LEARNING TIME!

GUINEA PIG ADOPTION GUIDE

Our how-to guide to ensure a smooth transition for your new best furry friend

Guinea Pig Adoption Guide

Congratulations on your new friend!

Your decision to choose rescue will bring you so much joy, with an extra layer knowing you saved their life. Guinea pigs are friendly little critters that make fabulous pets for both adults and kids alike. Their sweet little chirping personalities will provide hours of entertainment. 

Many, but not all, of our guinea pigs have come from homes where they haven’t been properly cared for. This guide is to ensure you have all the information about habitat, diet, and behaviour to ensure your new guinea pig friend is a happy little potato.

And if you’re ever unsure, please get in touch! We are always here to provide support for our little friends.

 

PIGGY’S FIRST DAY

Bringing your new Guinea pig home is an exciting moment, but it’s essential to ensure a smooth transition for your furry friend. It’s a whole new world for them, and as a prey animal they can get stressed. Give them some time to adjust without handling them for at least a week. During this period, focus on providing fresh water, hay, and a balanced diet to keep them healthy.

Guinea pigs are very heirarchical, so if you have existing pigs a solid bonding plan needs to be in place. We can provide recommended guides on how to safely introduce, monitor and help your new friend join your existing guinea pigs.

Below is a list of recommendations of things to keep in mind when creating a happy life for your new bestie!

HANDLING

Guinea pigs are prey animals meaning they can get nervous and scared when being handled. They do, however, adapt very quickly and with lots of snacks and love can become incredibly social creatures. 

Always ensure your guinea pig feels supported and safe. Using a towel underneath when holding them can really help. When small children are handling guinea pigs it can be a good option to place them in a small crate or box so they cannot run away or fall. 

HOUSING

Guinea pigs should be housed indoors, as they do not handle extreme weather well, especially in Melbourne. However, supervised outdoor time is beneficial and can be enjoyed in a safe, enclosed area.

Indoor enclosures should be generous and safe, positioned in a draught-free area and away from potential predators. Ensure their living space is spacious, with a minimum of 1m² per guinea pig. More space is needed for larger groups. When it comes to housing, replicating their natural environment is best, providing lots of burrows and hiding places to help them feel secure.

Provide plenty of hiding spots such as ‘caves’ and ‘tunnels’ using cardboard boxes or PVC pipes, which are reusable and easy to clean. Line the enclosure with newspaper and an absorptive substrate like paper kitty litter or hay. Avoid sawdust as it can cause respiratory issues, and wire or hard flooring which can lead to sores on their feet. Regular cleaning is essential to maintain a sanitary environment. While toilet training is possible with patience, some level of mess should be expected.

Guinea pigs are sensitive to heat and need extra care on days over 30 degrees. Ensure they stay indoors with access to a cool ceramic tile or frozen water bottles for relief. Exercise and sunshine are important too, and supervised outdoor time in a grassy, enclosed area is a great option for them.

 

Indoor Housing:

Indoors they should be safe from other household pets in a secure enclosure. Plastic bottomed cages with wire tops are a popular choice and easy to clean and maintain. A blanket or towel to provide a darker or draught free zone can be utilised. Homemade “CnC” enclosures can also be created (google this for inspiration!) 

 Outdoor Housing:

Should be secure, draught free and safe from predators. Most enclosures will include an open outside region and enclosed area that is dark and free from breezes. Make sure outdoor time is in reasonable weather and supervised.

EXAMPLES

Here are some examples of good guinea pig setups.
❌No Hutches ✅Room to run around

DIET

Guinea pigs have a very fast metabolism and a digestive system designed to be constantly processing food. Because of this, they must have food available at all times, especially hay. Going without food for even short periods can cause serious digestive problems.

They also require high fibre and daily vitamin C. Like humans and primates, guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, so it must come from their diet every day.

🌾 Hay

Unlimited hay – available 24/7
Hay should make up the majority of your guinea pig’s diet.

Because guinea pigs eat little and often, constant access to hay:

  • Supports healthy digestion

  • Keeps teeth worn down naturally

  • Prevents gut stasis

Best choices:

  • ✅ Oaten hay

  • ✅ Grass hay

Hay must always be fresh, clean, and stored hygienically.

🥣 Pellets (Optional)

✅ Pellets are not essential, but can be offered in small amounts

✔️ About 1 tablespoon per guinea pig per day

✔️ Choose guinea pig–specific pellets with added vitamin C

❌ Avoid anything labelled Rabbit & Guinea Pig, stick to good brands like Oxbow

❌ Pellets should never replace hay

❌ Overfeeding pellets can lead to obesity and dental issues

🥬 Vegetables & Greens (Daily)

Vegetables provide vitamin C and variety, but should always be secondary to hay.  Like us, they require a variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs to ensure they are provided with all the essential vitamins and minerals they need to stay happy and healthy.

Good daily choices:

✅ Cos lettuce

✅ Asian greens

✅ Capsicum (excellent vitamin C source)

✅ Herbs such as parsley and coriander

⚠️ Don’t overdo oxalates

Foods like spinach and kale are high in oxalates

❌ Too much may contribute to bladder stones

✅ Offer only occasionally, not daily

🍎 Fruit and colourful vegetables

✅ Treats only (small amounts, 1–2 times per week)

❌ Too much sugar can upset their gut

FOODS TO AVOID

🚫 Avoid lucerne (alfalfa) hay

❌ Too high in calcium and protein

❌ Can contribute to bladder stones

✔️ Lucerne is only suitable for babies, pregnant, or nursing guinea pigs

🚫 No Seeds or Grains – Ever

❌ Seeds, grains, nuts, and mixes marketed for “small animals” are not suitable for guinea pigs.

❌ Guinea pigs cannot digest seeds or grains properly

❌ Can cause choking, gut problems, and obesity

❌ Often contain added sugars and fillers

✅ Guinea pigs are herbivores, not seed eaters

Note: We know the pet store will try to sell you them, just avoid!

BEHAVIOUR

Guinea pigs are talkative little critters and as you get to know them you will start to understand their little squeaks and chirps. They are very social creatures who often are nervous and skittish to start with. However gentle handling and bribery in the form of delicious snacks will help them become an interactive and social part of the family. 

FRIENDS

Guinea pigs should be kept in pairs or groups as they are very sociable friendly creatures. Males can become aggressive towards others, and typically cannot be kept in large groups and do better as pairs. The ideal combination is a male and female desexed pair (or more), however undesexed same sex animals can cohabitate. 

We do not recommend housing guinea pigs with rabbits at all. They have differing dietary requirements and rabbits have powerful back legs which can easily cause trauma to a guinea pig. 

Whilst guinea pigs can live in a house with other animals such as cats and dogs, it does depend on the characteristics of your other animals. Always supervise them when they are together and carefully introduce them in the initial stages.

HEALTH & VACCINATIONS

Unfortunately, there is no vaccinations for any diseases available at this time. This also means we have very few major diseases that can kill these little guys. However, being prey animals it can be very easy for them to cover up their illness! 

Six monthly health checks are recommended to ensure good health and husbandry. 

Now, Have fun!

Guinea pigs are fantastic companions and have quirky little personalities. They make fabulous pets and are reasonably well contained requiring minimal space compared to most other pets.

Please contact us if you have any further questions, and be sure to send us updates on how your new pals are getting on!

Thank you again for saving a life.