Zooply rabbit and guinea pig food: the right pellets for every animal

Rabbits and guinea pigs are often mentioned in the same breath, and they do have a lot in common: both eat all day long, both have teeth that keep growing throughout their lives, and for both of them unlimited hay is the main food. Yet their food is not interchangeable. A guinea pig cannot make vitamin C itself and has to get it from its food every day. A rabbit does not need that extra vitamin C, but it does need pellets that suit its fibre-rich menu.

That is why in this category you will find the pellets and muesli from Zooply, our own premium brand, neatly together: two rabbit pellets, a guinea pig pellet with vitamin C and two complementary mueslis that suit both. We feed them every day to the rabbits and guinea pigs in our shop and breeding facility. Zooply was created because the products that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands.

At a glance

• ✓ Unlimited fresh hay is the main food for rabbits and guinea pigs alike; the pellets supplement it.
• ✓ Rabbits get Zooply Rabbit Food, guinea pigs Zooply Guinea Pig Food with vitamin C. Do not swap them.
• ✓ All Zooply pellets are uniformly pressed, so your animal cannot eat selectively.
• ✓ The muesli is given on top of the pellets, never instead of them.
• ✓ Always introduce a different food gradually, spread over 1 to 2 weeks.

What will you find in the Zooply Rabbit & Guinea Pig Food category?

Zooply Rabbit Food

This is the fibre-rich basic pellet for rabbits, made in the Netherlands. According to the product information it contains no added herbs, sugars, gluten or maize meal, and vitamins and minerals have been added. That simple composition makes it suitable for rabbits of all ages and breeds. The label recommends about 30 to 35 grams per kilo of body weight per day. You can choose between a 3 kg bucket or a 10 kg bag.

Zooply Rabbit Food with Digestive Support

The second rabbit pellet comes from Germany. It is rich in fibre and, according to the product information, contains alfalfa and linseed, among other things, with added herbs such as parsley. Here too there is no maize meal and no gluten. The name refers to the composition, with extra attention to digestion; it is simply food and not a remedy for gut problems. The feeding amount is the same as for the regular Zooply Rabbit Food. Available in 3.5 kg and 10 kg.

Zooply Guinea Pig Food with vitamin C

Zooply Guinea Pig Food is a complete, uniformly pressed guinea pig pellet from the Netherlands with added vitamin C. The pellet is rich in fibre and, according to its properties, contains no added herbs. The label recommends about 25 to 30 grams per kilo of body weight per day. For a guinea pig weighing 1 kilo, that means 25 to 30 grams. You can choose between 3 kg or a 10 kg bag, which is handy if you keep a larger group of guinea pigs.

Zooply Support Muesli

The Support Muesli is a light, fibre-rich muesli for rabbits and guinea pigs that you give every day on top of the pellets. According to the product information it does not contain a high amount of sugars. The label gives about 75 grams per animal per day, depending on age, size and needs. According to the label, for young growing animals the muesli may make up a larger part of the menu; for adult animals it remains a supplement. In this category you will find the 1750 gram and 7 kg packs.

Zooply Energy Muesli

The Energy Muesli is richer in energy and intended for periods when your rabbit or guinea pig could use a little extra: cold months, recovery, moulting, pregnancy or a period of reduced appetite. So it is a temporary supplement, not something to give all year round. Give a small, appropriate amount alongside the regular pellets and phase it out again once the period is over. The 1750 gram bag is not resealable; after opening, transfer the muesli to a well-sealing storage container. There is also a 7.5 kg bulk pack.

Rabbit or guinea pig: why each needs its own pellets

The main difference is vitamin C. Rabbits produce it themselves, guinea pigs do not. A guinea pig that gets no vitamin C runs into problems within a short time. That is why Zooply Guinea Pig Food contains added vitamin C. If you give your guinea pigs rabbit pellets, they miss out on it. In addition, give guinea pigs some fresh vegetables every day that naturally contain vitamin C, such as bell pepper.

If you keep rabbits and guinea pigs in the same household, feed each their own pellets. Place the bowls where only the intended animals can reach them. Incidentally, we do not recommend keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together in one enclosure: they communicate differently, and a rabbit is bigger and stronger.

Why pressed pellets?

We advise against a mix of grains, seeds and loose pellets as the main food for rabbits and guinea pigs. They pick out the tasty, often sweet or fatty bits and leave the rest. With uniformly pressed pellets that is not possible: every pellet has the same composition, so your animal gets the same nutrients with every bite. That is why all three Zooply pellets in this category are pressed.

The Zooply muesli is a separate matter. It is not intended as the main food, but as a deliberate addition on top of complete pellets and unlimited hay. So your animal first gets everything it needs from hay and pellets. The Support Muesli then adds variety, the Energy Muesli a bit of extra energy, also daily.

Building a daily menu

For a rabbit

Start with unlimited fresh hay in a hay rack, topped up every day. Alongside it you weigh out the pellets: according to the label, a rabbit weighing 2 kilos gets about 60 to 70 grams of Zooply Rabbit Food per day. Give some fresh greens and leaves every day, building them up gradually. Keep fruit and sweet snacks very small. If you want to give muesli, it comes on top of this menu.

For a guinea pig

For guinea pigs too, unlimited hay comes first. According to the label, a guinea pig weighing 1.2 kilos gets about 30 to 36 grams of Zooply Guinea Pig Food per day. Supplement that with fresh vegetables every day, especially vegetables containing vitamin C. Here too, muesli only comes after that, as a supplement.

Weigh your animals now and then. If they stay at a stable weight and eat plenty of hay, the menu is right. If your animal is eating noticeably less hay since you started giving muesli, reduce the muesli portion. If the weight clearly changes, consult a vet with knowledge of rabbits or guinea pigs.

Switching to Zooply

Rabbits and guinea pigs have a sensitive digestion. So first mix a little Zooply into the old food and increase that share step by step, spread over 1 to 2 weeks. The same applies if you switch between the regular Zooply Rabbit Food and the variant with digestive support. During that period, keep an eye on the droppings: they should be round, dry and regular. If they are softer or smaller, take more time. If your animal stops eating or no droppings appear, go straight to a vet.

Handy combinations

Good pellets work best as part of a complete menu. These Zooply categories go with them:

• Zooply hay and straw: the main food for rabbits and guinea pigs, plus straw for a warm, dry enclosure.
• Zooply herbal hay for variety in scent and taste, so your animal keeps enjoying its hay.
• Zooply dried herbs to mix through the hay or hide.
• Zooply bedding for a dry, fresh enclosure and a clean litter tray.

Frequently asked questions about Zooply rabbit and guinea pig food

Can my guinea pig eat rabbit food?

No, preferably not. Zooply Rabbit Food contains no extra vitamin C, and guinea pigs have to get it from their food every day. A guinea pig that gets only rabbit pellets for a long time is at risk of a deficiency. So give guinea pigs Zooply Guinea Pig Food and fresh vegetables containing vitamin C every day. If a guinea pig occasionally pinches a few of the rabbit's pellets, that is not a problem.

Which rabbit pellet should I choose: regular or with digestive support?

Both are complete, pressed pellets with the same feeding amount. The regular Zooply Rabbit Food is a simple pellet without added herbs, from the Netherlands. The variant with digestive support comes from Germany, contains alfalfa and linseed, among other things, and has added herbs such as parsley. Some rabbits find that scent and taste especially appealing. Choose what your rabbit eats well and tolerates, and do not switch back and forth without a reason.

How much Support Muesli do I give?

The label gives about 75 grams per animal per day, depending on age, size and needs. According to the label, young growing animals may get a larger share. For adult animals it remains a supplement alongside unlimited hay and the pellets. Above all, watch the hay: if your animal keeps eating plenty of hay and stays at a healthy weight, the amount is right.

When do I give the Energy Muesli?

You can give the Energy Muesli daily as a supplement. It is especially valuable when an animal could use some extra energy, such as cold months for outdoor animals, recovery after illness, moulting, pregnancy or a period of reduced appetite. Give a small amount alongside the regular pellets and phase it out again once it is over. If your animal is eating poorly or losing weight, have a vet look at it first; muesli does not solve the underlying cause.

How do I store bulk packs of 7 to 10 kg?

Store the food in a dry, cool and dark place, in a well-sealing food bin or bucket. That way scent, taste and vitamins are better preserved and no moisture or pests can get in. Vitamin C in guinea pig food in particular slowly deteriorates if the food is left open, warm or in the light for a long time. If you only have one or two animals, it is better to choose the smaller pack, so you use the food up more quickly.

Is this food suitable for young rabbits and guinea pigs?

Yes. According to the product information, all three pellets are suitable for all ages. Young animals do have an extra sensitive digestion, though, so switch calmly and keep the menu simple. Give them unlimited hay from the start. According to the label, the Support Muesli may make up a larger part of the menu for young animals.

Zooply rabbit and guinea pig food at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza you will find the pellets and muesli we use ourselves every day for the rabbits and guinea pigs in our shop and breeding facility. Zooply is our own premium brand: for each product group, only the option we fully stand behind. Choose the pellets that belong with your animal, combine them with unlimited Zooply hay and fresh water, and use the muesli deliberately as a supplement.