Frequently Asked Questions about Guinea Pigs

In this post, we're going to try to answer some questions about guinea pigs that are commonly asked online.

Q: Where to buy guinea pigs? How much are guinea pigs?
A: Although these questions are frequently asked, we contend that this is the wrong line of thinking. You should think twice before buying a guinea pig from your local pet store! See our post on What's Wrong With Guinea Pig Breeding for details. We'd recommend a good rescue shelter or Craigslist; there are plenty of nice piggies out there currently in need of a good home, which is a better option than supporting commercial breeders.

Q: Are guinea pigs nocturnal?
A: Guinea pigs tend to adapt to the sleep habits of our humans. See our post: "When Do Guinea Pigs Sleep?"

Q: What to feed guinea pigs?
A: Basically, you'll want to feed us unlimited hay and water, about a cup of vegetables a day (about 2/3 leafy greens, and 1/3 other vegetables), about 1/8 cup of  quality pellets, and occasional bits of fruit as treats, See our guinea pig food list and our post on guinea pig nutrition to figure out the right foods and the right amounts to feed your guinea pigs.

Q: How to take care of a guinea pig?
A: There's a lot involved with this! For complete beginners, you may want to start by reading GuineaLynx's care pamphlet. After that, you can search our blog (or other reputable sites) for particular care issues of interest. Some of the care issues we've dealt with in the past include:

• The importance of vet visits
• Keeping your guinea pig calm during a thunderstorm
• Guinea pigs and swimming   
• Avoiding gassy foods
• Pet-sitting options when going out of town 

Q: How long do guinea pigs live?
A: Guinea pigs typically live 5 to 7 years, but we can live longer than this. The the longest living guinea pig lived 14 years, 10.5 months!

Q: Are guinea pigs rodents?
A: The simple answer is yes. Here's how guinea pigs are scientifically classified:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Rodentia
• Suborder: Hystricomorpha
• Family: Caviidae
• Subfamily: Caviinae
• Genus: Cavia
• Species: C. porcellus

There has been some debate about this in the 1990s, however. While the proponents of reclassifying guinea pigs had some evidence on their side, "guinea pigs are generally considered part of Rodentia."

Q: Are guinea pigs good pets?
A: In my opinion, we're absolutely delightful!

Give me that hay! I deserve it for being so darn delightful!

And, if you've seen our post on guinea pig ownership statistics, you'll see that a lot of humans seem to agree with us. But that doesn't mean that we're right for everyone; see our post on 10 Things You Should Know Before Buying or Adopting a Guinea Pig for details.

Did we answer all your questions, Internet? If not, feel free to add your questions in the comments, and we may take it up in our next Ask A Guinea Pig post!