Best daily vegetables for guinea pigs?

[lillykitten]

Hi! I have had two guinea pigs for about a year now, a 6 year old named Panda and 1 year old Pickles.

When we first got them, I found a vegetable chart on what's okay for them to eat (lost it since then) which was great, but it never really covered what is okay for daily vegetables. We had just been getting some little tubs of spring mix from the store for them- which mostly comprised of spinach and red and green baby romaine leaves, and we would occasionally get them some other things every now and then to have.

It wasn't until recently I found out they actually can't eat spinach all the time like they had been due to the amount of calcium. They're behaving fine and don't have any problems from it, but I cut the spring mix out and decided I should improve their diets and give them more variety and avoid that mistake with the spinach in the future to not cause any potential health problems.

I searched up various vegetables that can be given daily, but... while some were clear and straight forward, others appeared more mixed and left me unsure, so I thought to be sure I'm giving them a healthy diet, it would be best to see on some suggestions from people who may have more knowledge on the topic than I do.

I cut the spring mix out about a month ago and have since been giving them a mix of red and green romaine lettuce, green and yellow peppers (switch the color every other day), and two cucumber slices for each pig. I recently started adding four sprigs (two for each pig) of cilantro and some kale.

Every other day, I give them each one cherry tomato and two baby carrots, then give them red and orange peppers occasionally instead of green and yellow. Then we get them something new to have every week when we go to the store to restock the veggies.

Do the vegetables they get daily seem like good choices? Is there anything I should add or cut out?

Thanks in advance for any help with my questions!

 

[Siikibam]

I wouldn’t give tomatoes too often. Maybe once a month. The acid in them can cause mouth sores. Carrots are in the same category as fruit and should only be fed once a week at most, but better as an occasional treat. A baby carrot I would say is too much even once a week.

Kale is also high in calcium so shouldn’t be fed too regularly either. Once a week and not much.

Daily veg can be (1-2 sprigs of) coriander, lettuce (not iceberg), cucumber and bell pepper. You could also give them a green bean. Have a look at the feeding guide I’ve linked below. Remember that veg is a snack and hay should make up the biggest part of their diet. Pellets should be kept to one tablespoon per pig per day.

We’d love to see photos of your piggies n

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[lillykitten]

Thank you for your reply and the link to the food guide! I will keep that in mind in regards to the tomatoes, carrots and kale and not give it to them as often.
Yep, I give them each 1 cup of vegetables a day during the evening. They always have unlimited hay to eat and get the right amount of pellets needed.

Here are pictures of the pigs! Black and white is Panda, and gray and white is Pickles!

 

[Pretzelpigs]

Thank you for your reply and the link to the food guide! I will keep that in mind in regards to the tomatoes, carrots and kale and not give it to them as often.
Yep, I give them each 1 cup of vegetables a day during the evening. They always have unlimited hay to eat and get the right amount of pellets needed.

Here are pictures of the pigs! Black and white is Panda, and gray and white is Pickles!

View attachment 168489View attachment 168488

They are both so very cute!