Guinea Pigs as Pets: Pros & Cons

It's hard to resist the adorable face of a cute little guinea pig. These friendly critters are social, docile, and adaptable, which makes them excellent pets. There’s more to keeping them happy and healthy than meets the eye, however, so it's important to understand the pros and cons of keeping a guinea pig as a pet before you get one.

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Pro: They're Very Social

Unlike some other small animals, guinea pigs are domesticated and highly social.

They enjoy spending time with people and are famously cuddly. Many also enjoy playing with their owners, and they can even be trained to some degree. This makes them ideal for people who want a social animal that's smaller than a dog or a cat.

Con: They Need Constant Interaction

That social nature can be a drawback, too. If you decide to buy a solo guinea pig, you’ll need to make sure you spend a significant amount of time interacting with it each day. Guinea pigs do better when they have a companion of their own species, which can require additional time and expense on your part. Even when they have a companion, they do best with daily playtime and interaction with people as well. If you're looking for a low-maintenance pet, a less social animal may be a better fit.

Pro: Their Diet is Simple

Guinea pigs are herbivores, so it's easy to find the ingredients required to feed them a healthy and well-balanced diet. The core of their diets should be a high-quality grass hay, which they will generally nibble on throughout the day. Avoid alfalfa or other high-protein hay as it can be a little too rich for guinea pigs.

Their diets can also be supplemented with a moderate number of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy greens. Commercial guinea pig pellets can also help ensure a balanced diet but be sure you pick one specifically designed for guinea pigs (as it will mostly contain vitamin C). Pellets designed for other small animals, such as rabbits, may look similar but contain the wrong mix of nutrients and can cause problems for your guinea pig.

Guinea Pigs need additional sources of vitamin C in their diet as their bodies don’t produce it normally like other animals. Along with pellets with vitamin C, you can also make sure the fruits and veggies you feed them are high in vitamin C. They also have vitamin C tablets you can give them to ensure they have everything they need to stay happy and healthy.

Con: Feeding Them Takes Some Effort

As noted above, guinea pigs like to be given fresh fruits and vegetables daily. But what they really need is a constant source of clean, fresh grass hay to nibble on. They generally don't soil their hay if they have a large enough habitat, but you do need to check it daily to make sure it's clean and being consumed at a normal rate.

Guinea pigs also have teeth that grow constantly throughout their lifetimes, which requires them to always have something to nibble on. Grass hay itself is abrasive and helps with this, but it's also important to make sure guinea pigs have nibble sticks or other treats to help wear down their teeth.

To keep your guinea pig stimulated, it can also help to put food in unusual spots or create simple puzzles for your furry friend to solve. This can be as simple as hiding a little bit of food in a toilet paper roll or tucked into a bit of crumpled paper.

Pro: Creating a Habitat is Easy

Guinea pigs are adaptable creatures who do well in a variety of environments. They tend to thrive indoors at a variety of temperatures, so if you’re comfortable, your guinea pig probably will be too. The big things to make sure you avoid indoors are spots with excessive sunlight or excessive dampness.

Their enclosures can also be made from a variety of materials. Wood is not recommended because they enjoy chewing on it, but wire, plastic, and glass are good choices.

Con: They Need More Space Than You Think

Many of us are used to seeing guinea pigs in small enclosures, but these little critters need some room to roam. As a baseline, a single guinea pig needs about 100 square inches at a minimum, and that still requires them to spend plenty of time outside of the enclosure. If you want your guinea pig to spend more time confined, you should look at having at least 7.5 square feet for a single guinea pig to explore. Those amounts need to be increased for each additional guinea pig.

These friendly and energetic animals require a bit of work, but they can thrive as pets in the right situation. If you start with the right basics, such as a spacious enclosure and a balanced diet including fresh hay shipped right to your door from RabbitHoleHay.com, then all it takes is some time and love to keep them healthy and happy.