Are Guinea Pigs Nocturnal?💤😴(2023 Update!)

Hey there, GuineaGang!

Check out this video for a quick and fun summary!

Many piggy parents and pet lovers have asked me, are guinea pigs nocturnal? The answer is no, guinea pigs are not nocturnal. Guinea pigs choose to sleep during both day and night. Guinea pigs don’t usually have regular sleeping habits in general. They tend to sleep for short periods of time, kind of like short naps. Although I will say that this is not the case for all guinea pigs, since all guinea pigs are different. 

What Time Do Guinea Pigs Go to Sleep?

Guinea pigs don’t have a specific time where they sleep, but will usually sleep on average about 6 hours a day. While I was filming our most recent vlog, you may notice certain sleeping habits of my own guinea pigs. My guinea pigs tend to sleep when I sleep. Sometimes when I film, you may notice it’s night time and I even mention a few times in the vlog that it’s time for my guinea pigs to go to bed. There’s even times where my guinea pigs will, on their own, waddle to their own room and get cozy. During the day, my guinea pigs are a lot more active and will sometimes take short power naps every so often. Then they usually wait for me to get home, feed them veggies, and when I get ready for bed they are getting ready for bed as well.

Should I Cover My Guinea Pigs at Night?

One common question among piggy parents is "Should cover their guinea pigs at night?" The answer is that it's not necessary.
but guinea pigs do prefer being in dark places to rest and sleep. To provide a comfortable sleeping environment, it's highly recommended to offer cozy hiding spots and pockets.

Premium GuineaDad Liners are a great option as they are soft and warm, and they come with soft pockets where your guinea pigs can feel safe and comfortable.
Remember, it's important to ensure proper ventilation, so if you feel that your guinea pig might be cold, you can consider partially covering the cage. This will provide some warmth without compromising airflow.

Do Guinea Pigs Like to be Held?

My guinea pigs are very social creatures, and love interacting with humans. However, by nature guinea pigs are very timid and cautious. So it is not unusual for them to not want to be held. My guinea pigs in general are not fans of being held, but they do enjoy little head and ear massages while they eat and before bed. It is important to respect your guinea pigs boundaries when it comes to things they do and do not like. 

In Conclusion

Guinea pigs don't have normal sleeping habits. They aren't usually considered nocturnal or diurnal. Instead they take short naps throughout the day. The reason for guinea pigs sleeping so lightly is because they are prey animal. This is why we encourage piggy parents to use GuineaDad Liner. GuineaDad Liner comes with a built in pocket, designed to help piggies feel safe and sleep comfortably.

 Watch our vlog to refer to the information above and of course for some wholesome piggy content! 

Want to read more about your guinea pig's sleeping habits?