Shopping
Note: All recommendations shown are in US dollars
Ideally, try to avoid visiting a petstore if you can. Petstores support guinea pig breeding, which you can learn more about on the Adopt, Don't Shop! page. There are many online options for shopping, and in addition to having a larger variety of supplies to choose from, online shopping is much safer during this time of COVID-19. Below are a few online stores for guinea pig supplies.
If you are looking to save money, consider getting used guinea pig supplies at places such as Craigslist.
Shopping List
□ * Hideys - at least one per guinea pig, preferably with two entrances each.
□ * Water bottle(s)
□ * Pellet bowl(s)
□ * Hay rack/tray(s)
□ * Appropriately sized cage
□ * Bedding
□ * Pellets
□ * Hay
□ * Vegetables
□ * Vitamin C supplement
□ * Nail clippers
□ Styptic powder
□ Heating pad (for under the cage during winter)
□ Tunnels
□ Toys
Items with a * are required.
Bedding: Fleece Liners
One of the most popular options would be GuineaDad Fleece Liners, which are very high quality but a little more expensive. Here is a review by Little Adventures.
The most inexpensive liners can be found on Etsy. This is a very general recommendation, but Etsy does provide a wide variety of brands. Each sell fleece liners often for lower prices than the bigger brands, such as Guinea Pig Cages Store or GuineaDad.
Bedding: Paper
The best option for paper bedding is probably Carefresh. It is not dusty, which is often an issue with paper bedding. I have never had a problem with this bedding, and it also comes in a variety of colors.
Cages
Guinea Pig Cages Store definetely has the most variety of cages. Their C&C cages have everything from windows to doors, themed cages, and so much more! The only downside is that they can be a bit pricey, especially on their fleece products. I bought a C&C cage from here, and I have not had any problems with the quality.
The OffBeat Club takes a more minimalistic approach. It lacks many of the add-ons offered by Guinea Pig Cages Store, but their products have free shipping and are around the same price. They also have options to purchase other guinea pig supplies you will need. This way you can buy some of your things in the same place.
One option that is not a C&C cage is the Midwest cage. This cage, at around 8 square feet, can only fit two sows. However, you can combine the cages to create more living space. This cage is inexpensive, but there are generally less add-on options for this type of cage (a few options here). Instead of having a coroplast base, the base is canvas. Here are some reviews.
See the Housing page for more options.
Food
When shopping for guinea pig food, Oxbow is definetely one of the best, most well-known brands. They specialize in guinea pig pellets, and their pellets are rated as the number one pellet for guinea pigs by PetHelpful and many other sources. My guinea pigs seemed to like this brand the best.
Small Pet Select is probably the best runner up for guinea pig hay. They also provide inexpensive pellets, although they are not as high quality as Oxbow. My guinea pigs were fine with this brand, but seemed to prefer Oxbow.
