🏠Housing a Guinea pig: 120 × 60 cm and the full setup
Guinea pig : An enclosure of at least 120 x 60 cm for two, ideally an indoor pen of 2 square metres or more. A solid floor covered with bedding or fleece, and one hide per animal to prevent squabbles.
In short: Around 20 to 30 cm and 700 to 1,200 g, a lifespan of 5 to 8 years, and a gentle, expressive temperament that rarely bites. Sociable and expressive, it wheeks at feeding time and copes badly with solitude. Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) is its species-specific risk: a daily intake is vital, and keeping one alone is a no-go.
120 × 60 cm of floor: the serious minimum
For a Guinea pig (and it does not live alone), aim for 120 × 60 cm of uninterrupted floor space — shop cages almost always fall short. Height matters less than continuous surface: one big platform beats three mini-levels.
The standard layout
Dust-free bedding in a deep layer, one hideout per animal plus one, a nest of hay or ink-free paper (never fluffy cotton, which garrottes limbs), a ceramic bowl and a bottle checked daily.
Temperature and placement
A temperate room (18 to 24°C), no direct sun or draughts, away from speakers and the television. Placed in the living room, this diurnal animal enjoys your company at the right hours.
Frequently asked questions
What cage size for a Guinea pig?
120 × 60 cm of floor space minimum, in one piece — pet-shop minimums sit below serious welfare recommendations.
Where should a Guinea pig cage go?
In a temperate, calm room, ideally the living room.
The guides that apply to you
- What cage for a guinea pig? The C&C enclosure is the real answer
What cage does a guinea pig need? Minimum floor space, the advantages of a modular C&C enclosure and a realistic budget: our guide to a truly suitable habitat.
- A gerbil's sand bath isn't just about hygiene, a study shows: it also helps regulate body temperature
A study measured a thermoregulatory role for sandbathing in gerbils, beyond simple coat upkeep. Reason enough to rethink where the sand bath sits in the enclosure.
- Wild gerbils live in extended families: what that means for pairs in a cage
Far from a simple pair, wild Mongolian gerbils live in family groups spanning several generations. A field study sheds light on cohabitation choices in captivity.
- What cage for a Chilean degu? The complete guide
Minimum dimensions, levels, sand bath: everything you need to know to choose a cage for a Chilean degu, a highly social and very active rodent.