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Congrats on welcoming home your new pet

  1. Home
  2. New Pet
  3. New Guinea Pig Guide

The Petco NEW GUINEA PIG Guide

We’ll help you navigate pet parenthood with helpful tips, expert guidance and recommendations for every milestone.

PETCO
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Save 15% on supplies and nutrition for your guinea pig—including habitats, bedding, nutrition and more—with Vital Care Premier.

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1. SETTING UP THE PERFECT HOME

Fill your space with supplies and essentials before your guinea pig arrives to help them feel comfortable and safe from the start.

Habitats

Provide the largest possible habitat (minimum 36” L x 30” W x 18” H) so they have plenty of room to exercise and play.

Shop Habitats

Hideaways

Place a hide box in their home for privacy.

Shop Hideaways

Bedding

Place 1–2 inches of high-quality paper-based bedding in their habitat.

Shop Bedding

Water bottles and bowls

Provide and refill clean, fresh water daily.

Shop Bottles

Food bowls and hay trays

Feed them high-quality, pelleted food and an unlimited amount of grass hay.

Shop Food Bowls
& Feeders

  • Habitats

    Provide the largest possible habitat (minimum 36” L x 30” W x 18” H) so they have plenty of room to exercise and play.

    Shop Habitats

  • Hideaways

    Place a hide box in their home for privacy.

    Shop Hideaways

  • Bedding

    Place 1–2 inches of high-quality paper-based bedding in their habitat.

    Shop Bedding

  • Water bottles and bowls

    Provide and refill clean, fresh water daily.

    Shop Bottles

  • Food bowls and hay trays

    Feed them high-quality, pelleted food and an unlimited amount of grass hay.

    Shop Food Bowls & Feeders

  • Habitats
  • Hideaways
  • Bedding
  • Bottles
  • Food Bowls & Feeders
 

1

WARE My House Cage for Guinea Pig

2

Kaytee My First Home Guinea Pig Starter Kit

1

JW Pet Walk Up Small Animal Barn

2

You & Me Small Animal Hideaway, Medium

3

Kaytee My First Home Giant Tube Elbow

1

Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Animal Bedding

2

So Phresh Fast-Absorbing Paper Pellets Small Animal Litter

3

Carefresh Natural Small Pet Bedding

1

You & Me Water Bottle, Medium

2

Oxbow Enriched Life Dripless 15 oz. Water Bottle

3

You & Me Flip Top Bottle, Large

1

Kaytee Hay & Food Bin Feeder

2

You & Me Small Animal Vegetable Dish

3

You & Me Ceramic Bowl, 2 Pack

2. Finding the right food

Set a strong foundation for your new pet’s physical health with quality nutrition.

Food

Feed them a species-appropriate, high-fiber, low-sugar diet.

Shop Food

Hay

Hay adds fiber and other essential nutrients to their diet and should always be available.

Shop Hay

Treats

Provide additional nutrients while building your bond with treats that are made with hay and veggies.

Shop Treats

  • Food

    Feed them a species-appropriate, high-fiber, low-sugar diet.

    Shop Food

  • Hay

    Hay adds fiber and other essential nutrients to their diet and should always be available.

    Shop Hay

  • Treats

    Provide additional nutrients while building your bond with treats that are made with hay and veggies.

    Shop Treats

  • Food
  • Hay
  • Treats
 

1

Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Guinea Pig Food Mix

2

Oxbow Garden Select Fortified Food for Guinea Pigs

3

White Mill Seed Mixture Papaya & Peas Dry Guinea Pig Food

1

Oxbow Hay Blends Western Timothy and Orchard

2

Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay for Rabbits & Small Animals

3

Kaytee All Natural Timothy Wafer-Cut Hay for Rabbits & Small Animals

1

Vitakraft Crunch Sticks Guinea Pig Treat

2

Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Honey Stick Guinea Pig Treats

3

Vitakraft Drops with Orange Guinea Pig Treats

3. KEEPING YOUR GUINEA PIG HAPPY

Help them feel comfortable in their new home with entertaining toys and more.

Toys

Help keep them mentally stimulated throughout the day with a variety of toys.

Shop Toys

Chews

Bring home chews to help prevent boredom and help maintain their dental health.

Shop Chews

  • Toys

    Help keep them mentally stimulated throughout the day with a variety of toys.

    Shop Toys

  • Chews

    Bring home chews to help prevent boredom and help maintain their dental health.

    Shop Chews

  • Toys
  • Chews
 

1

Oxbow Enriched Life Play Table for Small Animals

2

Oxbow Enriched Life Play Post for Small Animals

3

Oxbow Enriched Life Play Center Oxbow for Small Animals

1

Kaytee Apple Orchard Sticks Small Animal Chews

2

You & Me Small Animal Chewable Wood Tunnel 2-in-1 Toy

3

You & Me Small Animal Chewable Wood Fruit Bowl 2-in-1 Toy

4. Understanding your guinea pig

While they are usually active and friendly, they need time to adjust to their new environment. Below are some key behaviors to know before bringing them home.

Popcorning

One of their most unique behaviors, popcorning is when a guinea pig jumps and twirls in the air to show that they are happy.

Wheeking

Whistling or “wheeking” involves a high-pitched sound that usually means they are excited.

Purring

A lower-pitched purr can mean they are content, while a higher-pitched purr may mean they are annoyed or afraid.

5. BUILDING A ROUTINE

A daily, consistent routine for grooming, cleaning and more can help support their wellbeing while they settle in.

Grooming

While guinea pigs stay clean and rarely need baths, they need their nails clipped regularly and benefit from periodic brushing.

Shop Grooming

Cleaning

Bedding should be spot cleaned daily, and your pet’s entire habitat should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.

Shop Cleaning

Vitamin C

Help them get enough vitamin C in their diet by bringing home supplements and veggies since guinea pigs can’t make it on their own.

Shop Vitamins

  • Grooming

    While guinea pigs stay clean and rarely need baths, they need their nails clipped regularly and benefit from periodic brushing.

    Shop Grooming

  • Cleaning

    Bedding should be spot cleaned daily, and your pet’s entire habitat should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.

    Shop Cleaning

  • Vitamin C

    Help them get enough vitamin C in their diet by bringing home supplements and veggies since guinea pigs can’t make it on their own.

    Shop Vitamins

  • Grooming
  • Cleaning
  • Vitamin C
 

1

WARE Groom-N-Kit Small Animal Grooming Kit

2

EveryYay Lookin' Spiffy Small Animal Nail Clippers

3

EveryYay Lookin' Spiffy Small Animal Bristle Grooming Brush

1

Nature's Miracle Cage Cleaner for Small Animals

2

So Phresh 7 Pack Small Animal Habitat Liners

3

So Phresh Small Animal Litter Scoop

1

Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement

2

Oasis Vita-Drops Concentrated High Potency Pure C for Guinea Pigs

3

Oxbow Natural Science Digestive Support Hay Tabs

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