How to Care for a New Guiea pig | Birdsville small animal expert

Bringing home a new Guinea Pig? these animals are incredibly social, playful little personalities that truly shine when they have a friend by their side. We recommend keeping two of the same sex, as pairs thrive together and provide each other with companionship and confidence. Whether you choose boys or girls, both make fantastic, affectionate pets, and when raised together, two boys or two girls can live happily side by side. Watching them interact, popcorn with excitement, and chat to each other is part of the fun! For more tips, care advice and to see our adorable guinea pigs, check out our website, Facebook and Instagram for more information about guinea pigs.

Basic Information

Guinea pigs are friendly, social little companions that make wonderful family pets. With a lifespan of 4 to 6 years, they are a rewarding long-term addition to the home. Adults typically weigh between 500g and 800g, making them easy to handle and suitable for gentle interaction. Guinea pigs require a secure enclosure that is a minimum of 3 feet long, though larger is always recommended to give them room to move and explore. They thrive with plenty of fresh hay, quality pellets, daily vegetables rich in vitamin C, and constant access to clean water. As highly social animals, they do best in pairs or small groups and enjoy a calm environment where they can feel safe and comfortable.

Full Set Up

Carry Cage – Every guinea pig owner needs one for safe trips to the vet or wherever your piggy needs to go.
Enclosure/Hutch – Chat to our staff about the right enclosure size for your guinea pig. We stock both indoor and outdoor options.
Guinea Pig Pellets – We recommend a quality pellet brand such as Petsville Premium RGP Pellets, Selective, Peckish or Cavy Origins.
Hay – Oaten, Ryegrass, Lucerne, Alfalfa, Timothy or Pasture hay should make up around 80% of your guinea pig’s diet — it’s a key source of fibre for healthy digestion.
Salt Lick / Mineral Block – Supplies essential salts and minerals, including calcium, to support healthy teeth, digestion and bones.
Treats – Great for training and rewarding your guinea pig, and should make up around 5% of their diet.
Hay Feeder – Keeps hay clean and off the ground so it doesn’t get soiled.
Drink Bottle – Keeps water clean all day, since it can’t be tipped over or fouled the way a bowl can.Bowls – Choose one that’s sturdy and heavy enough not to get knocked over easily.
Toys – Aim for at least 4 to 6 suitable toys for chewing and play.
Tent/Hide – A small, safe retreat for your guinea pig — available as tents, pouches or hides in a range of materials and sizes. Choose with your guinea pig’s adult size in mind.
Substrate – Straw, sawdust, paper litter, mini hemp, wood litter or Kaytee litter all work well. Avoid using hay as substrate, since it’s meant for eating, not bedding, and this can lead to health issues.
Hutch Cleaner – CSI, Vetafarm, F10 and Aristopet are all safe, non-toxic disinfectants for guinea pigs, and make cleaning poo and dirt off the hutch, toys and bowls much easier. Regular household disinfectant can be toxic to guinea pigs, so avoid it.
Lice & Mange Spray – Recommended two weeks after bringing your guinea pig home, then every 3 months to prevent external parasites.

What to Consider

Spare Bowls/Accessories – Extra treats and spare food/water bowls are handy to have.
Litter Training – Worth considering — you’ll need an appropriately sized litter tray with wood or paper litter, using a different substrate from the rest of the enclosure.
Vitamins – Small Animal Vitamins or Vetafarm Vitamin C are worth adding if your pellets don’t already include vitamin C.
Shampoo or Dry Bath – An occasional clean helps keep your guinea pig comfortable. We stock guinea pig shampoo and guinea pig dry bath.
Bed – For the guinea pig that loves its comfort.
Tunnels – Great for guinea pigs to run through and play in.
Play Pen – Gives your guinea pig a safe space to explore outside their enclosure, indoors or out.
Synbiotic/Probiotic – Can help support the immune system and digestive function when given daily.
First Aid – Handy items for emergencies include Spark, Triple C, F10 barrier ointment and heat lights.
Harness – Worth considering if you’d like to take your guinea pig on outdoor adventures.

Toys: also known as enrichment It’s important that your piggy is left with toys while you are away and while they are in their enclosure. It also helps prevent behavioural issue down the track, such as chewing and boredom. It will help creates a tamer, friendlier and happier guinea pig. Toys can be rotated regularly so guinea pig doesn’t get bored and if the guinea pig destroys the toy, it means they like it and should be replaced Toys are essential, Guinea pigs love to play with and chew toys, hanging toys, ball toys. We have such a large part of our store designated for Guinea pigs for a reason, Guinea pigs just want to have fun. Toys also help to keep their teeth trim, which is very important, without toys it’s a matter of time before the teeth over grow and result in very expensive vet bills. Barbering is a problem associated with boredom in which a guinea pig chews its own hair or the hair of its cage mate, this happens when they are bored, and toys will re direct the guinea pig’s attention into the toys instead

Substrate & Bedding: Straw, hemp or wood shavings is the most commonly used bedding for Guinea Pigs, however, it is important to not get straw confused with hay or to use hay as bedding as it can potentially lead to health problems. Straw is not a food item and doesn’t have nutritional content where hay a guinea pig can live on. Customers also mix substrate types within the enclosure or use different types of bedding in different sections of the enclosure.

Hutch Cleaner – an animal friendly disinfectant to clean the enclosure and area the animal lives.

You may also like to consider; shampoo, harness and lead, tunnels or beds, vitamin c tablets, a play pen and first aid.

Guinea Pig Diet & Feeding

Diet: Guinea Pigs need a well-balanced diet consisting of 80% hay, 15% pellet and 5% treat – including fruit and veg. Hay should be available for your new Guinea Pig 24/7, a handful of high-quality pellets given every day, and fresh fruit/veggies or treats during or after some time together. It’s important to have a hay feeder for your hay and a bowl for the pellets.

Hay: Oaten, Timothy or thy grass should consist of at least 70% of your New Guinea Pigs diet.

Pellets – there is a range of great pellets available Birdsville Guinea Pig mix or pellets, Vetafarm cavy origins are also very popular.

Water: Drink bottles are the most popular because they do not take up space on the floor and sit nicely on the side of the enclosure. The bigger the water bottle the less you need to fill it up.

Treats: Offering treats is a great way to get your new pet guinea pig silly tame as they will associate you with a good experience and we offer a whole range of healthy treats that we know will do the trick.

Supplements: Salt licks, mineral licks and liquid supplements are great for guinea pigs, they keep up their vitamin and mineral levels and is important for their health and wellbeing; your Piggy will need this depending on their diet. Salt and minerals are necessary for a Piggy’s diet, but it must be consumed in moderation which luckily your Piggy will instinctively know when its body needs additional salt. A salt lick is important as it will aid in digestion, muscles, nerves and fluid regulation. Guinea pigs need vitamin C in their diet. Some guinea pig specific pellets have added vitamin C, but if yours does not, you should add a vitamin supplement to their water.

Fruits & Veggie Guide
Examples, not limited to:

Safe to feed:
Fruit (in moderation) – pears, apples, citrus, watermelon, stone fruit, kiwi fruit, strawberries, rockmelon, banana, star fruit, pomegranate and grapes.
Veggies and greens – silver beet, sweet potato, carrot, green beans, peas, corn, capsicum, endive, broccoli, spinach and pumpkin. Many of these also double as a good source of vitamin C, which guinea pigs need in their diet.

Avoid feeding:
Chocolate, salt, avocado, onions, garlic, ginger, iceberg lettuce, processed foods, caffeine, dairy products, tea, coffee and alcohol.

Behaviour & Handling

Behaviour: Guinea pigs are expressive little animals and use a range of sounds and body language to communicate. Wheeking (a high-pitched squeal) usually means they’re excited for food, while purring can be a sign of contentment when they’re being patted or feel relaxed. Popcorning — jumping and hopping around with excitement — is a happy, playful behaviour you’ll often see when they’re let out to explore. Chattering teeth or a low rumbling sound can be a warning sign that they’re agitated or feeling threatened, so it’s best to give them space if you notice this. Freezing in place is a natural response to sudden noise or movement, since guinea pigs are a prey species and stay alert to potential danger. Getting to know your guinea pig’s normal behaviour will help you quickly notice if something seems off.”

Handling: You and your New Guinea Pig will benefit greatly from handling regularly, but remember they are new to the environment and will need plenty of time to eat and rest. Handling and hand feeding your guinea pigs gently and regularly will ensure they bond with you quickly.

Health Care & Maintenance

Substrate Maintenance: Because Guinea pigs live in such close contact with their litter and bedding these must be kept clean and free from toxins. Cleaning your Piggy’s cage regularly, with the right cage cleaner is essential to avoid unnecessary health problems. Ammonia in the fumes of urine causes irritation in the nasal passage which makes them more susceptible to infection.

Mite, Mange & Flea: Guinea Pigs are very susceptible to mites & mange. Spray your animal with preventative treatment every 6 weeks, as it can be easily transmitted, even if you do not have any other pets. We always have this in stock, in-store. Guinea Pigs can sometimes contract fleas, if this happens come see us for a shampoo specific to your guinea pig, as other shampoos can harm their sensitive skin.

Teeth Health: Guinea Pigs teeth will constantly grow throughout their lives, so having hard wooden toys is very important to wear their teeth down. Overgrown teeth in guinea pigs are not only extremely painful for them, but extremely expensive for you if left too long. Guinea pigs need toys to chew and the proper a high fiber diet and chew toys to stop their teeth from overgrowing in the first place.

Grooming: Depending on your Guinea Pigs coat their grooming needs may be different, long-haired guinea pigs need their coats brushed or trimmed to stop their coats from getting tangled, whilst short-haired guinea pigs need a lot less grooming.

Nails: Guinea pigs nails will grow and need to be trimmed, we sell nail clippers or offer a nail trimming service in store, you are welcome to bring them in anytime. Guinea pig nails also need attention, usually every 5 months – here at Birdsville small animal specialists we provide grooming services for your furry friends, no bookings required.

Vaccination/de-sexing: Guinea pigs do not require vaccinations. De-sexing is something you may consider, especially if you have both genders. There are fewer complications de-sexing males over females, however please talk to your vet about de-sexing.

Common Health Concerns

Overgrown Teeth: Because a guinea pig’s teeth never stop growing, chewing is essential — hard wooden toys help naturally wear them down over time. Left unchecked, overgrown teeth cause real pain for your guinea pig and can mean a costly vet visit to correct. The best prevention is giving them plenty to chew on alongside a high-fibre diet, which keeps their teeth at a healthy length from the start.”

Visual Health Checks:“Visual Health Checks: A guinea pig visual health check starts with a gentle pat from head to tail. If you can easily feel their ribs and spine, that could be a sign they’re underweight — worth acting on. Check their eyes, nose and mouth for any discharge or mucus, and make sure their coat looks clean, without bald patches or flaky skin. Keep an eye on their breathing too — it should be quiet and steady, with no wheezing. If you’re ever unsure what’s normal for your guinea pig, bring them into Birdsville and our team can show you how to do a proper visual health check — it’s a great skill for any guinea pig owner to have, and it’s always free.”

Holiday Care

Going on holidays? Boarding is available at Petsville Hotel to book your stay. Come see us in-store if you have any concerns, or questions and feel free to bring your guinea pig for us to see!

Transportation

Carries are an important item to have for all pet owners and is essential with the purchase of your new furry friend. We offer a variety of carry enclosures for guinea pigs or you can bring your own. When transporting guinea pigs, always use a secure, well-ventilated carrier lined with soft bedding or a towel for comfort and stability. Keep the carrier out of direct sunlight and away from cold drafts, maintaining a stable, moderate temperature during travel. Adding a small amount of hay inside provides both comfort and a familiar snack to reduce stress. Travel should be kept as calm and quiet as possible, as guinea pigs can be sensitive to loud noises and sudden movement. With the right preparation, transporting your guinea pig can be safe and stress-free.

Compatibility with Other Animals

Guinea pigs are gentle, social animals that thrive best with other guinea pigs, ideally in same-sex pairs or small groups. They form strong bonds and love having companions to eat, rest and explore with. While they can live in homes with other pets, they should always have their own secure enclosure and supervised time outside of it. Due to their timid nature, they are not suited to direct interaction with predator species such as dogs or cats. With the right introductions and a safe setup, guinea pigs make wonderful additions to multi-pet households while enjoying the company of their own kind most of all. Guinea pigs are very friendly but as a prey item, they can be killed by cats and dogs if given the chance. Dogs if allowed out together should be trained to be get used to the guinea pig.

Please Note: Please be aware these animals are not DNA sexed. Whilst we may give an opinion and are skilled at sexing, this is not a guarantee, as young guinea pigs can be hard to sex. No refund, credit or exchanges will be given if an animal is not your desired sex.