For example, some will contain dried fruit, seeds, nuts and added sugars and colourings, all of which are not designed for guinea pigs. These are made to look enticing so don’t be fooled by how delicious they look. Besides, you should know that guinea pigs are herbivores, which means they primarily feed on plants. The cost of your guinea pig food will vary depending on which brand you buy. However, we don’t recommend you go for the cheapest option as it’s very likely the quality won’t be anywhere near as good.

Guinea pigs can’t eat hamster food for the same reason they can’t eat rabbit food. Any food that is made for a different type of pet or rodent whether it’s a hamster, chinchilla, rat or gerbil will not be suitable for your guinea pigs as they all have different dietary requirements. What is the best bowl for guinea pig pellet food? The dry pellet food should supplement a guinea pig’s daily diet which should consist of good quality feeding hay, a cup of safe veggies and a daily portion of nuggets. How to introduce a new pellet food to your guinea pigsAccording to the PDSA , guinea pig food should never consist of onions, garlic, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, avocados, nuts, potatoes, seeds, rhubarb, cabbage or tomato leaves . It is a very reasonably priced food that has been fortified with vitamin C, an essential ingredient in guinea pig food. It also includes vitamins A, D, and E. Vitamin D is especially important to indoor guinea pigs because they will not be getting any of these essential vitamins from the sun. This is a big bag of food, which means that you won’t have to buy it too often, but the weight of the food causes a lot of the pellets to crush, so expect some dust in the bottom of the bag when it arrives. If you want to change your guinea pig’s pellet food to another brand or type, it’s important you do this gradually to avoid any tummy troubles. The cost of quality guinea pig food will decrease if you buy it in bulk, so a 25-pound bag of Blue Seal Furry Friends guinea pig pellets is a great option if you are on a budget. However, 25 pounds of guinea pig food is more than a two year supply of food for one cavy, and since the vitamin C expires after four months from the date it is milled, much of the food will be wasted if you have less than six cavies. Because of this, this large bag of food is not a good choice if you only have a few cavies. However, Blue Seal food is “tried, tested, and true,” according to Schubert. Blue Seal does offer a 5-pound bag of this food but it may be more difficult to find. Other quality foods including Oxbow also offer 25-pound bags of food, which will be more cost-effective per pound as well. With the exception of feeding rabbit pellets for a very temporary time, Schubert says, “I would not recommend any other pet foods for a guinea pig. Many of the other foods contain things that guinea pigs shouldn’t eat.”

Good-quality guinea pig nuggets are formed from a range of ingredients – including grass meal and wholegrain wheat, beneficial dried herbs such as mint and oregano, along with other nutritious ingredients like dried nettles and dandelions. These make up a typical forage-based diet and provide a natural guinea pig food. There are lots of dried food and muesli mixes for guinea pigs but these are generally not good for your cavies as they might contain additives and unhealthy foods that could lead to health issues for your small pet. Buying your guinea pig food in bulk will always save you money. So if you have a numberof guinea pigs, we recommend you buy a much larger bag, providing you can use it within 3 months so it stays fresh.

Guinea pig pellets shouldn’t be stored in the fridge but should be kept in a dry, cool and dark place. Avoid placing them next to a radiator or in direct sunlight. Nutritional Additives: Vitamin A 15, 000 IU, Vitamin D3 1500 IU, Vitamin E 90 mg, Vitamin C 250 mg, Zinc Chelate of Amino Acid Hydrate 133 mg, Manganous Oxide 48 mg, Zinc Oxide 41 mg, Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate 25 mg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 2 mg. Antioxidant. The best guinea pig food is natural timothy hay and fresh raw fruits and vegetables that are on the same list for piggies. What Fruits Are Best for Guinea Pigs?

So, you should learn first which are the recommended fruits and vegetables you can feed to your guinea pig. Also, make sure your pet always has an unlimited supply of clean and fresh hay and water, and your guinea pig will undoubtedly be a healthy and happy little pet. Alfalfa (also called Lucerne) is an excellent source of calcium for young guinea pigs as well as pregnant and nursing mothers but once a young guinea pig is past 6 months old, they don’t need it and should change to a Timothy hay based pellet food.

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Try to get hold of the pellets as soon as you can as the nutrition they contain is an important part of a healthy diet for your piggies. But don’t worry in the meantime as they won’t suddenly become ill if they have to go without these for a short time. Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food?