Guinea pigs
The sociable rodent that speaks to you by whistling
The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) comes from the Andes, where it has been domesticated for 5,000 years. A gregarious animal, never solitary, vocal (up to 11 distinct sounds), it is recommended for patient families: it lives 6-8 years, requires daily care and a companion of the same species.
Overview
0.7–5 kg
Weight range
min ↔ max documented
5–8 ans
Life expectancy
all ages
Small
Majority size
7 breeds of 14
100%
Suited for apartments
referenced breeds
Distribution by size
Ideal profile
What should good food contain for guinea pig ?
Nutritional ranges validated by our team. These are the ranges our PawScore considers ideal.
Granules cochon dInde
- Protein14–18%
- Fat2–4%
- Fiber15–22%
- Calories200–300kcal
Values outside the range are not dangerous, but slightly reduce the PawScore according to our methodology.
By build
Choose by size
The #1 criterion when choosing a breed — space needed, transport, budget.
Discover
The essentials
A selection to start your exploration of guinea pigs.
Abyssinien
Sociable and expressive guinea pig.
Cochon d'Inde Abyssinien
Sociable and expressive guinea pig.
Cochon d'Inde Couronné
Sociable and expressive guinea pig.
Cochon d'Inde Péruvien
Sociable and expressive guinea pig.
Cochon d'Inde Rex
Sociable and expressive guinea pig.
Lifestyle
Minimum cage 1m × 60 cm for 2 (never solo, that's abuse), hay available at all times, daily outing in a secure play area, hiding spots, tunnels. Sensitive to stress: avoid sudden changes, loud noises, curious dogs or cats.
Read more (17 mots)Show less▾
Learns to recognize its human and whistles when it hears the refrigerator door open.
Nutrition
Strict herbivore, INCAPABLE of producing vitamin C (like humans and primates). Deficiency = scurvy in 2 weeks. Diet: 80% Timothy/Orchard grass hay, 15% fresh vegetables rich in vitamin C (red bell pepper, parsley, spinach, beet greens), 5% mono-component extruded pellets.
Read more (9 mots)Show less▾
Daily vitamin C intake of 20-30 mg essential.
Care
Exotic veterinary check-up every 6 months, dental monitoring (frequent malocclusion), monthly nail trimming, weekly weighing (weight loss = rapid alert signal). Neutering recommended for females (frequent ovarian cysts). Very sensitive to antibiotics (penicillin = fatal).
What if your next companion was already waiting for you? Many shelter guinea pigs are of an identifiable breed — every adoption is a new life beginning. Meeting in a shelter is often the love of a lifetime.
Alert
To avoid for guinea pig
Our database lists toxic ingredients and problematic additives by species.
- PotatoModerate
- caffeineLow
- titanium dioxideHigh
- rhubarbHigh
Rankings
Find the right guinea pig
Thematic selections to guide your choice based on your lifestyle.
The best animals for small budgets
Companions with reasonable maintenance costs — from hamster to dwarf rabbit.
See the rankingThe best animals for children
Gentle, sturdy, and easy to handle companions.
See the rankingMedium guinea pig breeds
7 breeds ranked by size
See the rankingSmall guinea pig breeds
7 breeds ranked by size
See the rankingGuinea pigs with the longest lifespans
Maximum documented lifespan — 8 years for the Abyssinian
See the rankingBest guinea pigs for apartment living
13 compact breeds suited to urban life
See the rankingOur catalog guinea pig
Daily update27
Referenced products
70/100
Average PawScore
4%
Rated excellent
1 produits
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Organic products
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Distribution by category
Complete catalog
All breeds of guinea pigs
14 pages · filter by size, energy, lifestyle.
Next step
The right meal for your guinea pig.
SokoScan calculates a personalized PawScore based on breed, age and sensitivities. Free, instant.
