New Guinea Pig Supply Checklist (Things You Need for a New Guinea Pig)
If you’re considering adding a pair of guinea pigs to your home, you’re likely wondering what supplies you will need to start.
In this article, I’ll cover all the essentials you’ll need to keep guinea pigs. I’ll also include some optional items that you may want to add to your startup list.
I’ll include links to all the items that I use and love with my own guinea pigs. You can check out the quick checklist below. More details on each item can be found as you scroll down the page.
For an average cost breakdown of keeping guinea pigs, you can also check out this article on how much guinea pigs cost upfront and monthly.
Essential Supply List for All Guinea Pig Owners
- Cage – At least 8 sq ft (Midwest and C&C Cages are popular choices!)
- Hiding Places – At least 1 per guinea pig – Wooden houses or plastic domes are a common choice.
- Water bottles or sturdy bowl for water
- Food bowl – sturdy and non-tip
- Nail clippers for keeping nails properly trimmed
- Bedding – reusable fleece cage liners or disposable bedding (paper-based or certain kinds of wood shavings are ideal)
- High-quality pellet food formulated for guinea pigs
- High-quality grass hay – timothy or orchard are good choices
- Vegetables – especially those high in Vitamin C, such as bell peppers
Optional (But Recommended) Supply List
- Miscellaneous grooming supplies – guinea pig shampoo, small brush or comb, coconut oil (only if you have skinny pigs)
- Hay Feeder for keeping hay off the ground
- Small Pet Scale for weighing
- Pet carrier – for transporting to the vet or anywhere else
- Vitamin C Tabs – Adds extra Vitamin C to your guinea pig’s diet
- Toys, tunnels, and chew items – for fun, enrichment, and filing down teeth
- Cozy fleece beds or cuddle cups – to snuggle up in
- Litter box – helps keep rest of cage clean
- Exercise pen for floor time
- Waterproof floor mat to protect floors and carpets from pee
- Pet safe cage cleaning disinfectant for cage cleaning
- Mini broom and dustpan for quick cleanups
This was my complete list of guinea pig items that I use regularly with my herd of piggies. Below I’ll discuss each item in the lists above and give more details on what to look for and why.
Many of the items in the second list are incredibly handy to have around, but they are not necessarily needed right from the start. It’s best to start out with all the essential items and then spread the rest out over time to make it easier on your budget.
Choosing a Cage for Your Guinea Pig
When choosing a cage, look for one at least 8 sqft at minimum, and ideally 10 sqft or more for 2 guinea pigs. Choose one with a lot of open floor space on one level.
Avoid high multi-level cages, as guinea pigs don’t climb up bars or steep ramps like hamsters and rats and won’t use most of the cage.
If they do attempt to go up, they can injure themselves if they fall or jump down. Most regular pet store cages are simply too small for guinea pigs.
A Midwest cage hits the recommended minimum size for 2 guinea pigs. You can also attach multiple Midwest cages to make an even larger cage.
C&C (cubes and coroplast) cages are very popular too. Many people (myself included!) prefer to make their own by purchasing packs of wire grids and sheets of coroplast.
10.5 sqft.