What to Buy Before the Guinea Pigs Arrive
Have these ready, in this order. Prices are our shop prices of 31 October 2026, and each item links to its page.
| Buy | Why | From our shop |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A cage | Floor matters most. Aim for at least 120 x 60 cm for a pair. | C&C Cage, 42 x 28 Inches, ₹4,500. Sizes are compared in the cage size guide. |
| 2. Hay | Most of what they eat, and it must never run out. | Fresh Grass Hay from ₹325 for 1 kg, or Organic Timothy Hay from ₹320 for 400 g |
| 3. A floor covering | A soft, absorbent base for the cage | Washable Fleece Liner, 6 mm, ₹599 to ₹1,799 by size, or Organic Bedding Hay, ₹150 a bag |
| 4. A water bottle | Clean water, always | Water Bottle, 80 ml, ₹250 |
| 5. Hideouts | One more than the number of guinea pigs, so three for a pair | Wooden Hideout House, ₹750, or Cotton Hiding Den, ₹1,300 |
| 6. A heavy food bowl | One they cannot tip over | Any heavy ceramic bowl from home or a shop |
| 7. Pellets | A small measured portion each day, next to the hay | Timothy Hay Pellets, ₹280 for 400 g |
| 8. A carrier | For vet visits | Plastic Pet Carrier, ₹1,300 |
The price guide adds up a pair, a bigger home and the rest: about ₹10,000. See one-time setup costs.
What Our Starter Kit Holds
When you choose “Pair with starter kit” on the American Guinea Pig page, the page lists a 28 x 14 inch expandable cage, timothy hay, feeding hay, bedding hay and multivitamins. On 31 October 2026 a pair cost ₹2,000 and a pair with the kit ₹5,000, so the kit adds ₹3,000. A single guinea pig with the kit is ₹4,300 against ₹1,100 for the guinea pig alone.
The page does not say how much hay or bedding is in the kit, so ask us on WhatsApp before you decide. It also does not list a water bottle, hideouts, a floor covering, pellets or a carrier.
The cage in the kit is the 28 x 14 inch C&C cage, about 0.25 square metres of floor. The MSD Veterinary Manual recommends about 0.7 square metres for one guinea pig. So the kit gets the basics home on day one, and its cage is the first module: plan to add to it or move up to a larger cage soon.
Food: What the Kit Does Not Replace
Hay is most of the diet, and the MSD manual says guinea pigs should eat about their own body size in hay each day, 1 to 2 teaspoons of pellets, and 1 to 2 cups of fresh produce. Guinea pigs cannot make vitamin C, and the MSD manual says they need at least 10 mg per kilogram of body weight a day. Fresh capsicum and other vegetables are the way to give it. Vitamin C in pellets breaks down with time, and the manual does not recommend adding it to the water.
The kit lists multivitamins, and we sell Vita Care Multivitamin (₹140). The MSD manual says multivitamins are usually not advised for guinea pigs, because some added vitamins can be harmful, so ask your vet before you give one. It never replaces fresh food. What to feed is in the care guide, and the list of fruits and vegetables shows which ones are safe.
Before You Need Them
- A vet who treats small pets. Find one before you need one. The RSPCA recommends a check-up at least once a year.
- A kitchen scale. Our care guide suggests a weekly weigh-in, because a steady weight is the best sign of good health.
- A cool room. The RSPCA says 17 to 20°C is ideal and above 26°C can cause heatstroke.
Ready to choose? See the guinea pigs at the farm. Pets are booked with 5% by UPI; the rest you pay on delivery.
Starter Kit Questions
What is in the guinea pig starter kit?
The page lists a 28 x 14 inch expandable cage, timothy hay, feeding hay, bedding hay and multivitamins. It does not say how much hay or bedding, so ask us on WhatsApp.
Is the starter kit enough for two guinea pigs?
It gives you the basics on day one. For two, plan a larger cage soon: the kit’s cage is about 0.25 square metres, and the MSD manual’s figures give 0.88 to 1.07 for a pair. The kit does not list a water bottle or hideouts either.
What else do I need besides the kit?
A water bottle, three hideouts for a pair, a heavy food bowl, a carrier for vet visits and a steady supply of hay. Pellets and fresh vegetables are the daily food.
Can I buy a starter kit for one guinea pig?
Yes. “Single Guinea Pig with Kit” is on the guinea pig’s page. Guinea pigs are happier in pairs, so most families take two.
Do guinea pigs need vitamin C drops?
Not in the water. The MSD manual does not recommend it, because it needs frequent changing and can put them off drinking. Give fresh capsicum and other vegetables every day, and ask your vet if you think your guinea pig needs a supplement.
Do guinea pigs need pellets?
A small measured portion of plain grass-based pellets each day, next to hay that is always there. The MSD manual says 1 to 2 teaspoons. Pellets never replace hay.
Sources
- MSD Veterinary Manual, housing and nutrition: a body-sized pile of hay, 1 to 2 teaspoons of pellets, 1 to 2 cups of produce, 7.5 square feet for one, and no vitamin C in the water.
- MSD Veterinary Manual, nutritional problems: at least 10 mg of vitamin C per kg of body weight a day, and multivitamins usually not advised.
- RSPCA, guinea pig housing: hideouts one more than the animals, and 17 to 20°C.
- RSPCA, guinea pig health: a vet check-up at least once a year.