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Guinea pig care: what a family needs to know

Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.

Guinea pig care, from RSPCA and others on this page. Guinea pigs can be active for up to 20 hours a day and only sleep in short bursts (RSPCA). RSPCA notes guinea pigs are often seen as good first pets for children. A grown-up still has to do the real caring, like the daily food, water and cleaning, and watch the child hold the pet. Fresh water at all times.

Checked October 29, 2026.

By Peabody editors. How we write and check.

How long they live

RSPCA says guinea pigs usually live about 5 to 6 years, and some live longer.

Home

RSPCA says the home needs to be roomy, well aired and tall enough for adults to stand up on their back legs, with about 30 cm of height for young ones to hop. Use a solid floor (not wire grid) with lots of bedding and a hiding house, and keep it away from heaters, sunny windows and drafts. RSPCA says 17 to 20 degrees C is a good room temperature, and above 26 C is a heatstroke risk. The page gives no exact floor size.

Food

RSPCA says good hay should be most of the diet and always available. Add a fresh portion of grass-based pellets each day and fresh vegetables and herbs, because guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C. Fruit and some veggies like carrot are only small treats a few times a week. RSPCA says avoid iceberg lettuce, potato, garlic, avocado, coconut and citrus, and never feed lawn clippings. Fresh water at all times.

Company

RSPCA says guinea pigs are very social and get lonely alone, so they are happiest with at least one friendly guinea pig. In the wild they live in family groups of 5 to 10.

Handling

RSPCA says approach from the front and low down, because things coming from above scare them. Use one hand under the back end and the other around the shoulders or chest, gently but firmly.

Is it a good pet for children?

RSPCA notes guinea pigs are often seen as good first pets for children. A grown-up still has to do the real caring, like the daily food, water and cleaning, and watch the child hold the pet. CDC says children under 5 are more likely to get very sick from germs small mammals can carry, and bites and scratches can spread germs even when they look small.

Washing hands

CDC says to wash your hands with soap and running water after you touch the animal, its cage, bedding, food or water. Children should be watched while they wash. Keep the animal and its supplies out of the kitchen and anywhere food is made or eaten, because germs like Salmonella can be on healthy-looking animals and their things.

The vet

RSPCA says to talk to a vet promptly if your guinea pig's eating, drinking or droppings change.

Good to know

Guinea pigs can be active for up to 20 hours a day and only sleep in short bursts (RSPCA).

A job for the children

With a grown-up, bring fresh veggies and check that the water bottle works (RSPCA says water should be checked twice a day).

"A grown-up is the real carer for guinea pigs. Our job is the small, steady part."

Every pet is different, and this is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. For a sick or hurt pet, call a vet who knows this kind of animal.

Sources