How Fast Can Guinea Pigs Run? Let's Find Out -

When I started keeping a guinea pig, I noticed that when I let him out of the cage to play and run, he performs a relatively good running speed.

So I did some research to find out how fast guinea pigs really are.

How fast can guinea pigs run?

Guinea pigs can run at a speed of 4-6 miles per hour, which speed can vary depending on their age, size, and breed.

In today’s article, you will learn all about how fast guinea pigs can run, how long they can run, and similar questions related to the topic.

Table of Contents show

How fast can guinea pigs run?

Guinea pigs have excellent speeds that can reach up to 6 miles per hour, which is amazing for such small animals.

Also, guinea pigs run faster when they are younger, while as they age their running speed normally decreases.

Guinea pigs cannot run very fast for a long time because they get tired, they are fast only for short distances.

Why do guinea pigs run fast?

Guinea pigs run fast because they are small animals and this allows them to move very quickly, also they have good anatomy of their body which allows them to run fast.

They can run fast on short distances and cannot run fast for longer periods of time, because they become exhausted, at which point they stop.

Nature itself has taught them that they must be quick and skillful to save themselves from predators.

The speed of their running helps them to save themselves from predators because in the wild they are usually the prey of other animals.

If you leave the guinea pigs in an open space in your yard or in your house they will undoubtedly show their speed in running.

I also convinced myself of their speed when I let my guinea pig into the room, it started running fast and I couldn’t catch up with it, luckily, there is nowhere for it to go far in the room and then I caught it.

Do guinea pigs like to run?

Guinea pigs love to run, although at first glance they look like lazy pets because of their shape, but still, they love to run.

They like to run, jump and play whenever there is enough space in the room.

For example, when my guinea pig is in a cage, normally there is no space to run, but when I let him into the room, then it shows me who is faster than the two of us.

Guinea pigs enjoy running because that way they burn calories, have better fitness and of course then they have better health.

Young guinea pigs like to run the most, while as they get older they don’t want to run as much, which is completely normal just like us humans.

Are guinea pigs faster than humans?

Guinea pigs are twice as fast as humans. Guinea pigs are faster than humans due to their myomorphic and caviomorph genes.

On the other hand, humans can run longer distances and are more durable, while guinea pigs must rest. Guinea pigs also have better reflexes than humans and can outrun them at short distances.

My guinea pig has great reflexes and movement when running, so I can’t make as fast movements and changes of direction as my pet can.

What is the fastest speed of a wild guinea pig?

Guinea pigs in the wild have excellent movement speeds, of course, young guinea pigs are in the best shape and move the fastest.

Here is the speed of guinea pigs in the wild:

adult guinea pigs ran with a maximum escape speed of 4.12 m/s, while the maximum measured speed was 6.0 m/s.
baby guinea pigs weighing 77 grams run at a speed of 2.55 m/s, while after 20 days they already run at a speed of 4.0 m/s.

How Fast Is The Fastest Guinea Pig?

So far, the officially fastest guinea pig ran 10 meters (32.81 ft) in 8.81 seconds and this is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.

This record was made by a guinea pig named Flash and was achieved on July 27, 2009, in a competition running at UC London, in which 10 guinea pigs competed.

This record for the fastest guinea pig has not yet been changed, although almost 15 years have passed.

How far can guinea pigs run?

Guinea pigs run in short intervals of 5-10 minutes for a total of 3-5 hours per day. Guinea pigs enjoy their run, they have many activities during the day that allow them to be active all the time.

They cannot run for a long time because they tire quickly, but when the total running in one day is added up, it can be said that they spend a lot of time running.

When guinea pigs are in a cage they can’t run for long and sometimes they don’t run at all, while when they are out of the cage they like to run and explore.

What to do so that the guinea pigs can run enough?

In order for guinea pigs to run sufficiently, they need to have certain conditions in their environment.

The cage of the guinea pigs should be as large as possible so that the guinea pig can move more and exercise its body because if it does not exercise it can gain weight and have a weaker condition, which affects its health.

Let them out of their cage at least twice a day in your room or outside in the yard to run around. Of course, if you let them out, take care of their safety, because they can be attacked by a predator.

Arrange toys and objects in your room that will stimulate them to run and play which will increase their activity.

Can guinea pigs run on wheels?

It is not recommended that you let guinea pigs run around in a wheel for exercise, as they will not be safe.

The exercise wheel is more suitable for other pets such as hamsters, but not for guinea pigs.

However, the anatomy of the guinea pigs’ bodies does not allow them to run on a wheel, as they are not as flexible and may injure their backs or have other side effects.

Guinea pigs also do not even need an exercise ball as it is similar to a wheel and is not at all safe for your pet.

What is the best surface for a guinea pig to run?

Guinea pigs can run on various surfaces, but the best surface is grass.

At the same time, there should not be a lot of mud or water on the grass, which will slow down their running and make them dirty.

You should avoid letting guinea pigs run on concrete or very hard surfaces as they can cause sores on your pet’s feet.

Can guinea pigs run on artificial grass?

You can let guinea pigs run on artificial grass because it is completely safe for them.

The most important thing is that you only pay attention to their safety when you let them run on artificial grass.

As long as the surface they are running on is not too hard like concrete, the guinea pigs will run just fine and will not get hurt or get sores on their bodies or legs.

Do guinea pigs run in the dark?

Guinea pigs can also run in the dark, although they won’t be able to see as well as in daytime conditions.

Running at night is quite normal for guinea pigs, just be careful not to run away if you let them out somewhere in the yard, it is best to have good lighting.

Also, guinea pigs do not have very good eyesight, but they will still use their senses to make up for their poor eyesight and can run at night.

Wild or domestic guinea pigs which one is faster?

Whether domestic or wild guinea pigs generally all have the same running speed.

However, guinea pigs living in the wild can run faster than domestic guinea pigs simply because they may have better fitness.

Guinea pigs in nature run away and hide from predators all the time, while domestic guinea pigs spend more time in the cage and cannot have the same fitness.

Other than conditioning, there is nothing else that makes guinea pigs in the wild faster than domestic guinea pigs.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs can run at a speed of 4-6 miles per hour, but they cannot last long because they get tired.

Guinea pigs are fast animals even though they are small, but they cannot run long distances. They run very fast because of their genes and the good anatomy of their body.

Guinea pigs’ fast running allows them to escape predators when in the wild.

The fastest guinea pig ever recorded was in 2009, running 10 meters in 8.81 seconds in the UK.