American guinea pigs are the oldest recognized domestic guinea pig breed. They’re also the most commonly bred guinea pigs to this day! You might be wondering what it is about them that has captured the hearts of so many people throughout the ages.
If you’re looking to adopt your own American guinea pig, look no further than our complete guide to this popular breed.
What Do American Guinea Pigs Look Like?
When most people think of guinea pigs, they think of the American guinea pig breed. They’re very common and are also the oldest breed of domestic guinea pig.
American guinea pigs are shaped kind of like potatoes, with long, round bodies. They have short legs, round eyes, and long teeth that grow constantly throughout their lives.
This breed has a smooth, short coat that comes in many color varieties, including self (one coat color), bicolor, and tricolor. Crested American guinea pigs have rosettes that look like crowns on the tops of their heads.
American Guinea Pig Personality
American guinea pigs are generally calm, docile animals. They rarely bite but certainly can if they feel threatened, and some are more reactive than others. It’s important to handle them with care as these prey animals are easily frightened.
While they spend plenty of time lazing around, guinea pigs also enjoy sprinting at full speed around their enclosures or the living room floor. They “popcorn” into the air when they’re excited, too. Popcorns are cute, uncoordinated little jumps.
American guinea pigs are fairly quiet but can squeak rather loudly if they want food or attention. Some get chatty when they’re excited about something as well.
How to Care for an American Guinea Pig
Companionship
Adopting just one guinea pig isn’t an option if you want them to live a full, happy life. Guinea pigs are herd animals who crave companionship and show stressful behaviors when forced to live alone.
For most people, this means adopting 2-3 guinea pigs. While females can live in any herd combination, males are a bit trickier. Two boars can live together happily, but three or more tend to fight. The same goes for two boars housed with one or more sows.
One neutered boar living with one or more sows replicates wild guinea pig dynamics and tends to work well.
Cage Size
The minimum cage size for 1-2 guinea pigs is 7.5 square feet, but ideally, a guinea pig enclosure should be 10-12 square feet or larger. Keep in mind that upper levels do not count toward floor space because guinea pigs need a large, flat space to run around. In addition, some guinea pigs will not use loft spaces.
Cage Essentials
The essential items you’ll need to fill your American guinea pig’s cage include:
- A pile of hay or a large hay rack
- One water bottle per guinea pig
- Bedding – Reusable bedding like fleece is the least expensive long-term, but disposable bedding works, too, as long as it’s guinea pig-safe.
- One or more hides per guinea pig
Toys and other additions, such as tunnels, are optional but highly recommended. When choosing items, look for materials that are safe to chew. Avoid plastic and unsafe wood.
Cleaning
Did you know that guinea pigs can poop over 100 times a day? This is why piggies need to eat so much hay–their metabolisms are constantly working, and they can get very sick in just a few hours without food.
Of course, this also means that cleaning up after your American guinea pig requires daily effort. Most piggy parents spot clean once to twice daily and do a full cage clean once or twice a week.
A spot clean is sweeping or vacuuming up any poop from the cage and changing out soiled bedding. During a full cage clean, you’ll remove all bedding from the cage, wipe the bottom and sides of the cage, and add in fresh, clean bedding for your guinea pigs to enjoy.
Diet
There are three vital components to a guinea pig’s diet:
- Grass hay: Your American guinea pig will need constant and abundant access to fresh grass hay without exception. The most popular options are timothy hay or orchard grass.
- Vegetables: Around a cup a day per guinea pig, consisting primarily of dark leafy greens and including a rich source of vitamin C, such as bell pepper.
- Pellets: Around ⅛ cup of timothy-based, plain pellets a day to supplement any nutrients that may be missing in their everyday diet. Avoid additives such as seeds, dried fruit, or colorful pieces.
Guinea pigs can also eat fruit sparingly, but it’s not a necessity. Think of it as an occasional treat.
Grooming
Since they have short fur, American guinea pigs require very little grooming. While you can brush their coat for bonding purposes, it’s not typically necessary.
Some guinea pigs can go their entire lives without needing a bath, especially if their cage is kept clean. This is ideal since bathing is stressful for them. However, you can bathe your American guinea pig up to a few times a year if needed.
Lastly, you will need to clip your guinea pig’s nails around once a month.
American Guinea Pig Health
One of the best things you can do for your American guinea pig is to learn how to spot common health issues. Guinea pigs tend to hide illness well. By the time we notice they’re sick, they are often very ill, and their condition can worsen quickly.
Keep an eye on your American guinea pig’s habits and behaviors daily, and look them over at least once a month. Here are some common symptoms to watch for:
- Behavioral changes
- Changes in eating, pooping, or drinking habits
- Dental abnormalities
- Redness, itching, or crusty skin
- Fur loss
- Eye or nasal discharge
- Wheezing, shallow breathing, or other breath abnormalities
- Coughing or sneezing
If you notice any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your local exotic pet veterinarian. It’s good to get established with a vet when bringing your guinea pig home, as it can help you get into the office faster when your piggy is sick. It also helps you to get a baseline for their health.
Bring them for additional check-ups at least once every six months to a year, depending on their age and your vet’s recommendations.
