Housing & Enclosure

Enclosure Size

• Floor Space: Bigger is better. Give them the biggest flat, solid floor you can fit; a pair needs more room than one, and floor space matters more than height. Ask our staff to help you pick a habitat.
• Type: C&C Cages (Cubes and Coroplast) or large commercial habitats (like the Midwest Guinea Habitat).
• Avoid: Glass aquariums (poor ventilation leads to breathing infections) and wire-bottom cages (wire floors cause painful sores on the feet, called bumblefoot).

Bedding & Substrate

• Recommended: Washable fleece liners (highly recommended for cost savings and dust reduction) or unscented paper bedding (Carefresh, Kaytee Clean & Cozy).
• Avoid: Cedar shavings (highly toxic), pine shavings, and clumping cat litter.
• Cleaning Schedule: If using fleece, sweep up poops daily and wash the liner before it stays damp or starts to smell. If using paper bedding, spot clean daily and do a partial change, keeping some clean old bedding so it still smells like home. Do a full change only when the bedding is soiled through, after an illness or after a move.

Décor & Enrichment

• The Wheel Warning (CRITICAL): NEVER put a guinea pig in an exercise wheel or an exercise ball. A guinea pig's back isn't built for them, and they can be injured. They get their exercise by running laps ("zoomies") around a large, flat cage.
• Hideouts/Huts: Provide at least one hideout per guinea pig (plus one extra) so they can retreat if they want alone time. Plastic igloos, wooden houses, or fleece tunnels are excellent.
• Chewing: Provide plenty of wooden chew toys, apple sticks, and willow balls to keep their constantly growing teeth filed down.

Diet & Nutrition

The Vitamin C Requirement (CRITICAL)

Like humans, guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own Vitamin C. If they do not receive Vitamin C daily, they will develop Scurvy (a fatal disease causing joint pain, tooth loss, and internal bleeding).

• Supplements (optional): If you use a vitamin C supplement, give it exactly as the product label says.
• Avoid Water Drops: Do not use liquid Vitamin C drops in their water bottle. It degrades rapidly in the light and alters the taste of the water, which may cause them to stop drinking entirely.

Primary Diet

• Hay (the base of the diet): Unlimited, fresh Timothy Hay or Orchard Grass must be available 24/7. Eating hay is how they file down their back molar teeth and keep their gut moving. (Note: Only feed alfalfa hay to young, growing guinea pigs and pregnant females; it is too high in calcium for adults. Ask us when to switch.)
• Fresh Vegetables: Fresh veggies every day. Green bell peppers are the best staple, as they are very high in Vitamin C and low in sugar. Romaine lettuce and cilantro are also great daily staples. (Avoid iceberg lettuce and limit high-calcium greens like spinach to prevent bladder stones).
• Pellets: Plain timothy-based pellets with stabilized vitamin C, fed as the bag's feeding guide says. Avoid mixes that contain seeds, nuts, or colorful dried fruits—these are choking hazards and too high in sugar.

Handling & Behavior

Taming & Handling

• Guinea pigs are prey animals and are naturally terrified of being scooped up from above. When picking them up, always support their chest with one hand and their heavy rear end with the other.
• Once in your lap, they usually relax immediately, especially if you offer them a piece of lettuce.

Social Needs

• Highly Social: In the wild, they live in herds of dozens of animals. A lone guinea pig is a welfare problem, so keep them in pairs or groups.
• Pairing: Keep them in same-sex pairs (two females or two males) to prevent breeding. Never house a male and a female together. When introducing two males, they must be introduced in a neutral space, and their cage must be extra large to prevent territorial disputes.

Health & Husbandry

Common Health Issues

1. Scurvy — Symptoms: Lethargy, swollen/stiff joints, reluctance to move, bleeding gums. / Cause: Lack of Vitamin C. / Prevention: Vitamin C every day from fresh bell peppers and fortified pellets.
2. Respiratory Infection (URI) — Symptoms: Sneezing, crusty eyes, runny nose, labored breathing. / Cause: Drafty rooms, dusty bedding, or poor ventilation (like living in a glass tank). / Treatment: Can be fatal if ignored. See a vet right away, ideally one who treats exotic animals.
3. Bumblefoot — Symptoms: Swollen, red, or bleeding sores on the bottom of the feet. / Cause: Wire-bottom cages or sitting in wet, dirty bedding. / Prevention: Use solid floors and clean the cage frequently.
4. Bladder Stones — Symptoms: Squeaking in pain while urinating, blood in urine. / Cause: Too much calcium in the diet (e.g., feeding alfalfa hay to adults or too much spinach).

What We Stock & Use in Our Stores

These are products we carry and recommend for this species. Ask any associate for help finding them in-store.

Last updated: 2026-08-04

How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply

• Pacific Northwest Seasonal Drafts & Indoor Air Quality: In Oregon, damp chilly winters and sudden August heatwaves are the two biggest environmental stressors for Guinea Pig. Keep their habitat away from drafty windows, exterior doors, direct furnace vents and direct sun, at a steady room temperature. For floor space, bigger is better.
• What Our Store Crew Uses Daily: In our Newberg and Gresham animal rooms, we use dust-extracted, scent-free bedding (never cedar or raw phenols), unlimited fresh grass hay, plain guinea pig pellets with stabilized vitamin C, fresh vitamin C-rich veggies every day, and daily enrichment so young animals are already hand-accustomed and eating a balanced diet before they go home with you.
• Local Exotic Vet Planning: Before an emergency ever happens, save the number of an experienced Oregon avian/exotic veterinarian in the Portland Metro or Willamette Valley area (such as Avian & Exotic Veterinary Care or Scales & Tails Exotic Pet Clinic).

Common Questions (FAQ)

What size cage or habitat does a Guinea Pig actually need?

Bigger is better. Give them the biggest flat, solid floor you can fit (a pair needs more room than one); floor space matters more than height. Ask our staff to help you pick a habitat.

How do I keep Guinea Pig comfortable through Oregon winters and summers?

Keep them at a steady room temperature, away from drafts and direct sun: well away from cold window drafts in winter and direct afternoon sun in summer. If you're unsure about a room, ask our staff.

What do you feed Guinea Pig at Critter Cabana and Gresham Pet Supply?

Our store crew feeds a balanced herbivore regimen built on unlimited grass hay, fresh vitamin C-rich veggies every day, and plain pellets with stabilized vitamin C. We skip seed, nut and dried-fruit mixes.

Where can I meet Guinea Pig and talk to the animal care crew in Oregon?

Visit our live animal departments at Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) or Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606) to meet our animals and get hands-on setup advice.