Please note: Guinea pig 101 is made possible by donations from readers. Since becoming an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases made by our readers at no additional cost to you. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.
Do guinea pigs sleep at night or day?
A common misconception is that guinea pigs are either nocturnal or diurnal animals, which is incorrect.
In the animal kingdom, nocturnal animals are those that are active at night and sleep during the day.
In contrast, diurnal individuals are those who are active during the day and sleep at night.
While humans and many other animals are classified as diurnal, guinea pigs are classified as crepuscular, which means they are awake at night and sleep during the day.
Crepuscular animals are those that are active at all hours of the day and at all hours of the night.
They are most active in the early morning and at sunset, which is when they are most visible.
If you are not the type of person who gets up early in the morning, this might be a little difficult for you.
Although these difficulties are difficult to overcome, you can easily overcome them. Here are a few pointers that have proven to be effective:
- Provide them with a separate room so that the noises do not intrude on your personal space.
Providing them with quiet toys and chew toys will keep them occupied for hours at a time and will help to reduce the amount of noise they produce.
Before going to bed, make sure they have enough food and water. Given that they make a great deal of noise when they are hungry, ensuring that they are well fed can be an excellent way to keep them calm.
If you have guinea pigs in your bedroom, you can use earplugs to block out any noises that may be coming through the doorway.
Recommended article:
Guinea pig sleep schedule: When do guinea pigs sleep?
Guinea pigs have a strange sleeping schedule that is difficult to understand. In contrast to other animals, they tend to sleep in short bursts of 10-30 minutes at a time.
Guinea pigs are highly active at all times of the day and night. During the day, they sleep in short bursts of time, and at night, they sleep in longer bursts of time, up to 30 minutes at a time.
Most of the time, each individual guinea pig develops his or her own sleep cycles. They are usually scheduled to sleep at times that are convenient for their owners. Whenever their owners are present, they become more active.
When you peek in to see what they’re up to, they’ll most likely be staring at their hay or playing with the other guinea pigs in their enclosure.
They have developed such a bizarre sleep schedule as a result of their position at the bottom of the food chain, where they must remain alert at all times in order to protect themselves from predators.
How long do guinea pigs sleep?
Guinea pigs sleep approximately 4 hours per 24 hour cycle on average. They do so, however, in the form of short naps separated by a short period of time.
During the day, a rest period can last anywhere from 2-3 minutes to 8-10 minutes depending on the activity. During the night, they tend to nap for a longer period of time. A nap during the night can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes in most cases.
Table of Contents
How much sleep does a guinea pig need?
Guinea pigs, in contrast to humans and other mammals, do not have a tendency to sleep excessively. While the average human requires 6-8 hours of sleep per night, guinea pigs can function perfectly well on only 4 hours of sleep per night.
Guinea pigs typically divide their naps into equal small laps, with the nighttime laps lasting longer and the daytime laps being shorter.
However, we may notice that they are constantly active, leading many people to wonder if guinea pigs actually sleep.
Do guinea pigs sleep with their eyes open?
Yes, you will notice that they sleep with their eyes open the vast majority of the time.
There are only a few brief moments during which they are able to close their eyes and completely relax.
As we previously discussed, guinea pigs are an example of an animal that is at the very bottom of the food chain, as is the case with many others.
Because there are numerous predators out there looking for them, they make an effort to remain active and alert for the majority of the time.
Recommended article:
Do guinea pigs sleep with their eyes closed?
Yes, if you can create a safe haven for them in their enclosure, you may notice that they are sleeping with their eyes closed on occasion.
The majority of the time, a small cozy hiding space with a layer of hay will do the trick.
How do I know if my guinea pig is sleeping?
If you notice that your guinea pigs are completely still, it is most likely because they are taking a nap or resting. When they are napping with their eyes open, it is truly amazing to watch!
You may also discover that they are lying down with their heads down, lying on their sides, or burrowing themselves into their hiding spots. When they do this, it is a signal that they are going to nap.
It is possible that your guinea pig is sleeping with their eyes closed from time to time..
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can only be realized if we can provide our guinea pigs with a safe and comfortable environment in which to live.
Do guinea pigs sleep in the dark?
Yes, guinea pigs prefer to sleep in the dark when they can. Guinea pigs feel much more secure in a darker environment, which is why they like to curl up around objects when they are sleeping or playing.
Guinea pigs also become acclimated to the dark because many owners keep them in their room or in a nearby area where the lights are usually turned off at night.
They don’t have particularly good eyesight, but their other senses are extremely sharp. In other words, guinea pigs are just as capable of seeing and moving around at night as they are during the daytime.
Recommended article:
Recommended Supplies For Guinea pigs: Our Top Picks!
Before you learn more,here are some hand-picked supplies for your guinea pigs that you must add to your wishlist today:
Do guinea pigs sleep a lot?
Most of the time, it’s difficult to tell whether or not your guinea pig is sleeping, especially if they’re lying around with their eyes open.
Guinea pigs are extremely active animals, and you will most likely find them moving around, chewing on cage bars, hay, or toys, or generally making a nuisance of themselves around their partners.
But you might find them sleeping excessively, being lethargic, or hiding in the hiding spaces for long periods of time and not coming out of their hiding places.
Although this can be a normal occurrence for a new guinea pig when it is first introduced to a new enclosure, it is not recommended.
However, if it is something that you are noticing with your older piggies, you may want to investigate further.
Guinea pigs are excellent at concealing their illness for a long period of time, so it is beneficial if you look for the early signs of illness yourself.
- Throughout the day and night, I spent several hours lying around the care facility.
- They have been burrowed in their hiding place for long periods of time, not eating their regular diet.
- Not accepting a treat-filled feeding
- Breathing becomes difficult.
- Sleeping in unusual positions and having trouble breathing
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above in your guinea pigs, it is recommended that you take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Guinea pigs’ lethargy and excessive sleeping are frequently caused by a deficiency in Vitamin C in their diet, which is a common occurrence.
Recommended article:
Guinea pigs Troubled to sleep?
In some cases, you may notice that your Guinea Pig’s sleep is less than adequate or that they are awake for the majority of the day, and this is normal.
What could be the source of the bug that is causing them to be unable to function?
What is it that is causing them so much difficulty in feeling relaxed and comfortable? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for this.
The perfect bedding
Just as we humans require a comfortable bed in order to get a good night’s sleep, guinea pigs require comfortable bedding in order to get a good night’s sleep.
Many people make the mistake of using inappropriate bedding materials such as pine bedding, cedar bedding, and other similar materials, which are uncomfortable and should be avoided at all costs.
It is critical for our guinea pigs to have excellent bedding that is soft, moist-free, and of high-quality construction.
Use of fleece topped with some hay, Carefresh, or other similar bedding would be the best option, in my opinion.
Check out our comprehensive guide to choosing the best bedding for your guinea pigs, including information on where to buy it:
Insecurity
Our guinea pigs’ safety and well-being are also dependent on a good hiding box. Guinea pigs are considered to be one of the lowest-level creatures in the food chain.
Because they are surrounded by predators, they require a sense of security before they can sleep.
This method of providing a functional hiding space, which is covered with some hay, is excellent for our Guinea Pigs. They enjoy burrowing in and taking a nap whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Improper diet
Another important factor that could be contributing to the guinea pigs’ difficulty sleeping could be their poor diets.
Is it possible to sleep when you don’t have enough food? That is correct; the same holds true for guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs require a consistent supply of food at all times. Since they are active throughout the day and night, as previously stated, they may become hungry and start making noises if they are not provided with food during the nighttime hours.
In order to avoid this, feed them some vegetables a few hours before bedtime, and then right before you go to sleep, put away the leftover vegetables and replenish the hay and water so that they have something to chew on if they wake up in the middle of the night.
Recommended article:
- Guinea pig diet plan
- List of 70+ vegetable for your guinea pigs
- What do you do if your guinea pig won’t eat vegetables?
- List of 70+ fruits that guinea pigs can eat
- 11 best leafy greens for your guinea pigs
- High Vitamin C food for your guinea pigs
- Hay for your guinea pigs(What type, How much and more)
Not enough of floor time
During the course of a busy day in which you were engaged in one activity or another throughout the day, you may have noticed that falling asleep at night is relatively simple.
The same is true for guinea pigs as it is for humans.
Guinea pigs are high-energy animals who require a lot of floor time to exercise and play with their environment.
Without a few hours spent outside their cage or a sufficiently large enclosure where they can play and exercise, they may have difficulty falling asleep at night if they do not have access to these resources.
The majority of guinea pig cages sold in pet stores are insufficient for your guinea pigs.
If you want to let your guinea pigs out for some floor time on your deck, inside, or even outside, this is a fantastic option!
I would recommend that you look over our approved buyer’s guide for guinea pig cages, which is as follows:
Recommended article:
Because of this, providing enough stimulation throughout the day is critical to making sure your guinea pigs enjoy their sleep at the end of the day.
When your guinea pigs aren’t getting enough stimulation, you may notice them making strange noises or scratching the cage.
Everything You Need to Know About Eglu The Go Hutch is a straightforward way to keep pets that is simple, stylish, and easy to use. This will make an excellent home for your new guinea pig friends, as it will accommodate two to three of them. The house is a wonderful place to eat, sleep, and cuddle up in during the winter months.
The Omlet has been meticulously designed. The purpose of the Eglu is to keep your pets warm during the winter months. Because it is fox and badger resistant, you can rest assured that your pets will be safe even when you are not at home with them.
Environment around enclosure
Guinea pigs, like humans, require a comfortable temperature range in order to avoid feeling uneasy and to sleep soundly.
Guinea pigs, like humans, prefer a temperature range of 18°C to 24°C, which is the same range as the human body temperature.
Anything colder than that has the potential to make them feel cold, and anything more significant than that has the potential to increase the likelihood of heatstroke.
It would be ideal if you could keep the temperature of the environment around their enclosure within this specific range so that they can get a good night’s sleep during the day.
It is also important to make certain that your cage is not placed in an area where the temperature changes rapidly.
Guinea pigs are sensitive to temperature changes that occur quickly. It has the potential to make them feel uneasy and interfere with their sleep schedule.
This article by the RSPCA provides additional information on providing a healthy environment for guinea pigs.
Can I sleep with my guinea pig?
This may appear to be a strange question to pose, but I have seen a plethora of people ask the same question. As a result, I went ahead and investigated the matter.
It is possible to sleep with your guinea pigs, but it is not a recommended practice. There are a number of factors contributing to this.
- Guinea pigs are known to pee and poop several times in a short period of time. As a result, even if you have a potty trained guinea pig, there is a good chance that you will end up with poop in your bed and possibly all over you.
- Another major concern is the well-being of your guinea pig. If you move around while you are sleeping, you run the risk of injuring or even squishing your guinea pigs, which is a serious risk that must be avoided at all costs.
- Guinea pigs are also active at night, which is unusual for them. Even in the middle of the night, they require food and other necessities. Because of this, if you sleep with your guinea pigs and they do not have access to their food and water, they may make a lot of noise, which will interfere with your ability to sleep.
- An additional source of concern for me is the allergies and diseases they may carry. Guinea pigs are not hypoallergenic animals, as is the case with cats and dogs. They do, however, carry allergens and illnesses that are potentially harmful to our health.
We recommend that you read our article: Are guinea pigs hypoallergenic? for more information about allergies and diseases associated with these animals.
If the smell of Guinea pigs is a source of concern for you, you might also want to read our article on Guinea pig odor.
Also recently published on our site is the article: Can you keep guinea pigs in your bedroom? Please feel free to look it over for more information!
Conclusion
- Do guinea pigs have a good night’s sleep? Guinea pigs do sleep for approximately 4 hours per day in small laps, yes.
- Guinea pigs are neither nocturnal nor diurnal; instead, they fall into a category known as crepuscular, which means that they are active both during the day and at night.
- Guinea pigs have an odd sleeping schedule that is difficult to understand. In general, you will notice that your guinea pigs are always active and moving around because they sleep in short bursts of 3-10 minutes during the day and up to 30 minutes during the night, according to their schedule.
- When your guinea pig is sleeping, you will notice that their eyes are open most of the time, which is normal. Guinea pigs sleeping with their eyes closed is a rare occurrence that should be appreciated.
- When it comes to sleeping, guinea pigs prefer a dark environment. Their sense of security increases significantly when there is complete darkness surrounding their enclosure….
- If you notice that your guinea pig is sleeping more than usual, you should check for any other abnormalities as soon as possible. If you have any questions about what is going on, you should consult with a veterinarian.
The product we loved personally.
Keeping them occupied in and out of this Custom Double Door Cube Hammock with Hidden Inner Seams for Guinea Pig will keep them entertained. LapaSzyte allows you to design your own one-of-a-kind set of accessories for your furry friends.
The PiggyStudioCanada store carries a large selection of custom hand made beds, tunnels, Cuddle Cups, and Snuggle Sacks, as well as other accessories. Guinea pigs are infatuated with the Guinea Pig Fleece Tunnel, and they fall in love with it almost immediately. This product is highly recommended for your piggies.
Gift Basket with Natural Chews In addition, it makes an excellent chew toy for Guinea pigs. This basket contains a variety of textures and chews that are ideal for determining your pet’s preferences. Other entertaining toys and accessories can be found in the WinniGuineaPoo store.
Guinea pigs are always enthralled by Guinea Pig Treat Bundles, and they enjoy having them around. All of the treats are organic and completely safe for cavies to eat. The PandamoniumPets provided a wide range of Safe Handmade Pet products to customers.
Sources:
- Nicholls, Edith. (1922). A Study of the Spontaneous Activity of the Guinea Pig. Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2. 303-330. 10.1037/h0074475.
- Sleep homeostasis in the guinea pig
- sleep-wakefulness rhythms in the precocial guinea pig
- Sleep and wakefulness modulation
