Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Guinea Pigs: What I Wish I’d Known Before Day One
Hey, if you’re googling beginner’s guide to caring for guinea pigs right now because you’re about to bring home your first pair, you just saved yourself a ton of headaches. I’m Joshua Van, founder and senior editor at Diggity Dog Pet Care, and yeah, I’ve been in your shoes. My wife and I grabbed our first two piggies back in 2018 thinking they’d be super easy little pets. Turns out I got a lot wrong at first, but those mistakes taught me way more than any book ever could. So here’s the straight talk version the stuff that actually works in a real house with real kids and real schedules in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- You need at least two guinea pigs or they get lonely fast
- Tiny pet-store cages are way too small they need room to run
- Hay has to be in front of them 24/7
- Fresh veggies every day for vitamin C or they can get really sick
- Spot clean daily, full clean weekly, and you’ll avoid most problems
- Find an exotic vet now, before anything goes wrong
- Get this stuff right and you’ll have years of wheeking, popcorn jumps, and little conversations
Why We Ended Up Loving Guinea Pigs So Much
They only weigh a couple pounds but they live 5 to 8 years with decent care. Ours are loud, nosy, and once they know you, they’ll come running when you walk in the room. My kids still argue over who gets to hold them after dinner. They’re active in the daytime, which is nice when the whole family is home.
But nobody at the pet store tells you they’re not “set and forget.” They need space, buddies, and a routine or they stress out quick. Do it right though and they become little family members who actually seem happy to see you.
How We Chose Ours (And Why You Shouldn’t Get Just One)
Guinea pigs are herd animals. One by itself will sit in the corner and mope. So we got a pair right from the start. Same-sex is simplest, or get them fixed if you want a boy and girl.
We went through a rescue and I’m glad we did. The lady there already had them bonded and could tell us who was bossy and who was shy. Look for bright eyes, no runny nose, and one that comes over to check you out instead of hiding.
The Cage Situation This Is Where I Screwed Up First
I bought one of those cute little cages with the plastic bottom and wire top. Big mistake. Guinea pigs need flat floor space, not height. The rescue folks and the Humane Society both say at least 7.5 square feet for two, but I went bigger after the first month because they looked cramped.
We switched to a C&C cage (those grid things with the plastic sheet on the bottom) and never looked back. Cheap, you can make it any size, and cleaning is actually doable. We keep ours in the living room where the temperature stays 65–75°F, away from windows and the heater vent.
For bedding we use fleece over puppy pads now. Way softer on their feet than the cedar shavings I used at first (that stuff can irritate their lungs, learned that the hard way). Add a couple hideouts, a hay rack, and some tunnels and they’re set.
Feeding Them Hay Is the Main Event
If there’s one thing I hammer home in every guinea pig care chat, it’s this: fresh timothy or orchard hay all day long. They eat it, sleep on it, play in it. It keeps their teeth ground down and their digestion moving.
We give a small scoop of plain guinea pig pellets each morning. No fancy mixes with seeds and colored bits. Then every evening they get a big handful of veggies red bell peppers are their favorite for vitamin C. Romaine, parsley, cilantro, carrot tops, whatever’s fresh at the store. A tiny bit of fruit once or twice a week is fine, but that’s it.
Water bottle gets changed every single day. And we introduce any new veggie slowly because their tummies can get upset easy.
Our Daily Routine (Nothing Fancy)
Morning: top off the hay, fresh pellets, fresh water, quick scoop of the obvious poop piles.
Evening: chop veggies, add more hay, and let them have floor time or lap time for half an hour or so. They popcorn like crazy when they’re happy.
Once a week I pull everything out, wash the fleece, wipe the cage, and move the hideouts around so it feels new. Takes twenty minutes and the smell stays way down.
Grooming Stuff I Wish I’d Known Sooner
Short-haired ones just need a quick brush once a week. Our long-haired girl needs it every day or she turns into a tangled mess. Nails we trim every month or so first time I let the vet show me because I was scared of cutting too short.
They keep themselves pretty clean most of the time. We only bathe if the vet says so.
When Things Look Off Don’t Wait
These guys hide pain really well. We weigh ours every Sunday on the kitchen scale. If they stop eating, stop pooping normally, hunch up, breathe weird, or lose weight, we head straight to the exotic vet.
Common stuff we’ve dealt with: scurvy from not enough vitamin C (totally preventable), sniffles from drafts or bad bedding, and sore feet from a dirty cage. Annual checkups have saved us money and stress more than once.
FAQs I Get Asked All the Time
How long do they live?
Usually 5 to 8 years if you keep up with the basics. Long enough they really feel like part of the family.
Can they stay outside?
Only if your weather is perfect year-round and the hutch is predator-proof and insulated. We keep ours inside where we can watch them.
What cage is best for someone who’s never done this?
A 2×4 C&C or bigger with fleece. Easy to clean and you can always make it longer later.
Do they need baths?
Almost never. We just spot clean if someone gets messy.
Are they okay around kids?
Yes, as long as the kids know to be gentle and an adult is right there.
How much does it run a month for two?
Usually $30–60 for food and bedding. Vet visits are extra but way cheaper than emergencies.
Can they eat carrots every day?
A slice or two is fine, but we mix it up so they get different vitamins.
One Last Thing Before You Go
Watching our piggies wheek at the fridge door or zoom across the living room still makes me grin every time. If you follow the simple stuff in this beginner’s guide to caring for guinea pigs, you’ll have happy, healthy little buddies that make your house louder and way more fun.
Got questions or your own piggy stories? Leave them in the comments I actually read every one. And seriously, check your local rescue first. There are so many waiting for a good home.
Take it easy and enjoy those little squeakers, Joshua Van Founder & Senior Editor, Diggity Dog Pet Care
References
- Animal Humane Society guinea pig pages (2025 update)
- Humane Society of the United States care guidelines
- PetMD current exotic pet advice (2026)
- Kavee care blog posts from 2025
- VCA Animal Hospitals guinea pig health info
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