Guinea Pig Safe Foods Chart
A simple, complete guide to what guinea pigs can and cannot eat. Search any food, or filter by safe, sometimes and never.
What a guinea pig eats in a day
A healthy daily diet is mostly hay, plus fresh vegetables, a little pellets and always fresh water.
Check any food
Type a food, or tap a filter.
Hay and grass 7
Best everyday hay. Keep it unlimited and always available.
Great timothy alternative. Unlimited.
Mixed grasses. Unlimited.
Good for variety. Unlimited.
Pesticide-free grass is a healthy snack.
Safe and easy to grow indoors.
Only for growing, pregnant or nursing guinea pigs. Too rich for adults.
Pellets and staples 4
Small measured portion daily. Use fresh, vitamin C fortified pellets.
Encourage picky eating and are too fatty.
Not made for guinea pigs and lack vitamin C.
The wrong nutrition for guinea pigs.
Leafy greens 21
A great everyday base for the daily salad.
Safe daily.
Safe daily.
Soft and popular.
Slightly bitter. Mix with other greens.
Safe daily.
Safe. A few leaves at a time.
Peppery. Mix with milder greens.
Wash well and never pick from sprayed areas.
The leafy tops are safe and popular.
Safe. Offer mixed with other greens.
Higher in calcium. A few times a week.
High in oxalates and calcium. 1 to 2 times a week.
High in calcium. 1 to 2 times a week.
High in oxalates. Once or twice a week.
High in oxalates. Once or twice a week.
High in calcium. A few times a week.
Strong flavor and high calcium. Occasionally.
High in calcium. Occasionally.
Can cause gas. Small amounts, 1 to 2 times a week.
Almost no nutrition and can cause loose stools. Choose romaine instead.
Vegetables 28
Excellent vitamin C source. A few slices daily.
Good vitamin C source. Remove the stem and most seeds.
Hydrating. A few slices, though low in nutrients.
Safe daily in small slices.
Cut into short pieces to avoid stringy bits.
The bulb and fronds are safe.
Sugary. 1 to 2 small slices, a few times a week.
Can cause gas. Small amounts, 1 to 2 times a week.
Can cause gas. Small amounts occasionally.
Gassy. A small piece occasionally.
Safe in moderation.
Acidic and sugary. One small slice, once or twice a week.
Starchy. A small piece occasionally.
Starchy. A small piece occasionally.
Starchy and sugary. Tiny amounts, rarely.
Sugary and high in oxalates. Rarely.
Small amounts, a few times a week.
Pods only, in small amounts. Rarely.
An occasional treat in small amounts.
Small amounts, including the leaves.
Contains solanine, which is toxic. Never feed potato or green parts.
Toxic. Can damage red blood cells.
Can be toxic and hard to digest.
Toxic to guinea pigs.
Toxic leaves and stems.
Hard to digest and a choking risk.
Toxic when raw and hard to digest.
Toxic. Only feed the ripe fruit.
Herbs 11
Popular and safe daily.
Safe daily.
Safe daily.
Safe. Strong flavor, so offer small amounts.
Safe in small amounts.
Safe in small amounts.
Safe in small amounts.
Safe in small amounts.
Safe and aromatic.
Fresh or dried flowers are safe.
High in calcium. 1 to 2 times a week.
Fruits (treats) 23
Remove seeds and core. 1 to 2 thin slices, 1 to 2 times a week.
Remove seeds. A small slice, 1 to 2 times a week.
Rich in vitamin C. One small berry, 1 to 2 times a week.
2 to 3 berries, 1 to 2 times a week.
1 to 2 berries, 1 to 2 times a week.
1 to 2 berries, 1 to 2 times a week.
One small segment, 1 to 2 times a week. Acid can cause mouth sores.
One small segment, 1 to 2 times a week.
One thin slice, 1 to 2 times a week.
1 to 2 grapes cut in half, 1 to 2 times a week.
One thin slice, no more than once a week.
One small cube, 1 to 2 times a week.
One small seedless cube, occasionally.
One small cube, occasionally.
A tiny piece, rarely. Very sugary.
A small slice without the pit, occasionally.
A tiny piece occasionally. Acid can cause mouth sores.
A tiny piece occasionally.
One pitted cherry, occasionally. Pits are toxic.
Very concentrated sugar and sticky. Avoid.
Too much sugar. Water only.
Too acidic and can cause mouth sores.
Apple seeds, cherry pits and similar are toxic or a choking risk.
Flowers and wild plants 16
Safe if pesticide free.
Leaves and flowers are safe.
Flowers are safe.
Flowers are safe.
Safe if pesticide free. Not from a florist.
Flowers and leaves are safe.
Safe wild plant. Pick away from roads and sprays.
Safe in moderation.
Poisonous.
Poisonous, especially the bulbs.
Highly toxic.
Highly toxic.
Toxic.
Toxic.
Highly toxic.
Highly toxic. Never feed any plant you cannot identify.
Human foods and treats 13
Toxic.
Too much sugar upsets their gut.
Starchy and hard to digest.
High in sugar and salt.
Guinea pigs cannot digest dairy.
They are strict plant eaters.
Too fatty and a choking risk.
Sticky and fatty. A choking risk.
Too salty and fatty.
Sold as treats but full of sugar and fat.
Caffeine is harmful.
Toxic.
Not suitable for guinea pigs.
This chart is a general guide, not veterinary advice. Introduce new foods one at a time in small amounts and wash all fresh produce. Never feed anything you are unsure about. Ask an exotic animal vet if you have questions about your guinea pig’s diet.
Quick answers: what can guinea pigs eat?
Safe to feed every day
Timothy hay and other grass hays, romaine and leaf lettuces, bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini, celery, cilantro, basil, dill, mint, dandelion greens and fresh grass.
Feed sometimes, in small amounts
Spinach, kale, parsley and Swiss chard (high in calcium), carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage (can cause gas or are sugary), tomatoes, and fruit such as apples, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, oranges, bananas and melon.
Never feed
Avocado, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, chocolate, mushrooms, raw potato, rhubarb, iceberg lettuce, nuts, seeds, dairy, meat, bread, sweets and fruit pits.
Tips for feeding guinea pigs safely
- Give vitamin C every day. Guinea pigs cannot make their own. Red, yellow and orange bell peppers are a great source.
- Introduce new foods slowly. Offer one new food at a time in a small amount and watch for loose stools.
- Wash everything. Rinse fresh produce, and never feed plants that may have been sprayed with pesticides.
- Mind the calcium. Foods high in calcium and oxalates, such as spinach and kale, are best a few times a week.
- Keep fruit as a treat. It is high in sugar, so offer only a small piece once or twice a week.
- Remove leftovers. Take out fresh food that is not eaten after a few hours.
If your guinea pig eats something on the Never list, or stops eating, contact an exotic animal vet right away.
Frequently asked questions
What vegetables can guinea pigs eat every day?
Romaine and other leaf lettuces, bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini, celery, cilantro, basil, dill and dandelion greens are all safe daily. Aim for about a cup of mixed fresh vegetables per guinea pig, and include a vitamin C source each day.
What fruits can guinea pigs eat?
Apples (without seeds), strawberries, blueberries, grapes, oranges, kiwi, banana and melon are safe in small amounts. Fruit is high in sugar, so offer a small piece only once or twice a week.
What foods are toxic to guinea pigs?
Avocado, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, chocolate, mushrooms, raw potato and rhubarb are harmful, along with fruit pits, tomato leaves, and many garden plants such as buttercups, foxglove and daffodils. See the Never list in the chart above.
How much fresh food should I feed my guinea pig?
Offer unlimited hay, about 1 cup of fresh vegetables per guinea pig each day, and a small portion of plain guinea pig pellets. Fruit should be only an occasional treat.
Can guinea pigs eat grapes?
Yes, but only 1 to 2 seedless grapes, cut in half, once or twice a week. Grapes are high in sugar.