• Guinea pigs need plenty of space to play in.guinea-pig image by Ekaterina Maasing from Fotolia.com
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Though different sources list very different numbers, most experts recommend that a single pet guinea pig should be kept in a cage or enclosure no smaller than 3.5 square feet, assuming the guinea pig will be allowed some free time out of the cage each day.
  
  

More is Better

• Newer texts tend to recommend larger cages for guinea pigs, and some sources cite a minimum of 5.7 square feet to upward of 7 square feet for a single pig. This allows the guinea pig plenty of room to run and exercise, and affords enough space to keep the litter pan separate from feeding areas.
  
  

Bottom Line

• The best plan is to provide your guinea pig with as much space as you can. Guinea pigs kept in larger enclosures are healthier, happier and more active than pigs confined to minimally sized habitats.