Everything for guinea pigs: food, housing and care in one place

Guinea pigs are sociable, chatty animals that let you know what they want with their squeaks and purrs. They are easy to handle, but they do have clear needs: the company of their own kind, unlimited hay, vitamin C every day, a roomy enclosure with hiding places and a dry, low-dust floor. Get those basics right and you will enjoy healthy, relaxed guinea pigs for years.

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein in Bodegraven, you will find everything you need for that. The heart of the range is Zooply, our own premium brand for hay, guinea pig food, herbs, snacks and bedding. Zooply was created because the products that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands. We use it every day for the guinea pigs in our shop and breeding facility. You will also find cages, runs, houses, tunnels and care products from other brands.

At a glance

• ✓ Keep guinea pigs at least in pairs: they are herd animals.
• ✓ Unlimited hay, daily guinea pig food with vitamin C, fresh vegetables and fresh water form the foundation.
• ✓ A roomy, low enclosure with plenty of floor space and at least one hiding place per guinea pig.
• ✓ A dry, low-dust bedding; guinea pigs live close to the ground.
• ✓ Draught-free, not in full sun and not too warm: above roughly 25 °C you need to be careful.

What will you find in the Guinea Pigs category?

Guinea Pig Food & Snacks

In Guinea Pig Food & Snacks you will find the foundation of the menu. Hay from Zooply in various types, from Dutch meadow hay to Austrian alpine hay and herbal hay. Guinea pig food: Zooply Guinea Pig Food, a uniformly pressed pellet with extra vitamin C, with supplementary Zooply muesli. Plus Dried herbs, Snacks and Chew wood.

Bedding

Bedding contains the low-dust Zooply bedding made of hemp, wood fibre, cotton, shredded cardboard and coconut, plus Zooply Straw as a warm layer and mats and blankets for a soft place to lie.

Care & Grooming

In Care & Grooming you will find food bowls, water bottles, hay racks, products for health and grooming, and transport boxes for a visit to the vet.

Hutches & Cages

Hutches & Cages contains indoor cages, outdoor hutches and runs for extra space to roam.

Accessories

In Accessories you will find houses, tunnels, beds and toys to furnish the enclosure in a safe and interesting way.

Guinea pigs are herd animals

A guinea pig on its own is not a happy guinea pig. Guinea pigs communicate with each other constantly, eat together and feel safer in company. So keep them at least in pairs. Popular combinations are two sows, or a neutered boar with one or more sows. More guinea pigs does mean more space, more hiding places and more places to eat and drink, so that nobody gets pushed out.

The basic starter set for new guinea pigs

Are you about to bring guinea pigs home? This is what you need from day one:

• A roomy indoor cage or outdoor hutch, with as much floor space as possible.
• Low-dust bedding, for example Zooply Hemp Fibre or Wood Fibre.
• Zooply hay and a hay rack.
• Zooply Guinea Pig Food with vitamin C and a heavy food bowl.
• A water bottle and possibly a heavy water bowl.
• At least one house per guinea pig, preferably with two exits, and a tunnel.
• A transport box for bringing them home and for visits to the vet.

With these basics you can get started. You then add herbs, snacks, chew wood and toys to make your guinea pigs' lives more varied.

The enclosure: roomy, low and safe

Guinea pigs hardly climb at all. So they gain nothing from high levels with steep ramps, but they do benefit from plenty of floor space to run and explore. A cage from the shop is often the minimum; the bigger, the better. A run for extra space, indoors or in the garden, makes a big difference.

Guinea pigs are easily startled prey animals. They want to be able to hide at any moment. Provide at least one hiding place per guinea pig and preferably an extra one. Houses with two exits are ideal, because a guinea pig is then never trapped when another animal comes in. Put the enclosure in a quiet, draught-free spot, not in full sun and not next to the radiator, the TV or speakers.

If you keep your guinea pigs outdoors, the hutch must be waterproof, draught-free and sheltered from sun, rain and frost. Guinea pigs do not cope well with cold and damp. Extra straw on a dry floor in winter is no luxury.

Diet: hay, pellets, vegetables and water

A guinea pig's menu rests on four pillars. Unlimited hay, because it is good for the gut and wears down the continuously growing teeth and molars. Guinea pig food with vitamin C, because guinea pigs cannot make this vitamin themselves; according to the label, roughly 25 to 30 grams of Zooply Guinea Pig Food per kilo of body weight per day. Fresh vegetables every day, such as bell pepper. And always fresh, clean water.

Dried herbs, snacks and the odd piece of fruit are extras. Give them in small amounts and deliberately, so your guinea pigs keep eating plenty of hay. Always introduce new food gradually, over 1 to 2 weeks.

Daily and weekly care

A fixed routine keeps caring for guinea pigs manageable. Every day you refresh the water and hay, give pellets and vegetables, remove wet patches from the bedding and check that everyone is eating and active. Every week you replace all the bedding, clean the water and food bowls thoroughly and weigh your guinea pigs.

Check the nails regularly; they keep growing and in many guinea pigs need trimming now and then. Brush long-haired guinea pigs more often to prevent tangles. When you pick them up, also check their eyes, ears, coat and the soles of their feet.

Enrichment and exercise

Guinea pigs in an indoor enclosure have less to discover than guinea pigs grazing outdoors. With a few simple items you can make their day more varied. Tunnels and houses in different places get them running laps and playing hide and seek. A pinch of Zooply herbs mixed through the hay or a Zooply Field bundle tucked into the bedding sets them foraging. Chew branches and a piece of chew wood give them something to gnaw on. Change the layout a little now and then, but not everything at once: guinea pigs love fixed habits.

If possible, let your guinea pigs run every day in a safe run or enclosed area. Young guinea pigs often do happy little jumps in the air (popcorning). In the garden, always supervise them, provide shade and a hiding place, and never put the run in full sun.

Transport and holidays

For short trips, for example to the vet or a pet sitter, use a well-ventilated, lockable transport box with some bedding and a handful of hay. Preferably transport guinea pigs that live together together; it keeps them calm. Never leave the box in full sun or in a warm car. If you go on holiday, arrange a sitter who comes daily and give clear instructions about hay, pellets, vegetables and water.

Health: see the vet in good time

Guinea pigs do not readily show that they are feeling unwell. So watch for small changes. Not eating or eating less, weight loss, lethargy, fewer droppings, diarrhoea, drooling, breathing problems or wet eyes and nose are signs to contact a vet with experience of rodents straight away. A guinea pig that is not eating can deteriorate quickly. Care products support grooming and care, but never replace a vet.

Frequently asked questions about guinea pigs

How much space do two guinea pigs need?

As much as possible. Guinea pigs mainly need floor space to run and explore, not height. A cage from the shop is often the minimum; with a run or a larger home-built enclosure you give them much more room. The more space, the more natural behaviour you see and the less squabbling.

Can I keep a guinea pig on its own?

We do not recommend it. Guinea pigs are herd animals and need the company of their own kind. A rabbit is no substitute: rabbits and guinea pigs communicate differently and need different food.

What does a guinea pig eat?

Unlimited hay, a weighed portion of guinea pig food with vitamin C, fresh vegetables every day and fresh water. Dried herbs, snacks and a small piece of fruit are extras. Rabbit food is not suitable, because it does not contain the extra vitamin C that a guinea pig needs.

Can guinea pigs live indoors and outdoors?

Both are possible. Indoors, the enclosure should be draught-free and out of the sun, not next to the radiator. Outdoors, the hutch must be waterproof, sheltered and well insulated, with a dry floor and extra straw in winter. In heat above roughly 25 °C and in severe frost you need to take extra care.

Which bedding is best for guinea pigs?

A low-dust, highly absorbent bedding, such as Zooply Hemp Fibre, Wood Fibre, Cotton Fibre or Shredded Cardboard. According to the Zooply packaging, a base layer of about 5 cm is enough. Remove wet patches daily and replace the whole layer as soon as it no longer smells fresh.

How long do guinea pigs live?

A guinea pig lives on average around five to eight years, sometimes longer. Good nutrition with unlimited hay and daily vitamin C, a roomy and dry enclosure, company and timely visits to the vet all contribute to a long and healthy life. Bear that in mind when you take on guinea pigs: it is a commitment for years.

How do I tame my guinea pigs?

With patience and fixed moments. Sit quietly by the enclosure, talk softly and offer a small piece of vegetable or a snack on your flat hand. Let your guinea pigs come to you and do not suddenly pick them up from above. After a few weeks most guinea pigs recognise you and come towards you squeaking.

Everything for your guinea pigs at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find everything for healthy, contented guinea pigs: from Zooply hay, guinea pig food and bedding to cages, houses and care products. Zooply is our own premium brand, which we use every day for the guinea pigs in our shop and breeding facility. That way you can put together a complete starter set with confidence.