Guinea pigs

Food and drink

What should I include in my guinea pig's menu?

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Guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C. So they need an adapted diet!

​​guinea pigGuinea pigs are real herbivores. They can best be fed a good mix of dry food, hay and fresh vegetables. A complete dry food is very beneficial because that way a guinea pig ingests the right amount of nutrients.

Make sure your guinea pig always finishes its bowl of food. Then it will definitely have ingested all the nutrients it needs. A guinea pig eats between 35 and 50 g of dry food per day. It should always have drinking water available.

Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, so a correctly formulated food for guinea pigs will contain extra vitamin C. Witte Molen PUUR Guinea Pig in fact contains stabilised vitamin C, so the vitamin C will not disappear over time. If the food does not contain extra vitamin C, this must definitely be compensated for with vitamin C tablets.

Guinea pigs develop a preference or dislike for certain foods early on in their lives. Try to offer a rich variety of foods from a young age.

guinea pig

Important information

Five useful tips!

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What should I definitely bear in mind when thinking about buying a guinea pig?

  1. guinea pigNo specific experience is required to keep guinea pigs. Make sure you are well informed, especially about their dietary patterns and homes.
  2. Long-haired guinea pigs are less suitable for beginner guinea-pig owners, because of the fairly intensive grooming.
  3. Guinea pigs are social animals. They have been a popular pet for more than 3000 years, since the Incas. Their roots are in South America.
  4. Guinea pigs can bite but hardly ever do. They will only use it as a reaction if they are sick or in pain. Guinea pigs' reaction to danger is to freeze and, as soon as they see an opportunity, dash away!
  5. It is not recommended to keep a rabbit and a guinea pig together. They each have a different lifestyle and do not understand each other

Guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C. So they need an adapted diet!

​​guinea pigGuinea pigs are real herbivores. They can best be fed a good mix of dry food, hay and fresh vegetables. A complete dry food is very beneficial because that way a guinea pig ingests the right amount of nutrients.

Make sure your guinea pig always finishes its bowl of food. Then it will definitely have ingested all the nutrients it needs. A guinea pig eats between 35 and 50 g of dry food per day. It should always have drinking water available.

Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, so a correctly formulated food for guinea pigs will contain extra vitamin C. Witte Molen PUUR Guinea Pig in fact contains stabilised vitamin C, so the vitamin C will not disappear over time. If the food does not contain extra vitamin C, this must definitely be compensated for with vitamin C tablets.

Guinea pigs develop a preference or dislike for certain foods early on in their lives. Try to offer a rich variety of foods from a young age.

guinea pig

What should I definitely bear in mind when thinking about buying a guinea pig?

  1. guinea pigNo specific experience is required to keep guinea pigs. Make sure you are well informed, especially about their dietary patterns and homes.
  2. Long-haired guinea pigs are less suitable for beginner guinea-pig owners, because of the fairly intensive grooming.
  3. Guinea pigs are social animals. They have been a popular pet for more than 3000 years, since the Incas. Their roots are in South America.
  4. Guinea pigs can bite but hardly ever do. They will only use it as a reaction if they are sick or in pain. Guinea pigs' reaction to danger is to freeze and, as soon as they see an opportunity, dash away!
  5. It is not recommended to keep a rabbit and a guinea pig together. They each have a different lifestyle and do not understand each other

Fun facts!

Five facts about guinea pigs

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Did you know... Five fun and important facts about guinea pigs!

  1. guinea pigA male guinea pig is known as a boar. A female guinea pig is known as a sow.
  2. Guinea pigs are friendly and vocal, which makes them very popular with young children.
  3. There are a lot of different breeds of guinea pigs. They vary in coat colour and coat type. The most unusual are the long-haired (Peruvian, Shelter and Coronet) and the bald guinea pigs (Skinny and Baldwin).
  4. The capybara is a kind of XXL version of a guinea pig. It cannot be kept as a pet in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  5. Guinea pigs' nails have to be trimmed regularly. Their teeth also require some maintenance, like other rodents. Plenty of food that is rich in fibre, such as hay, will keep their teeth in optimal condition.

Housing

Tips for a comfortable home!

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How do I make my guinea pig as comfortable as possible?

guinea pig​​Guinea pigs naturally live in groups and they tend to be happiest with another guinea pig. Two young animals (younger than five weeks) will almost always get on well with each other. The size of their home should be at least 80 x 50 cm. It is important to clean their home regularly. Their home does not need to be particularly high, as guinea pigs are not good climbers.

To cover the floor you can use (dust-free) wood shavings or hemp bedding. Make sure there is a dark area somewhere in a guinea pig's home. There are lots of types of houses. The guinea pig can sleep and shelter there.

Guinea pigs can overheat relatively easily. Make sure their home is not in an area that is hotter than 26 degrees Celsius. The ideal ambient temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.  Would you like to keep your guinea pig outside? This is also possible but you will then need to provide an adapted environment. A water- and windproof hutch is an absolute minimum.

guinea pig

Did you know... Five fun and important facts about guinea pigs!

  1. guinea pigA male guinea pig is known as a boar. A female guinea pig is known as a sow.
  2. Guinea pigs are friendly and vocal, which makes them very popular with young children.
  3. There are a lot of different breeds of guinea pigs. They vary in coat colour and coat type. The most unusual are the long-haired (Peruvian, Shelter and Coronet) and the bald guinea pigs (Skinny and Baldwin).
  4. The capybara is a kind of XXL version of a guinea pig. It cannot be kept as a pet in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  5. Guinea pigs' nails have to be trimmed regularly. Their teeth also require some maintenance, like other rodents. Plenty of food that is rich in fibre, such as hay, will keep their teeth in optimal condition.

How do I make my guinea pig as comfortable as possible?

guinea pig​​Guinea pigs naturally live in groups and they tend to be happiest with another guinea pig. Two young animals (younger than five weeks) will almost always get on well with each other. The size of their home should be at least 80 x 50 cm. It is important to clean their home regularly. Their home does not need to be particularly high, as guinea pigs are not good climbers.

To cover the floor you can use (dust-free) wood shavings or hemp bedding. Make sure there is a dark area somewhere in a guinea pig's home. There are lots of types of houses. The guinea pig can sleep and shelter there.

Guinea pigs can overheat relatively easily. Make sure their home is not in an area that is hotter than 26 degrees Celsius. The ideal ambient temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.  Would you like to keep your guinea pig outside? This is also possible but you will then need to provide an adapted environment. A water- and windproof hutch is an absolute minimum.

guinea pig

For the professionals!

Ambition to breed?

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Are you already familiar with breeding guinea pigs?

When you consciously decide to breed, always make sure you have plenty of new homes for the young. A female guinea pig is known as a sow and can best be bred for the first time at the age of six to nine months. If she is first bred after the age of one year, this can be fatal for her as the connections between the pelvic bones are then hardened. Place the sow in the hutch of the male guinea pig (boar) and let her live there for a month to a maximum of two months. She is fertile once every two weeks and the gestation period will be at least ten weeks. In this period, the sow can remain with the boar.

Guinea pigs are often very friendly to each other. Make sure that the boar is separated well before the birth, not because he would harm the young but because the sow becomes fertile again straight after the birth and it is unhealthy for her to breed again immediately.

The young are born with their full coats and open eyes. They can walk and eat straight away. A suckling period of four weeks will often be problem-free, if the mother is provided with extra food and a lot of fresh vegetables (and of course unlimited hay). At four weeks old, the boars must be separated from the mother and sisters, as they can become fertile at this early age and could breed with their mother. The sows can remain with their mother a little longer.  

guinea pig

Rewards & treats

I like a snack sometimes too!

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A snack won't do any harm, but always use moderation!

Everyone likes to treat their pet sometimes but for pets that live in a restricted space, it's important not to just constantly provide snacks. Witte Molen's snacks for rodents are formulated with care so it's no problem to treat your guinea pigs to something tasty now and then when they've been good, could do with a little something extra or to reward them when you're training them.

Products for guinea pigs

Food, bedding and sticks!

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Are you already familiar with breeding guinea pigs?

When you consciously decide to breed, always make sure you have plenty of new homes for the young. A female guinea pig is known as a sow and can best be bred for the first time at the age of six to nine months. If she is first bred after the age of one year, this can be fatal for her as the connections between the pelvic bones are then hardened. Place the sow in the hutch of the male guinea pig (boar) and let her live there for a month to a maximum of two months. She is fertile once every two weeks and the gestation period will be at least ten weeks. In this period, the sow can remain with the boar.

Guinea pigs are often very friendly to each other. Make sure that the boar is separated well before the birth, not because he would harm the young but because the sow becomes fertile again straight after the birth and it is unhealthy for her to breed again immediately.

The young are born with their full coats and open eyes. They can walk and eat straight away. A suckling period of four weeks will often be problem-free, if the mother is provided with extra food and a lot of fresh vegetables (and of course unlimited hay). At four weeks old, the boars must be separated from the mother and sisters, as they can become fertile at this early age and could breed with their mother. The sows can remain with their mother a little longer.  

guinea pig

A snack won't do any harm, but always use moderation!

Everyone likes to treat their pet sometimes but for pets that live in a restricted space, it's important not to just constantly provide snacks. Witte Molen's snacks for rodents are formulated with care so it's no problem to treat your guinea pigs to something tasty now and then when they've been good, could do with a little something extra or to reward them when you're training them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I feed rabbit food to my guinea pig?

Guinea pigs can’t produce their own vitamin C, so they need to eat food which contains it. Rabbit food does not usually contain vitamin C, which is the main reason it is unsuitable for guinea pigs.

Why does my guinea pig need to eat hay?

A guinea pig’s digestive system is designed to process small amounts of high fibre food throughout the day. We can ensure this happens by making sure they have an unlimited supply of hay. The regular chewing motion also helps to keep their teeth filed. A guinea pig’s teeth keep growing throughout its life.

What other natural treats can I give to my guinea pigs?

Besides fresh vegetables there is a whole host of natural, dried treats you can feed to your guinea pigs, such as the Witte Molen PUUR chew sticks with carrot pieces, portions of hay with flowers, and delicious muesli snacks.