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Your favourite pets

Pebbles

  • Species: Guinea-pig
  • Breed: Smooth Coat
  • Details: 1 year and 10 months - Female - Not neutered
Companion required, this pet needs to live with another of their species.

Meet Pebbles

  • Gentle
  • Calm
  • Sweet

Pebbles came into our care after falling out with her previous companion while recovering from her spay. This little madam is a beautiful girl who is finding the world a little scary now that she’s on her own.

Pebbles is a real lover of the quiet life. She’ll happily spend her days relaxing in her houses, and if you sit quietly nearby with some of her favourite veggies, you may just be rewarded with a little peek from her hiding spot.

She’s looking for a family who already has a guinea pig or two to help her build her confidence. We think having some guinea pig friends to follow will really help Pebbles feel safe and allow her lovely personality to shine through.

She has such a gentle nature, and anyone willing to give her the time and patience she needs will get to see just how lovely she really is.

Companion required

This guinea pig needs a companion.

A naturally social species, guinea pigs thrive in the company of others. They need companionship to feel safe and settled. They eat, sleep and explore together, so they should always live in pairs or groups. This could be a same-sex pair, three or more females, or a neutered male with one or more females.

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.

I’m looking for a friend for my guinea pig. Can you help?

Mixing at home

If you’d like to handle the introductions yourself, our behaviour and training specialists can provide free guidance throughout the whole process. From choosing the right mixing method to knowing which behaviours to watch for and how to move forward if things go well – they’ll be with you every step of the way.

Book a call with one of our behavioural and training specialists.

 

Mixing at our centre in Godmanchester

If you’d prefer to leave it to us, our specialists will take care of everything at our centre. Once your setup has been approved, we’ll add you to our waiting list and be in touch when we have a suitable match. On the day, you’ll need to bring your guinea pig/s to us, and we’ll carry out a quick health check before the mix begins. You’ll be kept updated throughout. We may need more than one session to find the right match. If a pairing doesn’t work out, we’ll support you in finding another potential companion.

Find out more about our mixing service.

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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