What Can Guinea Pigs Eat? Full A-Z Food List (2026)

✍️ Written by Clarissa Moolbrock, Veterinary Technician · 🩺 Medically reviewed by Peter Wanner, DVM · 🗓️ Updated June 2026

Few questions come up more often than “what can guinea pigs eat?” — and with hundreds of foods to wonder about, it’s easy to feel unsure. This is our complete, regularly-updated guinea pig food list: a simple A-Z of what’s safe, what’s a treat, and what to never feed, with each food linking to a full guide.

Quick answer: A guinea pig’s diet should be about 80% unlimited grass hay, a daily handful of fresh leafy greens and a vitamin-C-rich veg like bell pepper, a small measured portion of plain pellets, and fresh water always. Fruit and sweet veg are occasional treats. Never feed avocado, onion/garlic, raw potato, chocolate, dairy, meat or processed human food.

Last reviewed and updated for 2026. Use the at-a-glance lists for quick guidance, or jump to the full A-Z table to look up any specific food.

Table of Content

The guinea pig diet in a nutshell

Guinea pigs are herbivores with sensitive digestive systems that need to keep moving constantly, so fibre is everything. Get the foundations right and the treats take care of themselves:

Hay (~80%): unlimited fresh grass hay (timothy, meadow, orchard) — it wears down their ever-growing teeth and keeps the gut moving. See the best hay for guinea pigs and why hay matters so much.

Fresh veg (about a cup a day): mostly leafy greens, plus a daily vitamin-C-rich bell pepper. Variety and rotation prevent boredom and balance minerals.
Pellets (a small measured amount): plain, vitamin-C-fortified guinea-pig pellets — not muesli mixes. See do guinea pigs need pellets.
Water (always): fresh, clean water — the only drink they need.

Vitamin C (10–30 mg daily): they can’t make their own, so a vitamin-C food list is worth bookmarking.

Foods you can feed daily

These low-sugar, low-calcium staples can form the everyday base of your guinea pig’s fresh food:

Lettuce (leaf / butterhead) — Leafy types only — a daily salad base.

Romaine lettuce — One of the best lettuces — crunchy, low-sugar.
Little gem lettuce — Mini romaine — a great daily green.
Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad) — Soft, mild leafy green.
Mixed greens / spring greens — Use a variety of safe leafy greens.

Bell peppers — Star food — packed with vitamin C, low sugar. Remove seeds.
Yellow bell peppers — Excellent vitamin-C source, mild & sweet.
Cucumber — Hydrating and gentle — low in nutrients, so pair with leafy greens.

Fresh grass — Untreated, pesticide-free grass — introduce gradually (not lawn-mower clippings).
Hay — The #1 food — unlimited grass hay should be ~80% of the diet.
Water — Fresh, clean water at all times is the only drink they need.

Foods for a few times a week

Healthy in rotation, but not every day — variety here keeps minerals balanced:

Endive — Slightly bitter leaf they usually enjoy.
Arugula (rocket) — Peppery; a little high in calcium.
Rocket — Same as arugula — small amounts.
Watercress — Vitamin-C rich but high calcium — rotate, don’t overdo.
Edible leaves — Only known-safe leaves — see the guide.

Turnip greens — Nutritious but high calcium — occasional.
Carrot tops — The leafy tops are healthier than the root.
Broccoli — Good vitamin C but gassy — small florets, not too often.
Cabbage & cruciferous — Includes kale, bok choy, cauliflower etc. — small amounts (gassy).

Carrots — Sweet & high in vitamin A — a small piece, not daily.
Celery — Cut into short pieces to avoid stringy choking.
Tomatoes — Ripe flesh only — leaves & stems are toxic.

Courgette (zucchini) — Mild summer squash — can be fed with skin on.
Squash & pumpkin — Butternut, acorn, pumpkin etc. — small cooked-soft-free raw pieces.
Asparagus — Fine in small amounts as part of a mix.

Fennel — Aromatic and well liked; good variety veg.
Kohlrabi — Mild cabbage relative — small amounts, leaves too.
Okra — Safe in small amounts.
Green beans — Beans, peas, mange-tout & sprouts — small amounts.
Mange-tout / sugar snap peas — Sweet pods enjoyed in small amounts.

Herbs (mixed) — Coriander, dill, oregano, thyme etc. — small flavourful amounts.
Parsley — Vitamin-C rich but high calcium — small amounts.
Basil — Aromatic herb fed in small sprigs.
Mint — Refreshing in small amounts.
Safe flowers (guide) — Which garden flowers are safe to forage.

Dandelions — Leaves & flowers are nutritious forage (pesticide-free).
Dandelion leaves — Excellent leafy forage.
Dandelion flowers — Safe, well-liked flower.
Daisies — Common daisies are safe (pesticide-free).
Marigolds — Edible flower in small amounts.
Apple-tree leaves & twigs — Good for gnawing — pesticide-free, in moderation.
Wild weeds — Only positively-identified safe weeds.
Wheatgrass — Fresh grass treat — introduce slowly.

Occasional treats (fruit & sweet veg)

Sweet, vitamin-rich and loved — but high in sugar, so keep portions tiny and infrequent (a thumbnail-sized piece once or twice a week):

Apples — Remove all seeds (cyanide) — a slice as a treat.

Green apples — Tarter but fine — deseed first.
Pears — Sweet treat — small piece, deseeded.
Bananas — High in sugar & starch — a thin slice now and then.
Strawberries — Vitamin C + loved — small amounts (sugary).
Blueberries — Antioxidant treat — a couple of berries.
Raspberries — Sweet/tart treat in small amounts.
Blackcurrants — Very high in vitamin C — a few as a treat.

Grapes — Halve them (choking) — high sugar, just a couple.
Melons — Sweet & watery — small amounts.
Honeydew melon — Sugary treat — a small piece.
Watermelon — Hydrating treat — small amount, the rind is healthier.
Watermelon rind — Lower-sugar than the flesh — a good part to offer.

Kiwi — Excellent vitamin C — small amounts (acidic).
Oranges & citrus — Vitamin-C rich but acidic — small amounts; includes lemons/limes/tangerines.
Pineapple — Sweet & acidic — small fresh chunks, not tinned.
Mango — Very sweet — a small piece occasionally.
Mango skin — Washed skin is edible but tougher — small amounts.

Papaya — Soft, sweet treat in small amounts.
Peaches — Stone fruit — flesh only, remove the pit.
Nectarines — Flesh only — never the pit.
Apricots — Fresh flesh only — remove the stone.
Plums — Flesh only, no pit — high sugar.
Cherries — Pit & stem removed — a single cherry as a treat.
Dragon fruit — Mild, soft treat in small amounts.
Rose hips — Naturally very high in vitamin C — a great forage treat.

Stone & exotic fruit guide — Overview of which fruits are safe and how much.

Feed only rarely / in tiny amounts

Safe but high in sugar, oxalates, calcium or starch — offer only now and then:

Spinach — High in oxalates & calcium — small, infrequent amounts.

Beetroot — High in oxalates & sugar — small amounts only.
Radishes — Spicy root — the leaves are the better part.
Parsnips — Starchy & sweet — only a little.
Swede (rutabaga) — Starchy root — small amounts.
Turnips — Small amounts; greens are healthier.
Aubergine (eggplant) — Ripe flesh only — leaves & stems are toxic.

Corn (& husk/silk) — Starchy/sweet kernels sparingly; husk & silk are a healthier nibble.
Sweet potato — Starchy — a thin slice as an occasional treat.
Yams — Starchy like sweet potato — only a little.

Figs — Extremely high sugar — very occasional tiny piece.
Dates — Dried = concentrated sugar — best avoided or tiny amounts.
Raisins — Very high sugar — only a single raisin, rarely.

Dried apricots — Dried fruit is sugar-dense — fresh is far better.
Dried bananas — Sugar-dense — fresh banana slice is better.
Lavender — Strongly aromatic — only a tiny amount.
Alfalfa hay — High calcium — only for under-6-month, pregnant or nursing pigs.

Horse hay — Only if it’s clean, dust-free grass hay — pet-grade is safer.

Never feed these

Some are simply unhealthy; others are genuinely toxic. Keep these away from your guinea pig entirely — for the dangerous ones see our toxic foods guide and foods to avoid:

Iceberg lettuce — Mostly water, very little nutrition — can cause diarrhoea.

Jalapeños & chillies — Spicy capsaicin irritates their gut — not suitable.
Mushrooms — Little nutrition for them and some types are toxic.
Ferns — Many ferns are toxic and hard to identify — best avoided.

Haylage — Fermented & moist — mould/bacteria risk for guinea pigs.
Bread — Processed starch — no nutritional value, risks bloat.
Toast — Same as bread — not for guinea pigs.

Crackers — Salty processed starch.
Chips / crisps — Salt, fat and starch — harmful.
French fries — Fried, salty, starchy — never.
Tortillas — Processed flour — not suitable.
Pasta — Starchy and hard to digest.
Rice — Grain with no benefit; cooked rice can swell in the gut.
Popcorn — Choking hazard, salt/fat — never.
Cheerios — Sugary processed cereal.
Weetabix — Wheat cereal — not part of a herbivore diet.

Oats / oatmeal — Grain — at most a rare crumb; not needed.
Quaker oats — Processed oats — better avoided.
Cheese — Dairy — guinea pigs can’t digest it.
Yogurt — Dairy — including yogurt drops/treats.
Ice cream — Dairy + sugar — harmful.
Milk — After weaning they can’t digest milk.
Honey — Pure sugar — not suitable.
Olives — Salty/brined and fatty.
Meat — Guinea pigs are strict herbivores.
Eggs — Animal protein — herbivores only.
Nuts — Too fatty and a choking hazard.
Almonds — Fatty nut — not for guinea pigs.
Peanuts — Fatty and a choking risk.
Walnuts — High-fat nut — avoid.
Sunflower seeds — Fatty & a choking hazard — skip seed treats.
Rabbit food — Lacks vitamin C and may contain unsafe bits — feed guinea-pig pellets.

Hamster food — Seed/grain mix — wrong nutrition for guinea pigs.
Fruit juice — Sugary — water only.
Tea — Not suitable — offer plain water.

Potatoes — Raw/green potato & sprouts contain solanine — toxic; starchy.
Avocado — Too fatty and contains persin — toxic to guinea pigs.

Onions, garlic, leeks — Alliums damage red blood cells — toxic, never feed.

Full A-Z guinea pig food list

Every food we’ve covered, in one place. Tap any food for the full guide on safe amounts, preparation and risks.

Food	Can guinea pigs eat it?	How often	Notes
Alfalfa hay	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Special cases	High calcium — only for under-6-month, pregnant or nursing pigs.
Almonds	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Fatty nut — not for guinea pigs.
Apples	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	1–2× week	Remove all seeds (cyanide) — a slice as a treat.
Apple-tree leaves & twigs	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Good for gnawing — pesticide-free, in moderation.
Apricots	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Fresh flesh only — remove the stone.
Arugula (rocket)	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Peppery; a little high in calcium.
Asparagus	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Fine in small amounts as part of a mix.
Aubergine (eggplant)	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Sparingly	Ripe flesh only — leaves & stems are toxic.
Avocado	☠️ No — toxic, never	Never	Too fatty and contains persin — toxic to guinea pigs.
Bananas	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	High in sugar & starch — a thin slice now and then.
Basil	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Aromatic herb fed in small sprigs.
Beetroot	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Occasionally	High in oxalates & sugar — small amounts only.
Bell peppers	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Daily	Star food — packed with vitamin C, low sugar. Remove seeds.
Blackcurrants	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Very high in vitamin C — a few as a treat.
Blueberries	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	1–2× week	Antioxidant treat — a couple of berries.
Bread	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Processed starch — no nutritional value, risks bloat.
Broccoli	👍 Yes — a few times a week	1–2× week	Good vitamin C but gassy — small florets, not too often.
Cabbage & cruciferous	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Weekly	Includes kale, bok choy, cauliflower etc. — small amounts (gassy).
Carrots	👍 Yes — a few times a week	2–3× week	Sweet & high in vitamin A — a small piece, not daily.
Carrot tops	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	The leafy tops are healthier than the root.
Celery	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Cut into short pieces to avoid stringy choking.
Cheerios	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Sugary processed cereal.
Cheese	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Dairy — guinea pigs can’t digest it.
Cherries	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Pit & stem removed — a single cherry as a treat.
Chips / crisps	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Salt, fat and starch — harmful.
Corn (& husk/silk)	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Occasionally	Starchy/sweet kernels sparingly; husk & silk are a healthier nibble.
Courgette (zucchini)	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Mild summer squash — can be fed with skin on.
Crackers	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Salty processed starch.
Cucumber	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	Hydrating and gentle — low in nutrients, so pair with leafy greens.
Daisies	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Common daisies are safe (pesticide-free).
Dandelion flowers	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Safe, well-liked flower.
Dandelion leaves	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Excellent leafy forage.
Dandelions	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Leaves & flowers are nutritious forage (pesticide-free).
Dates	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Dried = concentrated sugar — best avoided or tiny amounts.
Dragon fruit	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Mild, soft treat in small amounts.
Dried apricots	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Dried fruit is sugar-dense — fresh is far better.
Dried bananas	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Sugar-dense — fresh banana slice is better.
Edible leaves	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Varies	Only known-safe leaves — see the guide.
Eggs	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Animal protein — herbivores only.
Endive	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Slightly bitter leaf they usually enjoy.
Fennel	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Aromatic and well liked; good variety veg.
Ferns	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Many ferns are toxic and hard to identify — best avoided.
Figs	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Extremely high sugar — very occasional tiny piece.
French fries	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Fried, salty, starchy — never.
Fresh grass	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	Untreated, pesticide-free grass — introduce gradually (not lawn-mower clippings).
Fruit juice	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Sugary — water only.
Grapes	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Halve them (choking) — high sugar, just a couple.
Green apples	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	1–2× week	Tarter but fine — deseed first.
Green beans	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Beans, peas, mange-tout & sprouts — small amounts.
Hamster food	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Seed/grain mix — wrong nutrition for guinea pigs.
Hay	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Unlimited	The #1 food — unlimited grass hay should be ~80% of the diet.
Haylage	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Fermented & moist — mould/bacteria risk for guinea pigs.
Herbs (mixed)	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Coriander, dill, oregano, thyme etc. — small flavourful amounts.
Honey	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Pure sugar — not suitable.
Honeydew melon	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Sugary treat — a small piece.
Horse hay	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Caution	Only if it’s clean, dust-free grass hay — pet-grade is safer.
Iceberg lettuce	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Mostly water, very little nutrition — can cause diarrhoea.
Ice cream	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Dairy + sugar — harmful.
Jalapeños & chillies	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Spicy capsaicin irritates their gut — not suitable.
Kiwi	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Excellent vitamin C — small amounts (acidic).
Kohlrabi	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Weekly	Mild cabbage relative — small amounts, leaves too.
Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad)	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	Soft, mild leafy green.
Lavender	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Sparingly	Strongly aromatic — only a tiny amount.
Lettuce (leaf / butterhead)	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	Leafy types only — a daily salad base.
Little gem lettuce	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	Mini romaine — a great daily green.
Mange-tout / sugar snap peas	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Sweet pods enjoyed in small amounts.
Mango	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Very sweet — a small piece occasionally.
Mango skin	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Washed skin is edible but tougher — small amounts.
Marigolds	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Edible flower in small amounts.
Meat	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Guinea pigs are strict herbivores.
Melons	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Sweet & watery — small amounts.
Milk	⛔ No — avoid	Never	After weaning they can’t digest milk.
Mint	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Refreshing in small amounts.
Mixed greens / spring greens	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	Use a variety of safe leafy greens.
Mushrooms	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Little nutrition for them and some types are toxic.
Nectarines	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Flesh only — never the pit.
Nuts	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Too fatty and a choking hazard.
Oats / oatmeal	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Grain — at most a rare crumb; not needed.
Okra	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Safe in small amounts.
Olives	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Salty/brined and fatty.
Onions, garlic, leeks	☠️ No — toxic, never	Never	Alliums damage red blood cells — toxic, never feed.
Oranges & citrus	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Vitamin-C rich but acidic — small amounts; includes lemons/limes/tangerines.
Papaya	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Soft, sweet treat in small amounts.
Parsley	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Vitamin-C rich but high calcium — small amounts.
Parsnips	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Occasionally	Starchy & sweet — only a little.
Pasta	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Starchy and hard to digest.
Peaches	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Stone fruit — flesh only, remove the pit.
Peanuts	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Fatty and a choking risk.
Pears	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	1–2× week	Sweet treat — small piece, deseeded.
Pineapple	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Sweet & acidic — small fresh chunks, not tinned.
Plums	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Flesh only, no pit — high sugar.
Popcorn	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Choking hazard, salt/fat — never.
Potatoes	☠️ No — toxic, never	Never	Raw/green potato & sprouts contain solanine — toxic; starchy.
Quaker oats	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Processed oats — better avoided.
Rabbit food	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Lacks vitamin C and may contain unsafe bits — feed guinea-pig pellets.
Radishes	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Occasionally	Spicy root — the leaves are the better part.
Raisins	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Very high sugar — only a single raisin, rarely.
Raspberries	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	1–2× week	Sweet/tart treat in small amounts.
Rice	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Grain with no benefit; cooked rice can swell in the gut.
Rocket	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Same as arugula — small amounts.
Romaine lettuce	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Most days	One of the best lettuces — crunchy, low-sugar.
Rose hips	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Naturally very high in vitamin C — a great forage treat.
Safe flowers (guide)	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Which garden flowers are safe to forage.
Spinach	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Sparingly	High in oxalates & calcium — small, infrequent amounts.
Squash & pumpkin	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Weekly	Butternut, acorn, pumpkin etc. — small cooked-soft-free raw pieces.
Stone & exotic fruit guide	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Overview of which fruits are safe and how much.
Strawberries	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	1–2× week	Vitamin C + loved — small amounts (sugary).
Sunflower seeds	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	Fatty & a choking hazard — skip seed treats.
Swede (rutabaga)	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Occasionally	Starchy root — small amounts.
Sweet potato	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Starchy — a thin slice as an occasional treat.
Tea	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Not suitable — offer plain water.
Toast	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Same as bread — not for guinea pigs.
Tomatoes	👍 Yes — a few times a week	A few × week	Ripe flesh only — leaves & stems are toxic.
Tortillas	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Processed flour — not suitable.
Turnip greens	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Weekly	Nutritious but high calcium — occasional.
Turnips	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Occasionally	Small amounts; greens are healthier.
Walnuts	⛔ No — avoid	Avoid	High-fat nut — avoid.
Water	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Always	Fresh, clean water at all times is the only drink they need.
Watercress	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Weekly	Vitamin-C rich but high calcium — rotate, don’t overdo.
Watermelon	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Hydrating treat — small amount, the rind is healthier.
Watermelon rind	🍓 Treat — 1–2× a week, small	Occasionally	Lower-sugar than the flesh — a good part to offer.
Weetabix	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Wheat cereal — not part of a herbivore diet.
Wheatgrass	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Occasionally	Fresh grass treat — introduce slowly.
Wild weeds	👍 Yes — a few times a week	Varies	Only positively-identified safe weeds.
Yams	⚠️ Rarely — tiny amounts	Rarely	Starchy like sweet potato — only a little.
Yellow bell peppers	✅ Yes — daily / most days	Daily	Excellent vitamin-C source, mild & sweet.
Yogurt	⛔ No — avoid	Never	Dairy — including yogurt drops/treats.

How to introduce a new food safely

A guinea pig’s gut doesn’t like sudden change. Whenever you try something new:

Offer one new food at a time, in a small amount.
Wait about 24 hours and check their droppings and appetite are normal.
If all is well, you can offer it again and slowly build it into the rotation.

If you see soft stools, bloating or a loss of appetite, stop that food — and remember a guinea pig that stops eating for 12–24 hours is a medical emergency.
Always keep hay and water freely available alongside any fresh food.

Want to know what their wild ancestors ate, or simply what most guinea pigs love best? See what guinea pigs eat in the wild and what guinea pigs like to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods can guinea pigs eat every day?

Unlimited grass hay should make up about 80% of the diet, plus a daily handful of fresh leafy greens (such as romaine and other leaf lettuces, coriander and a little spinach) and a vitamin-C-rich vegetable like bell pepper. Fresh water and a small measured portion of plain guinea-pig pellets complete the daily basics.

What vegetables are best for guinea pigs?

Bell peppers are the standout because they are high in vitamin C and low in sugar. Leafy greens like romaine, little gem and coriander are great everyday choices, while cucumber, courgette, celery and small amounts of carrot, broccoli and tomato can be rotated through the week.

How much fruit can a guinea pig have?

Treat fruit as an occasional treat — roughly one or two small pieces once or twice a week. Fruit is high in sugar, so think a thumbnail-sized piece of apple, a couple of blueberries or a small strawberry, not a daily portion.

What foods are toxic to guinea pigs?

Never feed avocado, onions, garlic, leeks or chives, raw or green potato, rhubarb, chocolate, or anything mouldy. Also avoid meat, dairy, eggs, bread and other processed human foods, seeds and nuts, and iceberg lettuce. When unsure, leave it out and check our toxic-foods guide.

Do guinea pigs need vitamin C in their food?

Yes — guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C and need roughly 10–30 mg a day, so a deficiency causes scurvy. Offer vitamin-C-rich vegetables daily (bell pepper is ideal) and use fresh, properly stored pellets; ask your vet before using supplements.

How do I introduce a new food to my guinea pig?

Introduce one new food at a time in a small amount and wait about 24 hours to check their droppings and appetite are normal. If all is well you can offer it again; if you see soft stools or they go off their food, stop that item. Always make hay and water freely available.

Related Guinea Pig Guides

List of Sources

RSPCA — Guinea pig diet

PDSA — Guinea pig food and diet

The Humane Society — Guinea pig feeding

Merck Veterinary Manual — Routine care & feeding of guinea pigs