What Do Guinea Pigs Eat? How to Give Them a Healthy Diet

At the most basic level, guinea pigs are herbivores. That means that they just eat fruits and veggies—no dairy, eggs, meat, or insects for these little guys. Fresh hay and fresh leafy vegetables should make up the bulk of your guinea pig’s diet.

Learn all about feeding guinea pigs, including foods that they shouldn’t eat.

Vitamin C

Guinea pigs can’t formulate their own vitamin C, making them vulnerable to scurvy. Guinea pig pellets should include vitamin C to keep your pet healthy.

On average, guinea pigs need 10 to 20 mg of vitamin C per day. However, talk to your veterinarian if you aren’t sure about how much your pet needs, especially if they’re ill, young, old, pregnant, or nursing—you want to be sure you provide them with the appropriate amount for their unique needs.

Hay

Guinea pig teeth are always growing. It’s important to give your guinea pig something fibrous to chew on. This is where hay is super important. There are two types of hay that guinea pigs can eat: grass and leguminous. Hard pellets alone won’t do the trick.

For hay, a mix of timothy, orchard, and oat is best. Some alfalfa hay is acceptable but it contains too much calcium to be the main part of your pet’s diet.

Guinea pig hay needs to be stored in a cool, dry place to stay clear of mold or mildew.

Commercial Diet

Most pet parents will opt to feed their guinea pigs store-bought pellets and hay. Be sure to purchase pellets that are specifically formulated for guinea pigs.

Supplement your guinea pig’s hay with a small amount of high-quality pellets. Opt for plain pellets rather than a mix, as this prevents your guinea pig from just picking out the tasty bits and ignoring the healthy ones.

Vegetables

Fresh veggies are great treats and supplements for your guinea pig, and you can give your pet about ½ to 1 cup of various vegetables daily. You can use these as extra-special offerings to help bond with your guinea pig, or as treats for training.

Good fresh vegetables to feed your guinea pig include:

• Green peppers
• Parsley
• Green and red leaf lettuce
• Romaine lettuce
• Cauliflower
• Cilantro
• Broccoli
• Carrots and carrot tops
• Beet greens

Always be sure to clean up any uneaten fresh foods at the end of the day to avoid mold or rot.

Fruits

Like vegetables, fruits are also nutritious treats to offer your guinea pig. Some of the best fresh fruits for them include:

• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes (only the ripened fruit, not the stem or leaves)
• Watermelon
• Apples
• Pears
• Kiwi

Offer your guinea pig more vegetables than fruits. They might love fruits, but they’re like candy for guinea pigs. Also, the high amount of sugar in fruit could cause severe diarrhea.

What Not to Feed Guinea Pigs

Not all fruits and veggies are safe for guinea pigs to eat. Be sure to avoid feeding your guinea pig:

• Avocados
• Chives
• Coconuts
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Onions
• Raisins

These foods are actually dangerous for many pets, and often pop up on lists of toxic foods for dogs, parrots, and cats.

Always avoid feeding your guinea pig sweet or salty human “junk food,” even if none of the ingredients are toxic. Since guinea pigs can’t eat garlic or onions, much of our cooked food is off-limits as well.

Foods that are high in starch, carbohydrates, and fat should also be avoided. Examples include:

• Seeds
• Nuts
• Beans
• Peas
• Cereals
• Oats

It’s generally best to stick to feeding your guinea pig a diet of hay and high-quality pellets, with occasional treats of fresh fruits and veggies.

When Should I Feed My Guinea Pig?

Like most herbivores, guinea pigs are essentially grazers. They munch on hay and veggies all day. That means it’s important to keep fresh hay available constantly.

It’s best to dump out your guinea pig’s food and water every day, clean the bowls, and fill them with fresh food and water.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Poop?

You might catch your guinea pig eating their own poop, but don't be alarmed. Guinea pigs actually produce two different types of feces. One is soft and nutritious, and the guinea pigs re-ingest this to get more nutrients (rabbits do the same thing).

The other type of poop is harder and is produced after the food has been digested twice. That’s the poop that you clean up when you clean your guinea pig’s cage.

Tips for Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Before bringing home a guinea pig, learn about their dietary needs and the foods they should and shouldn’t eat. Keep in mind that some foods can be fed in small amounts while others shouldn’t be given to guinea pigs at all.

When feeding your guinea pig fresh fruits and vegetables, wash them thoroughly prior to giving them to your pet. And remember to remove any produce that they don’t eat before it spoils in their cage.

Always have fresh, clean water available for your guinea pig to drink.

If you notice that your guinea pig’s appetite changes or there are changes in their feces, consult a veterinarian, as your pet might have a health problem that needs to be treated.