Last updated on April 27th, 2023 at 10:43 am
Guinea pigs enjoy eating hay, but they also eat greens and fruits, which allows them to be healthy and live a long life.
Food is the best way to bond with your new pet when you first bring them into your home. Through food, the guinea pig will love you much faster and will start to be happy and cheerful in no time.
Favorite food for guinea pigs is various types of vegetables and fruits, of course after hay, which they like the most.
That’s why it’s even better if you know what guinea pigs’ favorite food is, so in today’s article I’ve included 10 favorite foods that guinea pigs love.
1. Parsley
Parsley is at the very top of the list of foods that guinea pigs love to eat.
By eating parsley, the guinea pigs will not only enjoy eating it but will also get an excellent amount of vitamin C and calcium, which are abundant in this vegetable.
There are two types of parsley, curly or flat-leaf Italian, but that’s fine, either type is perfectly safe for guinea pigs to eat.
We have to mention that you have to be careful with the amount you give to the guinea pigs because there is a lot of calcium, so don’t give them more than 2-3 times a week.
While for small baby guinea pigs, parsley is an excellent food especially in the first three months because then they need the most calcium and vitamin C to be able to develop and grow faster.
2. Cilantro
Cilantro is another favorite herb of guinea pigs, although some may not like it at first because of its smell, but once they try it, they will always want to eat it.
Cilantro contains many nutrients such as:
- vitamin C
- calcium
- vitamins A, E, and K
- potassium
However, you must be careful, because of the large amount of calcium, you should not give your pets more than two times a week.
Cilantro should be avoided when given to pregnant guinea pigs, as well as to those who are injured or undergoing surgery.
The reason is that this herb can cause a decrease in normal blood clotting, thus increasing the risk of bleeding.
3. Dandelion
All guinea pigs love to eat dandelions, no doubt about that.
Dandelions are an excellent food for guinea pigs because they contain many nutrients that will improve their health.
But be careful with the amount, because dandelions contain a lot of calcium, so don’t give them more than twice a week.
Guinea pigs can eat the whole dandelion, along with the stems, leaves, and flowers.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Catnip? (Leaves, Seeds And Stems)
4. Cucumber
Crunchy cucumbers delight guinea pigs who enjoy their taste and smell. This vegetable doesn’t have many nutrients, but it has a lot of water, which is great for hydrating guinea pigs.
Since they do not have many nutrients, you can combine cucumber with other vegetables that have more nutrients.
Cucumber is especially good for your pet in the summer because it will protect them from dehydration. The crunchy cucumber is also good for those guinea pigs who don’t like to drink a lot of water.
The only thing that needs to be taken care of is the amount you feed them, it should always be moderate because otherwise, diarrhea may occur.
5. Watermelon
Watermelon is a fruit that all guinea pigs like to eat because it is sweet and juicy.
Although watermelon does not contain many nutrients, it is still high in potassium and water which is welcome for guinea pigs to improve their hydration.
When giving watermelon to guinea pigs, always remove the seeds, as the rind and inner part of the watermelon can be eaten.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon? (Benefits and Risks)
6. Blueberries
Blueberries, apart from being a fruit loved by guinea pigs, provide many benefits for their health.
This fruit contains large amounts of vitamin C, which is one of the most important vitamins for guinea pigs because they cannot produce it on their own.
Blueberries have many antioxidants in their composition that help fight free radicals and reduce the chances of cancer and other diseases in guinea pigs.
This excellent fruit also helps in reducing the chances of urinary tract problems and lower the chances of UTI. Just be careful not to give them too many blueberries, or give them one piece every two days.
7. Strawberries
Strawberries are a fruit that is rich in antioxidants and helps against the occurrence of cancer in guinea pigs. This fruit has less sugar which is also very good for the health of the guinea pigs.
One strawberry a week or two times a half is quite enough for guinea pigs to get the most out of their health benefits.
Guinea pigs can also eat strawberry leaves especially if you have your own garden where they are grown organically without any pesticides.
Some guinea pigs even like the leaves more than the fruit itself, they love to eat them and enjoy them.
8, Melon
Guinea pigs love to eat melon, this fruit is on the list of popular fruits for your pet.
By eating melon, guinea pigs get an excellent amount of nutrients and antioxidants that help prevent cancer and other diseases.
However, melon also contains sugar, which is why you can’t give it to guinea pigs very often. It is best to give them this delicious fruit once or at most twice a week.
You only need to be careful when giving them melon to remove the skin and seeds.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honeydew Melon? (Find Out Now)
9. Sweet peppers
Sweet peppers are one of the best vegetables to eat for guinea pigs.
The reason is the composition, which is almost ideal for guinea pigs, they contain a lot of vitamin C, and little sugar and calcium.
Vitamin C helps them protect themselves from diseases and get the most important vitamin, and the small amount of sugar and calcium prevents the occurrence of diabetes, kidney stones, and weight gain.
Two to three times a week is quite enough for guinea pigs and getting the most out of their health benefits.
10. Carrots
Carrots are my guinea pig’s favorite food, as well as other guinea pigs.
When I first brought my guinea pig into my home, I started with carrots and that was the first vegetable I gave my pet.
Guinea pigs love carrots and enjoy their crunchy taste, and they are a great vegetable to nibble on for your pet.
These vegetables have vitamins that are healthy for guinea pigs, but you have to be careful about the amount because they also have a lot of sugar in their composition.
Therefore, once or twice a week it is quite enough to give them this tasty and healthy vegetable.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kale? (Let’s Discover)
How to start introducing new food to guinea pigs?
Whenever you start introducing a new food to your guinea pigs it should be done gradually so that your guinea pig can get used to it.
At first, you should give them very small amounts of food so that the guinea pig can try the new taste, and then gradually increase the amount.
Hay is the main food for guinea pigs, represented by 80% in their diet, but they should also eat vegetables and fruits with a representation of 15-20% in their diet.
Some guinea pigs may refuse to eat certain fruits or vegetables, but this is completely normal, some will like it more and some less, this should not worry you.
Can guinea pigs only eat vegetables and fruits?
Guinea pigs can’t eat only vegetables and fruits because they also need hay.
Hay is the main food for guinea pigs because it has a lot of fiber, which is necessary to have a healthy digestive system.
The hay also allows them to reduce their ever-growing teeth. If guinea pigs eat only vegetables and fruits they will not be able to be healthy and have a healthy digestive system.
That is why it is always recommended 80% hay, and 15-20% vegetables, fruit, or pellets, and of course, they should have fresh and clean water all the time.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs eat vegetable food, so vegetables and fruits are an excellent choice for supplementing their diet in addition to regularly eating hay and of course drinking fresh and clean water.
Guinea pigs like to eat vegetables and fruits, which means they get the vitamins and minerals they need.
The more varied their diet is, the better it is for their health and their lives.
