 |
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!
Share This Guinea Pig Nutrition & Diet Info
Then Like and Plus →
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.
Hey, this is a great site. Thanks for being so helpful! I read down the list and didn’t see anyone else addressing this. Is there a guideline for how much & how often I can feed these treats to my pigs? I’m sure it depends on the particular treat. Are there any I could give them daily aside from their own pellets/hay?
Thank you =)
Thanks for your comment, Michael! We’ve just updated the list to include frequency feeding info. Hope you find that helpful! 😀
It’s exactly what I needed to know. Thanks!
do guinea pigs like dadelions?
They love them! Dandelion greens and the flowers, check out the first entry for D. 🙂
My piggies are very picky on their food. I want to try zucchini. Should I give them the skin of it also or do I need to peel it?
This is an invaluable list – thank you so much! Your piggies are adorable 🙂 We just got two beautiful boys from a rescue and I was really stuck wondering what was safe for them.
Thanks you so much!
(I attached a wee photo of them – Mugen and Jin!)
They can eat zucchini skin, but yuck. They may not like it 🙂
So cute! Thank you for the super adorable photo. Mugin and Jin – what lucky guinea pigs they are now 😀 Thank you for choose to rescue! And check out wheek.it if you have time 🙂
hi I am a bit worried about my guinea pig cody he is not drinking much water n I was wondering if u could help me out n give me a few answers n seclusions xx thanks 🙂
can I squeeze natural orange juices from the fruit into my guinea pigs water bottle if I change it daily
It’s ideal if their water supply is fresh and untainted. If you’re concerned about vitamin C intake, check out our video How to Give Your Guinea Pig Vitamin C. 🙂
can they eat potato peels?
Potatoes are NOT safe, please refer to our list “Foods Guinea Pigs Should Not Eat” for other foods unsafe for cavies. 🙂
can guinea pigs have mashed potatoes
Potatoes are not safe for guinea pigs.
my guinea pic bubble loves all the new fruit and veggies we’ve been trying him on thanks to your list!! red pepper is the newest one, and his favorite has always been carrot!! 🙂 here he is enjoying a stroke 🙂
Can guinea pigs have basil? My sunny loves it. My moms grows fresh basil and she eats it. She seems to be fine. My sunny s 1 a year or 2 can they have pellets and can you tell me where i can get cheap (price) pack. And 1 last thing is timothy hay fine for them? thanks ps i love the list its like a new diet for her because shes fat lol thanks a bunch for helping me out!
What a lovely, well-behaved guinea pig! He deserves all the carrot he earns 😀 Thanks so much for Sharing Bubble with us!
Hi, equallychloe! Basil is safe once or twice a week in small quantities.
Please read What Guinea Pigs Eat for an over-all guide on guinea pig diet.
Then check out the Guinea Lynx Guide on Pellets for specific brand and ingredient information.
Timothy hay is a requirement for ADULTS, alfalfa for baby and very young guinea pigs. Read the Guinea Lynx Guide on Hay for a wealth of info on hay requirements and information. Good luck! 😀
Hi Hammy, i have 3 guinea pigs called Gizmo, Boris and Barnaby! i love the happy cavy website and this list has been a big help!my piggies like lots of different fruits and veg and 1 of their favorites is carrot! whats your fave fruit or veg?!?
My ginwigs, Smokey and Bandit love sharing my food, and love devouring hard boiled eggs. I’ve read on the net that it’s bad for cavies? Can someone please give me a straight answer? Thanks 🙂
Guinea pigs should NEVER eat “human” food (pastas, breads, proteins, etc.), eggs included. Just stick with veg and a constant supply of fresh hay and hay pellets 🙂
I’ll eat just about anything! We all love carrot the most. When Piglet was around, her favorite was a few pieces of sweet tomato. Bitsy‘s favorite was cucumber. But the rest of us really like green or red pepper, parley, and carrot!
You deserve 5 stars!
yup
totally!
thank you for your great information..i want to know if i can feed them blackberries leaves?? how much per day??
hello, my name is shaela!! and i just got my baby not even a week ago, his name is nibbles because i noticed he likes 2 nibble on everything lol he’s 8 months old. i was wanting 2 know, i pet him n interact with him off and on on a daily basis. how long will it take for him 2 like me and be ok with me holding him.. n is feeding him the wheat cereal thats frosted was ok. he really like them and goes nuts for them when i hold one out 2 him.
Based solely on anecdotal evidence, guinea pigs can eat blackberry leaves. However, there is no nutrient guide available for the leafs specifically, so we can’t tell you how often or how much to feed. A suggestion goes that one should pick blackberry leaves and shoots “young and tender” before feeding.
Guinea pigs cannot have frosted wheat or nuts. No human food! Stick with hay, timothy hay pellets, water, and the occasional vegetable treat (like lettuce greens, cucumber slices, carrot pieces).
thank you alot, plz another question can i feed them cilantro and parsley daily???
oh thank you so much, but how long does it usually take 2 let me hold him and pet him??
We sent you an email to your Yahoo account about that. Check your spam/junk folder? 🙂
thank you so much lots, 🙂
My abyssinian piggies were gift from a friend, it’s actually my first time to pet guinea pigs. they’re such a delight, and they are so talkative .:)
by the way, i wonder if i can feed them cherry tomatoes, and how? should i remove the seeds or not? thanks for the help! 🙂
Yes! Guinea pigs love to eat cherry tomatoes! Just feed a few at a time and you can feed them 2-4 times per week. No need to remove the seeds unless they are unusually hard to large. Happy munching!
I heard that grapes can be bad for their kidneys, but on here it says you can feed them grapes 2-4 times a week. Can anyone clear it up for me? 🙂
Unfortunately for us, the Internet is full of anecdotal statements. I cannot locate any conclusive report demonstrating that grapes are bad for a cavy’s kidneys, unless you can provide a link? I have, however, found plenty of websites making this un-sourced claim 🙂
Any fruit or vegetable has the potential to be harmful, depending on each individual guinea pig’s unique physiology. But grapes are fine, just feed infrequently as suggested since grapes are relatively high in sugar. And stick to seedless grapes, the seeds can pose a choking hazard.
Does this help? 🙂
Yes, thank-you! I love this website, I always check everything I read back through here 🙂
my little guy loves egg is it safe for him to eat as long as we do not add salt or anything to it ???? he also loves tomato and carrots
Tomato and carrots are OK (just refer to the recommended feeding frequency). Egg is never, ever OK.
i wouls like to know what could have caused our little guy to go blind
Hi, I know you have corn listed on here, but not the corn husks. My girl absolutely loves corn husks and I assume they have little nutritional value but I don’t see the point in taking them away from her since I would only throw them out anyway! I was just wondering how often I can feed them to her? Thanks!
You should read Alice’s post at Cali Cavy Collective 🙂
Can I give mine boiled rice?
No. Boiled rice, and all rice for that matter, is not safe.
what about dragonfruit?
Yes! Guinea pigs can eat dragon fruit: http://www.happycavy.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-dragon-fruit-pitaya/
Hi,
I have noticed at my pet food store and online that people are saying sunflower leaves and stalks are okay for Guinea Pigs to eat, I was just wondering if that is true? Because I have some growing in my garden 🙂 thanks!