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Photo courtesy of HappyCavy fan pyza*
Guinea pigs are always eating. Whether it’s pellets, grass hay, daily greens, or the occasional fruit snack, it may often seem like your guinea pig is born to eat (and create magic beans).
With an insatiable diet comes the responsibility to learn what constitutes a proper guinea pig diet. Choosing guinea pig safe foods can be a bit of a challenge. There are so many types of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that guinea pigs can eat.
So what should you be feeding your guinea pig?
What fruits and ? What fruits can guinea pigs eat?? And herbs? What about those?
- What can guinea pigs eat?
- Which vegetables, fruits, and herbs are safe to feed your guinea pig?
- Are the foods you have been giving your cavy “guinea pig safe“?
- Besides water, high-quality hay, and pellets, what else can your guinea pig eat?
→ Jump to the Guinea Pig Safe Food List
First, let’s take a look at the basics of a guinea pig diet or jump to What The Happy Cavy Herd Eats for a general guide on the daily dietary requirements of guinea pigs.
A guinea pig’s diet should consist of the following:
#1. Water
A constant fresh source of fresh (preferably filtered but NOT distilled) clean, room-temperature water is an absolute must.
Water bottles should be emptied, rinsed, and re-filled each day.
#2. Grass Hay
High-quality grass hay (such as timothy hay) should be available at all times for your guinea pig. Hay delivers the fiber that that is essential for your guinea pig to be able to properly digest and proces food and nutrients. Without a constant intake of fresh hay, guinea pigs’ digestive tracks can shut down. Plus, hay helps guinea pigs keep their teeth clean prevents their teeth from growing too long.
How do you know if hay is high-quality? High-quality hay should be green with pliable stalks, free of mold and foreign particulates, and fragrant (not dusty or void of smell). Cheap, store-bought hay is no substitute for fresh, high-quality yummy goodness.
Most hay purchased at “big box” stores (PetCo, etc.) is NOT high-quality hay. Farm-to-cage is ideal and special caution should be taken when providing the most important food of your guinea pig’s diet: high-quality, pesticide(?) free hay.
NOTE: An alfalfa hay mix (1/2 timothy, 1/2 alfalfa) should be primarily fed to young guinea pigs under the age of 4 months and pregnant or nursing cavies. Because alfalfa hay is high in calcium, it should NOT be fed to healthy, adult cavies. Healthy, adult guinea pigs should be fed lower-calcium hays such as timothy hay or orchard grass hay.
#3. Pellets
Provide your guinea pig with about 1/4 – 1/8 cup of plain, corn- and seed-free guinea pig pellets for eating each day. Pellets are less important than a constant supply of fresh grass hay, though pellets can provide additional vitamins and nutrients that your guinea pig isn’t getting from hay alone, especially if the pellets are fortified in Vitamin C.
Guinea pig pellets should consist of only high-quality hay and should be served in a ceramic bowl, which is large enough to not tip over.
NOTE: Pellets alone are NOT a substitute for hay! High-quality grass hay is a must for proper guinea pig health.
Vitamin C
Like Humans, guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own vitamin C. To prevent survy and other health issues, each guinea pig should get 10 to 30 milligrams of Vitamin C each day; young, ill, nursing and/or pregnant animals require extra Vitamin C. While many guinea pigs will get an adequate serving of Vitamin C from vegetables and pellets, you may wish to supplement your cavy’s diet with a small amount of Vitamin C, either in power or tablet form.
NOTE: It is NOT recommended that you use water-soluable drops for supplementing Vitamin C. Watch How to Give Vitamin C to Your Guinea Pig (video) to see how HappyCavies get their Vitamin C.
Vegetables, Herbs, & Other Foods
Guinea should be fed only up to 1 cup (240 mL) each (adults) of vegetables per day. However, it is ideal for you to limit their intake of vegetables. Just because they CAN have up to 1 cup doesn’t mean they need it. Please remember that your guinea pig’s food supply should NOT be mainly vegetables. And watch their calcium intake! Foods high in calcium can lead to the formation of bladder stones and other health issues.
To help you find which vegetables, herbs, and fruits are safe to feed your guinea pig, please refer to the Guinea Pig Food List below.
NOTE: Always introduce new foods to your guinea pig slowly and patiently. Begin introducing new foods by providing a small piece or two during the “first try”. Then, portions of a particular guinea pig safe food may be increased slightly with each subsequent serving. The way that you introduce nutrients is as important as a healthy diet. Guinea pigs have a sensitive digestive system which is easily upset.
Help Us Maintain The Food List!
There are so many foods a guinea pig can eat. If you know of a food that is not included in this list which you think we should add, please let us know!
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Guinea Pig “Safe Food List”
Updated: February 14, 2024
Click a letter to view that vegetable and refer to the “Notes” for cautionary advice.
Information on this chart is derived from the USDA FoodData Central. Information may have changed since the publication of this chart.
This chart takes into consideration several factors to arrive at our feeding frequency suggestions: sugar, calcium, phosphorous, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, oxalic acid content, and calcium to phosphorous (Ca:P) ratio. Not all fields are displayed due to space requirements. Chemical composition can be referenced at the USDA FoodData Central.
IMPORTANT: There are other important nutritional factors not represented in this chart. Please use GuineaLynx’s Vegetable/Fruit resource for additional information such as Calcium/Phosphorus Ratios and Oxalic Acid information: http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_ratio.html
CHART KEY
Almost daily
Frequently: 2-4 times per week
Occasionally: 1-2 times per week
Rarely: 1-2 times per month
DO NOT copy or distribute this list it without express permission from HappyCavy.com. Contact us if you wish to use this list on your website.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Recommended Feeding Frequency:
Almost daily
Frequently: 2-4 times per week
Occasionally: 1-2 times per week
Rarely: 1-2 times per month
| VEGETABLE / FRUIT (fresh & raw) |
VITAMIN C in mg (per 100g) |
CALCIUM in mg (per 100g) |
Notes |
| Alfalfa – pellets | 0 | 2200 | Alfalfa pellets are suitable for young, growing and/or pregnant guinea pigs (under 1 year of age). Ref. Pellets: Alfalfa vs Timothy. |
| Apple | 4.60 | 6.00 | Apple seeds are poisonous |
| Apricot | 10.00 | 13.00 | |
| Arugula lettuce | 15.00 | 160.00 | |
| Asparagus | 17.69 | 28.14 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Banana | 9.10 | 6.00 | Can cause constipation. |
| Basil | 4.5 | 38.0 | Can cause constipation. |
| Beet greens/leaves (beetroot greens/leaves) |
30.00 | 117.00 | |
| Beets (beetroot) | 4.90 | 16.00 | |
| Bell pepper | See Peppers (capscium) | ||
| Blackberries | 21.00 | 32.00 | |
| Blueberries | 9.7 | 6.00 | Feed in moderation. |
| Broccoli raab, rabe, rapini | 93.00 | 48.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Broccolini | 93.00 | 48.00 | Stems are liked better than flowers |
| Brussels sprouts | 85.00 | 42.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Cabbage, green | 51.00 | 47.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Cabbage, red | 57.00 | 51.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Cabbage, Chinese pak-choi | 45.00 | 74.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Cabbage, Savoy | 31.00 | 35.00 | Feed in moderation. May cause gas or bloating. |
| Cantaloupe (rock melon) | — | — | See Melon – Cantaloupe (rock melon) |
| Carrots | 5.9 | 33.00 | High Vitamin A. Feed in moderation. |
| Carrots, baby | 2.60 | 32.00 | High Vitamin A. Feed in moderation. |
| Carrots, top greens | unknown | unknown | Unknown nutrient makeup. Feed sparingly. |
| Cauliflower / Broccoflower | 46.40 | 22.00 | |
| Celery | 7.00 | 40.00 | Choking hazard. Remove the celery “veins” to prevent hazard. |
| Cherimoya | 9.00 | 23.00 | Very in very small amounts. |
| Cherries (without pits) – sour | 10.00 | 16.00 | |
| Cherries (without pits) – sweet | 7.00 | 13.00 | |
| Chicory, greens | 24.00 | 100.00 | |
| Chicory, witloof | 2.80 | 19.00 | |
| **Cilantro (corriander) | 27.00 | 67.00 | Feed in moderation. |
| **Collards | 35.30 | 145.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Corn on the cob (1 med ear) | 6.10 | 2.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Cranberries | 13.50 | 7.00 | Feed in moderation. |
| Cress, garden | 69.00 | 81.00 | |
| Cucumber with peel | 5.30 | 14.00 | |
| Dandelion Greens | 35.00 | 187.00 | |
| Dill | 85.00 | 208.00 | |
| Eggplant | 6.5 | 6.5 | |
| Elderberries | 36.00 | 38.00 | Feed in small amounts. |
| Endive (escarole) | 6.50 | 52.00 | |
| Fennel, fronds & leaves | not recorded specially for fronds & leaves | not recorded specially for fronds & leaves | Feed rarely. |
| Grapefruit, white | 37.00 | 15.00 | Sour foods can cause mouth sores. |
| Grapes | 4.00 | 14.00 | |
| Grass (lawn) | — | — | See Hay |
| Green beans, snap | 12.20 | 37.00 | |
| Hay | varies by type | varies by type | IMPORTANT: Read Selecting Hay. |
| Honeydew | 120.00 | 135.00 | See Melon – honeydew |
| Kale | 120.00 | 135.00 | |
| Kiwifruit, fuzzy (kiwi or kiwi fruit) | 92.70 | 34.00 | Remove brown, fuzzy skin. |
| Kohlrabi | 62.00 | 24.00 | Feed in moderation. |
| Kumquat | 37.40 | 44.00 | |
| Lavender | 12.00 | 215.00 | |
| Lettuce – butterhead, boston, bibb |
3.70 | 35.00 | |
| Lettuce – romaine (cos lettuce) |
4.00 | 33.00 | |
| Lettuce – red leaf |
3.70 | 33.00 | |
| Mammy-apple (mamey) | 14.00 | 11.00 | |
| Mandarin orange (or tangerine) | 30.80 | 14.00 | Feed in small amounts. |
| Mango | 27.70 | 10.00 | |
| Melon – Cantaloupe (rock melon) | 36.70 | 9.00 | Feed in small amounts. |
| Melon – casaba | 16.00 | 5.00 | |
| Melon – honeydew | 24.80 | 6.00 | |
| Melon – watermelon | 9.60 | 8.00 | |
| Mint (peppermint) | 31.80 | 243.00 | |
| Mustard greens | 70.00 | 103.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Nectarine | 5.40 | 5.00 | |
| **Okra | 21.10 | 81.00 | |
| Orange | 53.20 | 40.00 | Citrus can cause mouth sores. |
| Oregano | 2.30 | 1597.00 | Feed in very small amounts. |
| Papaya | 61.80 | 24.00 | |
| **Parsley (curly or flat) | 133.00 | 138.00 | |
| Parsnip | 17.00 | 36.00 | |
| Passionfruit, purple | 30.00 | 12.00 | |
| Peach | 6.60 | 5.00 | |
| Peas, edible-podded | 40.00 | 25.00 | |
| Pears – Asian | 3.80 | 4.00 | |
| Pears – European | 6.60 | 18.15 | |
| Peppermint | 31.8 | 243.00 | |
| Peppers (capscium), sweet green | 80.40 | 10.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Peppers (capscium), sweet orange | 146.7 | 0.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Peppers (capscium), sweet red | 127.70 | 7.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Peppers (capscium), sweet yellow | 183.50 | 11.00 | May cause gas or bloating. |
| Persimmon | 66.00 | 27.00 | Feed in very small amounts. |
| Pineapple | 15.40 | 7.00 | Citrus can cause mouth sores. |
| Plum | 9.50 | 4.00 | |
| Pumpkin | 11.00 | 39.00 | High in Vitamin A. |
| Pumpkin Leaves | 11.00 | 39.00 | High in Vitamin A. |
| Quince | 15.00 | 11.00 | |
| Radicchio | 8.00 | 19.00 | |
| Radishes | 14.80 | 25.00 | |
| Raspberries | 26.00 | 25.00 | |
| Raspberry leaves (from raspberry plant) | 25.00 | 22.00 | |
| Spearmint | 13.3 | 199.00 | Feed in very small amounts |
| **Spinach | 28.10 | 99.00 | May cause gas or bloating. Contains high levels of oxalic acid. |
| Squash, summer | 17.00 | 15.00 | |
| Squash, winter | 12.30 | 28.00 | |
| Starfruit | 34.40 | 3.00 | |
| Strawberries | 56.70 | 14.00 | Feed in moderation. |
| Sweet potato | 22.70 | 22.00 | |
| Sweet potato leaves | 11.00 | 37.00 | |
| **Swiss Chard | 30.00 | 51.00 | Feed in moderation. May cause diarrhea. |
| Taro leaves | 52.00 | 107.00 | |
| Thyme | 160.01 | 405.00 | Feed in moderation. |
| #Tomato, red, cherry tomatoes | 19.10 | 5.00 | Avoid leaves and stems (poisonous) – See Dangerous Food List |
| Turnip greens | 60.00 | 190.00 | |
| Watercress | 43.00 | 120.00 | |
| Watermelon | — | — | See Melon – watermelon |
| Watermelon rind | — | — | Vitamin & mineral content unknown. Watermelon rind is safe. |
| Wheatgrass | ~4.00 | ~28.00 | Fresh grasses may cause gut upsets. |
| Zucchini (courgette) | 28.00 | 1.00 |
# Vitamin C values for tomatoes differ depending on variety and season.
** Contains oxalic acid which may contribute to the formation of bladder stones.
Please email website[at]happycavy.com to make additions to this list.
Hi-this is not a food-related question, but I’ve been trying to help my guinea pigs potty train for years. Are yours potty trained? How did you do it? Thank you!
Hi Jen!
Hammy, Piglet, and Bitsy are not potty trained.
We use a small coroplast tray in the corner of the cage to scoop their poos into when we spot-clean. But they relieve themselves wherever they please 😉
I just bought my forever baby her name is BEBE and she is just the cutest. I have had her for three days now and she is very shy but learns quickly. I am concerned because she has eaten so little since I brought her to her little palace. She is also not drinking very much.
I have low stress for her, every toy and comfort that she could want and very low stim environment but she is just not eating or drinking much as in less than a teaspoon of water. I have a water bottle just like she had in her pet shop cage but I am getting a bit concerned.
When I hold her she makes the purr noise (as I learned from a website that means she is happy) however, I am getting worried. Please give me advise.
Love Auntie Jamie
Hi Jamie!
It sounds like your piggy just needs some time to adjust.
If BeBe continues to eat and drink very little, I would suggest that you buy some Critical Care to feed to her. It can be purchased at any local pet store that sells small animal products. It will give her the nutrients she needs until she feels comfortable in her new environment.
It sounds like she has a wonderful new forever mama. Give your new fuzzy a kiss and hug from us 🙂
thank you for listing some food guinea pigs eat. i just got 3 of them at 1:00 pm today.
thanks
Bethany Whisel
Congrats on being a new cavy mama! Let me know if you need any help: hammy [at] gmail dot com
Sorry to hear your guinea pig is having a hard time :*(
Here are a few tips that might help:
1. Excess calcium in a guinea pig’s diet can lead to the formation of bladder stones. That’s why we recommend guinea pig owners to use high-calcium foods like parsley and spinach in moderation. If you are worried about calcium intake, you can check for white, powdery spots on the floor of your guinea pig cage cage. (This would be excess calcium that is excreted in their wee).
2. Be sure to give your cavy a guinea pig safe probiotic along with the antibiotic. Antibiotics can damage healthy gut function, but a probiotic like Nature’s Way Garden Acidophilus can help restore the healthy gut flora.
3. It may seem “boring” to humans, but guinea pigs can get all the nutrition and protein they need from a constant supply of high-quality hay and pellets. And if you are worried about how much your cavy is eating, you can weigh your guinea pig on a daily or every other day basis.
Good luck with your piggie!
Let us know if you need any advice, etc. ~ Hammy xx
Can Guinea Pigs eat green onions? I have fed mine some before and he LOVVVES them but I don’t see them on this list…. are they safe for my little guy to eat??
Hi Jenna!
We didn’t include green onion on the list since they *may* cause gas. But if you feed them the green tops in moderation, they should be just fine 🙂
Are little piggies supposed to have the treats from the pet store?
The treats that pet stores sell really shouldn’t be given to guinea pigs. We’ve seen pet stores carry items like yogurt snacks and snacks with seeds in them – not good for your cavy.
If you want to give your guinea pig a snack, I would stick with vegetables (especially dark leafy greens) and a little fruit from time to time.
Can guinea pigs eat Oregano?
Can you feed Guinea pigs. Rabbit feed?
They CAN eat oregano, but they may not like it much as herbs have strong flavors. None of the HappyCavies have had oregano so I can’t tell you from experience. Just remember – when introducing a new food be sure to only give a little bit at a time.
It depends what is in the rabbit feed. Care to post the ingredients?
How much do they cost
How much do they cost
Are guniea pigs good with 3 year olds
Are guniea pigs good with 3 year olds
Not sure what you’re asking? We don’t recommend “buying” animals – guinea pigs or otherwise. You can do pet adoption searches on humane organization websites in your area. Just do a Google search to find local shelters. Humane organization adoption feeds can cost about $40.
Surprisingly, many people toss guinea pigs in fields and in public areas because they were not able to give them proper care or attention. These pigs are often times found and brought to local shelters and rescues that can give them the care they need and rehome them. There are plenty of sweet pigs that need your love in your area!
If you are asking about the cost of food, housing, medical expenses, etc. for guinea pigs, the ASPCA has an outline of the cost of guinea pig care: http://www.aspca.org/adopt/pet-care-costs
Not at all – guinea pigs are way too delicate of creatures for small children. Also, guinea pigs require a lot of time for care, cleaning, etc.
In fact, some 30 or even 40 years olds aren’t good with guinea pigs! 😀
my guinea pigs eat green leaf lettuce red peppers and parsley or cilantro every morning and a handful of timothy hay and sometimes not on a regularly bases a treat for each of them and for dinner some pellets
Hello there. I was wondering if it would be alright if I used this food list (which is wonderful, by the way!) for part of a guinea pig forum I am making. Would it be alright?
What is the best thing to feed my guinea pig daily?
Hi Kat,
Go ahead and thanks for asking! Just add a link on your forum back to the Food List page, OK?
Also, please post a link to our Happy Cavy Facebook Page so everyone can see?? We’d love that!
xoxo ~Hammy
You can see what we eat on a daily basis on our page: What We Eat – The Happy Cavy Diet
Is swiss chard safe?????
We’ve never had it, but it sounds yummy.
I just Google the question and it looks like swiss chard is OK, but if you’re feeding your guinea pig the stalks just cut in it into small pieces and remove the strings to prevent choking. I would feed in moderation, too. Especially if this is their first time having it.
Cilantro is fine, but high in calcium. We feed that in moderation.
Dried corn husks are OK as a treat, and can help keep their teeth trim. Although the corn itself can be found in most store-bought guinea pig feed, it’s not really a cavy-appropriate food.
Standing water can do that, you are not a bad piggie mom at all 🙂 This is a really good question and one we haven’t heard before.
My humans use vinegar to clean our cage on a weekly basis. Since vinegar will kill any mold/fungus growth, you can try that and see if it helps. Vinegar is non-toxic and a cavy-safe alternative to bleach.
My first concern is your pig developing a respiratory infection. Fungus and mold can cause URIs, so cleaning this up is a top priority. If you have house plants in your house, they could be fruit flies or gnats for sure. Cleaning up the fungus should control this issue in the cage. But keep your eye on the situation. If you do have house plants that are causing this problem, you can buy insecticide spray and it will clear it up – just don’t use it in the pig cage of course 🙂
Hope we’ve helped 🙂 Let us know if this works! xx- Hammy
Nope, these are definitely not safe. Stick with veggies, hay, and pellets – keep the yummy cereals for your human friends 🙂
This is great thankyou!
can guinea pigs eat raw oatmeal?
We’ve never had oatmeal before. I think it is OK, just in very small quantities. But I’m sure the friendly GuineaLynx forum can answer this for you.
can my guinea pigs eat sugar cane we have it growing for treats for the horses.
Jean
Sugar cane isn’t safe for guinea pigs. Which is good news for your horses, more for them! 😀
Do guinea pigs eat raw corn
Guinea pigs cannot eat corn, both raw or dried.
When the humans introduce us to new food they just give us really small pieces until we get used to it. But any foods outside of the regular piggie diet of hay and pellets should be fed in moderation, just a few pieces at a time.
I got ‘Stella’ 2 wks ago & at night, I take put her on my bed with a towel under her & we watch tv. Last few days, she’s been licking & biting me, then crawls up my shoulder & entangles herself in my long hair & liked to perch under my ear. Is this normal? Also, sometimes she makes noises like 2 balloons rubbing together when I pet her.
Buttercup likes to lick and give “love nips” from time to time, too. And her favorite place to spend cuddle time is next to a human’s next where it’s warm and comfy. It sounds like Stella is a cuddler just like little Buttercup!
Not sure about the sound like “2 balloons rubbing together”, but I wouldn’t worry as long as it doesn’t sound like she is in pain. Vocal snugglers are the cutest, you and Stella will get along just fine 😀
Hello, I just wanted to add that I grow different mints in my herb garden during the summer and give my piggies the mint leaves know and then in moderation as a treat. They love it!
I live in Ohio, do you know of any rescues for cavies near me?
My pig is potty trained! I bought a litter box, and started off just putting the bedding in it, and then whenever she pooped in her cage I would pick it up and put it in the litterbox. Also, any wet bedding can be put in the box too. It didn’t take very long to train her, but she is also smart. Hope this helps!
Check out this link, it lists guinea pig rescues and shelters in Ohio: http://bit.ly/ohiocavyrescue
Also, check with local humane organizations (“humane societies”) because they can give you some good references. Good luck! 😀
About your guinea pig’s quiet nature – some guinea pig’s aren’t very vocal. Also, even if he does have damanged vocal cords, like you seem to suspect, I doubt there’s much a vet can do. As long as he isn’t showing signs of pain (not eating, just laying around, etc.), he’s OK. Just give him lots of love even if he doesn’t seem that interested. He still likes the attention very much, I’m sure 😀
That recipe looks like a sweet yummy treat! It meets our standards 😀 Our only suggestion is that you feed the treat in small amounts only once or twice a week. Foods that are heavy in oats and sweets should be fed sparingly so they don’t cause a gut upset in your guinea pig. Happy Snackin’!! ~ Hammy
Is Passionfruit leaves safe for guinea pigs to eat?
I’ve never heard of guinea pigs eating apple stems, but it doesn’t sound very yummy. I’d say just stick to fresh hay and pellets 🙂
I couldn’t find any information on passion fruit LEAVES, but a few small bits of passion fruit as a snack is OK. Happy munching!
quick question: my cavies keep swaying their hips at each other.My guinea pig book says it is a thing MALES do to each other but the petstore said they are FEMALE!
Uh HELP!