Guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own vitamin C. Even though the guinea pig food does contain vitamin C, it isn’t always enough. Supplementing a teaspoon of vitamin C liquid to a 12 ounce water bottle is recommended. Vitamin C deteriorates quickly, so it should be added to fresh water daily.

Guinea pigs should be fed a diet of hay, pellets, fresh fruits and vegetables. Hay is important because it aids in their digestion of foods. New foods should be introduced slowly and one at a time. Broccoli and cauliflower are great vegetables because of their high vitamin C content.

Fruits also have vitamin C, but they should only be given in small amounts.

A guinea pig cage must have good ventilation, a solid bottom and be large enough for the guinea pigs to freely move around. The cage should also have a hide box. A cardboard or wood box with an open bottom and hole cut in the side work well. Even with a large cage, guinea pigs need daily exercise. Be sure the guinea pig is under supervision at all times when out of cage.

Start with a layer of newspaper at the bottom of the cage. Hay is a cheap and safe bedding material to put on top. Cedar chips are not recommended. Any bedding used should be changed daily. A thorough cleaning of the cage should be done at least once a week.

Food and Water Dishes

Ceramic dishes are the best food dishes because they do not tip easily. Water bottles with sipper tubes are better than water dishes, because bedding cannot get into them. However, guinea pigs do spit into their water bottles, so they should be cleaned daily.

Guinea pigs may become sexually mature as early as four weeks, so it is important to separate the different sexes by then. They are born with eyes open and a full coat.

Biological Data

Murmurs, gurgles, grunts = contentment, comfort, shared feelings

Squeals, squeaks = warning, loneliness, fear, pain, begging

Cooing = reassurance

Rattles, hisses, teeth clacking = aggression, threatening, warning

Growls, grunts, rattling = male arousal sounds