My grandchildren are giving serious consideration to getting a pair of guinea pigs. Can anyone comment on the best habitat? Is it a no to a vertical cage? What is the best size for a pair? Any other thoughts on guinea pig care would be appreciated.
I had guinea pigs as a kid and currently have one, and there are a few important things to consider:
- Store-bought cages are not suitable; they are often too small and made of plastic.
- Guinea pigs should always have at least one other guinea pig for companionship.
- They are sensitive to heat and cold, so they need to stay cool in the summer. I always keep them in the basement during the hotter months. In winter, they need to stay warm but should not get too hot.
- They absolutely should not have plastic in or near their cage to chew on.
- They always need access to hay, as it helps wear down their teeth. Without hay or grass, their teeth can grow too long and cause serious health issues.
- Guinea pigs are not pets you can forget about; they require checking on at least twice a day.
- Their spines are very fragile, so they should not have more than one level in their cage. If they are dropped, it can lead to paralysis.
- When getting guinea pigs, you should choose two of the same sex, and it’s best to double-check that they are not male/female pairs or pregnant.
Most importantly, consider the long-term commitment involved. Are the kids old enough to take on the responsibility of a pet? Guinea pigs can live from 5 to 8 years, so ensure they are prepared to care for them throughout their lives.
I hope that helps
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Look in CnC cages for guinea pigs. For diet, the same grass hay you feed a horse will be fine, along with guinea pig pellets, fresh veggies and some added vitamin c. I used kids chewable tablets and just let them eat however much they wanted. I never had trouble with them chewing plastic, but I’m sure they can. They do need something to chew on. I kept apple branches around for mine. Same sex pairs are best, unless you neuter the male. Guinea pigs can multiply at an impressive rate, lol.
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Thanks for the help; I really appreciate your information.
When I was a kid, we kept our single Guinea pig in a 20 gallon long aquarium, which sat on the dryer. Easy to clean and disinfect, and no bedding or poop got kicked out.
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20 years ago my niece was given guinea pigs and I started doing some research on the habitat.
I found that the devoted owners would get those cubicle shelves like you often see in retail stores and reconfigure them for their needs. They were usually high enough to keep the guinea pigs in. The flexible configuration allowed for a custom built. Some did add a second floor but the ramp was not very high and all happened in the geometry of the cube shelves.
they used corrugated plastic (like in campaign signs) as flooring. bought in large sheets like sign makers do. a little ledge bent up prevented the bedding from falling out.
Others fenced in a piece of the yard. to keep them in not much is needed, to keep others out, you need to do more work. A cousin had hers killed by a marten or something like that.
As to diet, they mostly agreed that the pelleted food was on the rich side. plenty of vegetables given on the side, not so much fruit. Guinea Pigs have a need for high vitamin C levels in their food.
and of course they need little huts to hide in.
This was 20 years ago and I built the cage myself, but it looks like the C&C type mentioned above. SUPER easy to make.
I had a double decker with a hedgehog on the first floor and 3 piggies on the top.
My pigs loved to jump up and nap on the ledge
And a pigloo is a must!!
And a salad bar with LOTS of cilantro. Big time favorite:
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yes, exactly! I am so tempted to get some Guinea Pigs, just to watch them stuffing their little faces with leafy greens. My niece’s little guys ate basil and dandelion like it was going out of style!
I had mine in college/mid 20’s and they were just a delight. I thought of them like small horses. The need a pal or two, they ate little pellets, and I shipped in the NICEST bluegrass hay from Washington State which they went nuts for. Anytime you open the produce drawer in the fridge you get a chorus of WHEEK WHEEKS!
I was on a forum similar to COTH but for guinea pigs too 
. They did Secret Santas for winter and summer solstice and I still have my prizes from participating.
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