Guinea pig food with vitamin C: the daily pellet alongside unlimited hay

Guinea pigs have one peculiarity that shapes their diet: they cannot make vitamin C themselves. They have to get this vitamin from their food every single day. That is why, alongside unlimited hay and fresh vegetables every day, a guinea pig gets a pellet specially formulated for guinea pigs, with vitamin C. Rabbit food or general rodent food is not suitable for this.

In this category you will find a deliberately small range: the guinea pig pellet and the supplementary muesli from Zooply, our own premium brand. Zooply was created because the products that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands. We feed this guinea pig food every day to the guinea pigs in our shop in Bodegraven and in our breeding facility. For each product group we only choose the option we fully stand behind.

At a glance

• ✓ Unlimited hay is the foundation; guinea pig food with vitamin C complements it every day.
• ✓ According to the label, give roughly 25 to 30 grams of Zooply Guinea Pig Food per kilo of body weight per day.
• ✓ Zooply Guinea Pig Food is uniformly pressed: every pellet is the same, so your guinea pig cannot eat selectively.
• ✓ Give Zooply Support Muesli and Energy Muesli on top of the pellets, never instead of them.
• ✓ Also give fresh vegetables every day, such as bell pepper, and introduce new food over 1 to 2 weeks.

What will you find in the Guinea Pig Food category?

Zooply Guinea Pig Food

Zooply Guinea Pig Food is a complete pellet for guinea pigs with extra vitamin C, produced in the Netherlands. The pellet is rich in fibre, easily digestible and deliberately contains no added herbs. The pellets are uniformly pressed, so your guinea pig gets the same nutrients with every bite. The food is suitable for guinea pigs of all ages. You can choose 3 kg, in a bag or bucket, or a 10 kg bag for those with several guinea pigs.

Zooply Support Muesli

Zooply Support Muesli is a supplementary muesli for rabbits and guinea pigs. You give it daily on top of the pellets, alongside unlimited hay and fresh water. According to the product information, the mix is easily digestible and rich in fibre and does not contain high amounts of sugar. It is suitable for young and adult animals; according to the label, the muesli may make up a larger share of the menu for young animals. You can choose 1750 grams, 2.5 kg or a large 7 kg pack.

Zooply Energy Muesli

Zooply Energy Muesli is an energy-rich supplementary muesli for rabbits and guinea pigs. It is intended for periods when a guinea pig could use a little extra: cold months, recovery, moulting, pregnancy or a period of reduced appetite. It is not a muesli to give all year round. The packaging is not resealable; after opening, transfer the muesli to a container that closes well. You can choose 1750 grams or 7.5 kg.

Why vitamin C is so important

For a guinea pig, vitamin C is not an extra but a daily necessity. A guinea pig can barely store vitamin C, so it must be in the menu every day. A deficiency can show up as lethargy, reduced appetite, a poorer coat or painful walking. If you notice signs like these, contact a vet with experience of rodents.

Zooply Guinea Pig Food helps provide vitamin C every day, but it is not the only source. Also give fresh vegetables that naturally contain vitamin C every day, such as bell pepper. Vitamin C in food decreases over time, especially if a bag is left open for a long time. So choose a pack size you will use up within a reasonable time and store the food dry, cool and tightly closed.

Why a pressed pellet as daily guinea pig food?

We advise against a mix of grains, seeds and loose bits as the main food for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs pick out the tasty pieces, which are often sweet or fatty, and leave the rest. Yet it is precisely those leftover pieces that often contain the vitamins and minerals they need. With a uniformly pressed pellet that is not possible: every pellet has the same composition. That is why we chose this form for Zooply Guinea Pig Food.

Zooply Support Muesli and Energy Muesli are something different. They do not replace the pellets, but are deliberate additions on top of a complete pellet and unlimited hay. So your guinea pig first gets everything it needs from hay, pellets and vegetables, and the muesli adds extra variety or, in the case of the Energy Muesli, a little extra energy during a demanding period.

How much guinea pig food do you give per day?

For Zooply Guinea Pig Food, the label recommends roughly 25 to 30 grams per kilo of body weight per day. So a guinea pig of 1 kilo gets roughly 25 to 30 grams, and a hefty guinea pig of 1.3 kilos roughly 33 to 39 grams. Weigh the food with kitchen scales for the first few weeks; judging by eye, you soon give too much.

Do not keep topping up the food bowl whenever it is empty. A guinea pig that can eat pellets all day eats less hay. And hay is exactly what is needed for the gut and for wearing down the teeth and molars, which keep growing throughout life. If you have several guinea pigs, put down more than one food bowl so a dominant guinea pig does not eat everything.

For the Support Muesli, the label states roughly 75 grams per animal per day, depending on age, size and needs. With your own guinea pig, the main thing to watch is whether it keeps eating plenty of hay: if it eats noticeably less hay or gains weight, reduce the muesli portion. Weigh your guinea pig every few weeks for this.

Switching to a different guinea pig food

A guinea pig's digestion is sensitive to sudden changes. If you are switching to Zooply Guinea Pig Food, do it gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. Start by mixing a small amount of the new food into the old food and increase that share every few days, until you are giving only the new food. If you are starting with muesli, build that up calmly too.

During that period, keep an eye on the droppings: they should be firm, dry and oval. If you see soft droppings, take a step back. If you have just bought a young guinea pig, first give it the food it was used to for a while, so it does not have to cope with a new environment and new food all at once.

Guinea pig food in every life stage

Zooply Guinea Pig Food is suitable for young and adult guinea pigs. Young guinea pigs grow quickly and need calm, consistent nutrition with plenty of hay. According to the label, the Support Muesli can make up a larger share for young animals; build that up gradually too.

With older guinea pigs, it pays to keep a close eye on weight and appetite. If an older guinea pig leaves pellets behind or eats less hay, something may be wrong with its teeth. Have that checked by a vet with experience of rodents. For pregnant sows, guinea pigs that are recovering and guinea pigs in a cold outdoor enclosure, the Energy Muesli is a great daily supplement alongside the regular pellets.

Useful combinations

Guinea pig food only works well if the rest of the menu is right:

• Hay: offer unlimited Zooply hay, the largest part of the menu.
• Food bowls: a heavy bowl that does not tip over, and enough feeding spots for several guinea pigs.
• Hay racks: keep the hay clean, so your guinea pig eats more of it.
• Dried herbs: mix Zooply herbs through the hay for extra variety.
• Water bottles: anyone eating dry pellets and hay must always have access to fresh water.

Frequently asked questions about guinea pig food

Can I give my guinea pig rabbit food?

No. Rabbit food is formulated for rabbits and does not contain the extra vitamin C a guinea pig needs every day. So always give your guinea pig a guinea pig pellet with vitamin C, such as Zooply Guinea Pig Food. Zooply Support Muesli and Energy Muesli, on the other hand, are formulated for both rabbits and guinea pigs.

Is guinea pig food with vitamin C enough, or does my guinea pig need vegetables too?

Give both. The pellet is an important daily source of vitamin C, but vitamin C in food decreases over time. Fresh vegetables containing vitamin C, such as bell pepper, provide a second, reliable source. Introduce new types of vegetable calmly.

Can I give my guinea pig unlimited guinea pig food?

No. Hay is given without limit, pellets are not. According to the label, roughly 25 to 30 grams per kilo of body weight per day is the guideline. If a guinea pig gets more, it eats less hay and becomes overweight more easily. That is bad for the gut and for wearing down the teeth and molars.

Can I give Support Muesli and Energy Muesli at the same time?

Not in full portions. The Support Muesli is the daily supplement, the Energy Muesli an energy-rich extra you can also give daily, especially useful in more demanding periods. If you want to give Energy Muesli during a cold spell or recovery, replace part of the Support Muesli rather than adding a full extra portion.

My guinea pig leaves its pellets. What can I do?

First check whether your guinea pig is eating hay and producing droppings normally. If so, it may be getting too many extras such as snacks, fruit or muesli. Stop the extras for a few days and give the pellets at fixed times. If your guinea pig is also eating less hay, losing weight or lethargic, contact a vet with experience of rodents straight away.

How long can I keep guinea pig food?

Check the packaging for the best-before date. Store the food dry, cool and dark, in a tightly closed bag or storage container. Do not tip new food on top of leftover old food. Choose a pack size that matches the number of guinea pigs, so the food stays fresh and the vitamin C is preserved as well as possible.

Buying guinea pig food at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you choose guinea pig food we stand behind ourselves. Zooply is our own premium brand: we feed the pellets and the muesli every day to the guinea pigs in our shop and breeding facility. Combine Zooply Guinea Pig Food with unlimited hay, fresh vegetables and fresh water, and your guinea pigs have a complete foundation with vitamin C every day.