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Your favourite pets

Fred and Scruff

  • Species: Guinea-pig
  • Breed: Smooth Coat
  • Fred: 2 years - Male - Not neutered
  • Scruff: 2 years - Male - Not neutered
Bonded pets, must be rehomed together.

Meet Fred and Scruff

  • Friendly
  • Confident (Scruff)
  • Gentle (Fred)

Meet Scruff and Fred, a pair of friendly boys looking for a home to call their own.

Fred and Scruff are a well bonded pair who are often seen snuggled up together under a hide.

Scruff is the more confident of the pair and will often come over to see what you are doing, especially when a treat is offered. Favourite treats include loop treats, herby hearts and herbs such as coriander and parsley.

Due to Scruff being longer haired, he will need a little bit of tender loving care to keep his fur knot free and looking beautiful.

Fred will watch from a distance first before being sure it is safe to proceed out to explore. Scruff is helping Fred build confidence and with some time and patience, they will both be confident piggies.

Accommodation requirements

Guinea pigs are more active than some people think. They only sleep for around three to four hours a day. They’re also on the go through the day and night, foraging, grazing and exploring.

  • A bonded female pair or a neutered male/female pair needs a minimum 5ft × 2ft enclosure, plus a 6ft × 4ft run or equivalent indoor space
  • A male pair or trio needs a minimum 6ft × 2ft enclosure, plus a 6ft × 4ft run or indoor equivalent

The image below gives you an idea of the kind of enclosure a pair of guinea pigs needs.

A guinea pig cage with hay, two yellow plastic houses, a blue polka dot hideaway, a wooden tunnel, a food bowl, water bottle, a willow ring, and a fleece blanket on a striped mat.

A guinea pig enclosure with hay trays, a wooden tunnel, a water bottle, a food bowl, a blue polka-dot covered hideout, a small fleece bed, chew toys, and scattered hay on a rug in a cosy room.

Learn more about ideal guinea pig accommodation.

Information for Guinea Pig adopters

Life expectancy
6–8 years+
Initial set up costs
Outdoors £300+, Indoors £100+
Ongoing monthly costs
Around £50 for a pair
Companionship info
Must live in either a same-sex pair, a group of three or more females, or with a neutered male and one or more females.

Are guinea pigs the right pet for me?

Guinea pigs are sociable, charismatic little companions with many needs. People often underestimate the maintenance involved in keeping guinea pigs. Here are a few things to consider:

  • Guinea pigs live for six to eight years, so adopting them is a genuine long-term commitment.
  • They need significant space – the minimum depends on the size and sex of your group, but all setups require both an enclosure and a run or equivalent indoor space.
  • They need to live with at least one other guinea pig. • A pair costs around £50 a month to care for.
  • They only sleep for around three to four hours a day, so they need 24-hour access to their space.
  • They’re prone to certain health conditions that can be costly to treat, so finding a guinea pig-savvy vet beforehand is important.

Not sure if guinea pigs are the right pet for you? Our guide to choosing the right small pet species is a great place to start.

How much does it cost to adopt guinea pigs from Woodgreen?

Our adoption fees are:

  • Single guinea pig (to be mixed with your existing guinea pig/s) — £28.50 •
  • Pair of guinea pigs — £42.50
  • Trio of guinea pigs — £56.50

If you use our onsite mixing service, which involves introducing your guinea pig to another guinea pig in our care, we’ll ask for a donation of your choice. This is on top of the adoption fee, if the mix is successful.

How long does the adoption process take?

Once you’ve submitted your application, we aim to get back to you within two working days. This may be a little longer during busy periods.

From there, timelines can vary depending on your setup approval. If you’re using our onsite mixing service, the number of bonding sessions to find the right match will also be a factor.

It’s worth starting your application as soon as you’re ready to begin the process.

Interested in adopting a small pet?

Ready to get started? We always start with our pets’ individual needs, which is why we need to find out a bit more about you first.

Get started
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