Your first guinea pig: the complete starter guide

They chat with each other all day, eat together and feel safer when another guinea pig is nearby. A human can't fully replace that company, however sweet you are. That's why we recommend keeping at least two guinea pigs together.

Good combinations are, for example, two females, or a neutered male with one or more females. Two males can sometimes work too, but it takes more patience and space. Feel free to ask the shelter or breeder which guinea pigs get along well. It's best to talk to your vet about neutering.

And a rabbit as a companion? That is often discouraged. Rabbits and guinea pigs 'speak' a different language, need different food, and a rabbit can accidentally hurt a guinea pig badly. So the best companion for a guinea pig is another guinea pig.

Guinea pigs aren't climbers or jumpers, but they are real runners and explorers. What matters most to them is the floor space: the more room to run, the better. A small cage is therefore not enough. Choose the largest home that fits in your house, and if you can, also provide daily free time in a safe run.

Make sure there is enough room for one hideaway per guinea pig, a hay rack, a feeding spot and a place to drink. Does it get cramped quickly indoors? Then the home is too small.

Guinea pigs sit on the floor all day, so this is extra important. Choose a low-dust, highly absorbent bedding, such as hemp, flax, cotton or wood fibre. Put a layer of hay on top, so they can rummage and sniff around.

Remove wet spots every day and change all the bedding completely on a regular basis. Some guinea pigs like to pee in a fixed corner. Do you see that with your guinea pigs? Then you can put a corner toilet there, but it isn't a must.

Give it unlimited, fresh every day. Guinea pigs nibble all day long, and that chewing is part of their natural behaviour. Their teeth keep growing their whole lives.

Choose good, fragrant hay without dust. A hay rack or hay bag keeps the hay clean and dry. Also simply put a few piles of hay on the floor, because guinea pigs like to eat 'with their nose in the grass'. Feel free to vary with different types, such as meadow hay, timothy or hay with herbs and flowers.

So they have to get it from their food every day. That's why, besides hay, you give fresh vegetables every day, such as bell pepper, endive, romaine lettuce, fennel or some fresh herbs. Introduce new vegetables gradually, so the tummy can get used to them. Fruit is tasty, but contains a lot of sugar. So only give it now and then as a treat.

A small amount of guinea pig pellets completes the menu. Make sure you really choose guinea pig food and not rabbit food, and choose pellets rather than a muesli mix: with muesli, guinea pigs often pick out only the tastiest bits. And of course: always fresh water, in a drinking bottle or a heavy water bowl. Not sure whether your guinea pigs are getting everything they need? Then discuss it with your vet.

They only feel truly safe when they can dart under cover quickly. So provide at least one hideaway per guinea pig, preferably with two exits. That way nobody can get trapped and they don't have to argue over the best spot.

Houses, tunnels and hideaways made of wood, willow or hay are ideal, because they can be nibbled on. Soft tunnels and igloos are lovely to sleep in.

So give them plenty to do! They love to nibble, sniff, run and explore. Gnawing wood, willow toys and hay toys are ideal, because they're fun and gnawing is part of their natural behaviour.

Swap the toys around regularly to keep things exciting. A snuffle mat with some hay and herbs in it is a party. And a tunnel to race through? Most guinea pigs love that.

A run gives your guinea pigs extra space to move around, indoors or in the garden. Only use it under supervision, and outdoors always with netting or a cover against cats and birds of prey.

An outdoor house is meant for an outdoor run, not for an indoor cage. Soft tunnels and igloos made of plush or fabric are cosy under supervision, but don't belong in the cage: they can hold moisture and odour and are easily chewed to bits. Take them away again after playtime.

Short-haired guinea pigs only need a brush now and then, especially when they moult. Long-haired guinea pigs need brushing much more often, otherwise the coat can get tangled.

Also check their nails regularly. In guinea pigs they often grow faster than you'd think. Getting too long? Then carefully trim only the tip, and stay clear of the quick. Nervous about it? Ask your vet to show you how. A getting-to-know-you visit like that is a good idea anyway.

And after that, now and then to the vet or to the pet sitter when you go on holiday. A sturdy travel carrier with good ventilation is therefore essential. Put a towel and some hay in it, and preferably transport your guinea pigs together: that keeps them much calmer.

After arriving, also plan an introductory visit to a vet who has experience with guinea pigs. They can check your guinea pigs over and answer all your questions about their health.

Mainly give your guinea pigs peace and quiet for the first few days. After that, regularly sit calmly by their home, talk softly and let them come to you themselves. A healthy treat from your hand helps enormously. Think of a dandelion leaf, some dried flowers or a piece of bell pepper.

Don't pick up your guinea pigs unnecessarily. For a prey animal that's quite scary. Do you have to? Then pick your guinea pig up calmly with one hand under the chest and one hand under the bottom, and hold it close against you. That way it feels safe.