Many small animals, like hamsters, rats, and hedgehogs, prefer to be more active at night, but what about guinea pigs? Guinea pigs are a unique small house pet to own, and this doesn’t exclude their sleeping habits. Getting to know the activity patterns of your next pet can be important when it comes to setting up their habitat and ultimately choosing the right pet for you. So, are guinea pigs nocturnal? The answer may surprise you.
Importance of Sleep Patterns in the Wild
While your fluffy friends likely only know modern-day comforts like soft fleece and unlimited food, domestic guinea pigs have a free-roaming past. Despite what their name would suggest, wild guinea pigs were found predominantly in the Andes until widespread domestication. It is this history that is thought to contribute to your piggies’ sleep habits. So what does that mean?
In the wild, guinea pigs would be considered prey animals. This means they always stay on high alert for predators and choose their foraging times strategically to ensure their safety. Being smaller mammals who would be easy prey for a number of species, they adopted sleep habits that allowed them the most flexibility and the best odds of safety.
Are Guinea Pigs Awake More at Night?
Every first-time guinea pig owner has had the experience of springing awake at 2 am to the sound of a water bottle, happy squeaks, or what can only be described as a guinea pig rave (complete with popcorning). For those who haven’t owned guinea pigs before, this can be quite a shock. Many common pets, such as dogs and cats, spend most of their time awake during the day, or at the very least, they adjust to your schedule by sleeping when you sleep. So hearing your new piggies bouncing around in the middle of the night can be cause for concern. However, this is completely normal guinea pig behavior.
Instead of adjusting to your schedule or being nocturnal, guinea pigs are actually diurnal. This means they are predominantly awake throughout the day. They are also considered crepuscular, which means their most active times are dawn and dusk. But how do guinea pigs manage to stay awake at all hours of the day?
How Much Sleep Do Guinea Pigs Need?
The reason guinea pigs can be active and awake both day and night is another interesting part of their sleep habits. Guinea pigs only need to sleep for between four and six hours total throughout the day. They do this by taking small naps throughout the day—typically no more than 20 minutes at a time. Talk about expert power nappers! This developed as a form of protection in the wild—being awake and alert means you are staying safe! This is also why many guinea pigs sleep with their eyes open until they’re fully comfortable with you and their surroundings.
When we compare this to the sleeping habits of other common house pets like cats, it’s no wonder a new guinea pig owner would be confused when their piggies wake them up at odd hours. Take cats, for instance. While guinea pigs are awake for nearly 20 hours a day, cats tend to sleep for 15–20 hours a day!
Diurnal vs. Nocturnal Animals
So, what exactly does it mean to be diurnal or nocturnal, and what other animals are found in these categories?
Diurnal means that an animal is mostly awake during the daytime hours. Humans would be considered, for the most part, diurnal. On the other hand, nocturnal means that awake times fall predominantly at night. While there is some wiggle room for adapting to surroundings when it comes to most animals, they will still favor spending more time awake during one of those time periods (day or night).
Guinea pigs favor the daytime hours but are most active at dusk and dawn, making them crepuscular like many other small pets such as rabbits and rats. However, given they need very minimal sleep, they will also be active during the night, even if it’s not when they’re the most energetic. Something that should be considered when you’re looking for a new pet.
Diurnal Animals
Other diurnal animals include:
- Cows
- Goats
- Bearded Dragons
- Many birds
Nocturnal Animals
On the opposite schedule are nocturnal animals, such as:
- Hedgehogs
- Raccoons
- Owls
- Sugar Gliders
What to Consider as a Guinea Pig Owner
Sleep habits are an often overlooked but important consideration when choosing a new pet. If you have a smaller space and need uninterrupted sleep, choosing a pet that is mostly nocturnal, such as a hedgehog, may be disruptive to your schedule. While guinea pigs are predominantly awake during the daytime, it is important to consider that they spend little time asleep overall throughout the day, and they will be active (and make noise!) while you sleep.
The sleep habits of your pets may impact where you choose to keep them—in a bedroom vs. a living room, for example. If you’re a light sleeper, keeping a guinea pig in your bedroom may not bode well for the quality of your sleep, and a separate room or living space may be ideal.
When it comes to caring for your guinea pig and their ability to rest, it’s important to provide them with plenty of options for shelter. Guinea pigs prefer sleeping in dark, enclosed spaces as they feel safer and more protected. This can include hideys, hay, fleece forests, and more.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs are a unique pet to own, and that includes their sleep habits. For most people, a guinea pig can be the perfect pet because they spend so much time awake, meaning they’re almost always ready for cuddles and playtime. While guinea pigs are not nocturnal, they are awake during the night, and where you keep your piggies will be an important consideration if you think this will impact your sleep.
