only recommended to feed to baby guinea pigs under 6 months old or pregnant and nursing guinea pigs.
Timothy hay is typically what is recommended for adult guinea pigs. It is a little harder than the other types of hay which helps to wear your guinea pig’s teeth down better.
They do have blends of different hays for sale in pet stores as well. For instance, pet stores sell a mixture of timothy hay and orchard grass hay that is very popular. Oat hay is another option.
I, personally, feed my guinea pigs orchard grass hay because my dog is allergic to the timothy hay and cannot be around it. So there are options if one type of hay does not work as well for you for whatever reason.
veggies
As I mentioned earlier, veggies are also a very important part of their diet. The veggies that you feed them will be their main source of vitamin C. Without enough vitamin C, guinea pigs can get scurvy, which is definately not something you want. You can’t just feed your guinea pigs any vegetables you want. They need a balanced rotation of certain vegetables and even some fruits.
water bottle or bowl
You will also need to provide water for your guinea pig. You can either use a water bottle or a bowl.
hide
You should offer them some sort of hide as well. They have a variety to choose from at your local pet store or you can make your own hide. Click here for some super easy and cute homemade hide ideas.
toys
Your guinea pig will also need toys. Toys made out of wood, toilet paper tubes, or pinecones are all good choices. Try to stay away from the color dyed wood toys at pet stores. Instead opt for the more natural toys.
Guinea pigs are amazing little pets. As with any pets, they have their pros and cons. They require a lot of space to be happy and, if possible, should always live with a buddy or have one living next door.
They do poop a lot so they require daily care. They want your love and attention! They are prey animals so it is normal for them to run and hide when anything approaches their cage but be patient with them and they can be very affectionate. Mine love to cuddle up on my shoulder and nestle in to my face!
Although they need a lot of space, you can be very creative with their housing. Guinea pigs also live longer than most of the smaller pets out there. Their lifespan is anywhere from 6 – 8 years.
Both sexes make awesome pets. Boys tend to be a little more cuddly, while females like to keep a cleaner cage and take more time to get to know you. Careful though, because boys sometimes tend to get into more disagreements with each other.
So there you have it! The 411 on guinea pigs as pets! If you have decided to go ahead and get a pet guinea pig, then congratulations! Despite the work you have to put into them, I think they are well worth it and they make great little companions!
If you decided against getting a guinea pig, then that’s ok too! There are plenty of other small animals that might make a better fit for you and your family. Check out my other pages and see what kind of small animal would be compatible for you!
If you decided on getting a guinea pig, what was your deciding factor? Just for fun, let me know what names you have picked out for your guinea pigs in the comments below!
wow thank you for that blog it’s very informative I did not realize how complex it is to own a guinea pig and that you have to own two of them and their environment and the cage size has to be appropriate for two pigs I didn’t realize the responsibility in owning guinea pigs thank you for that information