Guinea pig

The capybara's smallest relative

Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are grazing rodents from South America. They share the family Caviidae with the capybaras on Floor 2 — the same round face, the same social instinct, a very different scale. A capybara can weigh as much as a person. A guinea pig weighs 700 g to 1 kg and is about 20 cm long.

Andean peoples domesticated them thousands of years ago. They are neither mice nor pigs, whatever the English name suggests.

Short naps, teeth that never stop

Guinea pigs rarely sleep for long. They doze in short bursts and are quickly alert again. Their teeth grow continuously, so they must gnaw hay and fibrous plants — not only to eat, but to wear the teeth down. Without enough fibre, the teeth become misaligned and painful.

Happier in a herd

This is a highly social species. Alone, they stress easily. In a group they call, run, and nuzzle one another. A sharp chorus when they recognise a familiar person — or smell hay arriving — is communication, not noise.

At ZooJung

The guinea pigs live on Floors 1 and 2, at Whistle Hollow (Floor 1) and Rustle Rocks (Floor 2). Many visitors walk past because they are small. Do not. Sit down. The group will start talking to one another.

Observation tip: If the whole group suddenly calls at once, they have usually spotted a keeper — or smelled hay. That is when their social nature shows most clearly.

📍 ZooJung — 99 Pham Van Dong, Nha Trang