Care guide
Silkie Satin guinea pig care
There's no guide just for Silkie Satin guinea pig yet. Here's caring for guinea pigs; ask the seller about anything specific to this breed or species.
- Kind
- Guinea pig
- Adult weight
- 700 g–1.2 kg
- Typical lifespan
- 4–6 years
- Lives
- In groups of its own kind
- Most active
- Daytime
- Handling
- Usually easy
- Goes home from
- 4 weeks old
- Welfare note
- Satin guinea pigs can inherit a bone disease (osteodystrophy) that causes pain and lameness. Ask the breeder about their lines.
Guinea pigs live 5 to 7 years, must live with at least one other guinea pig, and need vitamin C every day because they can't make their own. They're gentle, chatty and great for families.
Never alone
Keep at least two guinea pigs together: two sows, or a neutered boar with sows. Boars can also live in pairs if introduced young.
Give them a large cage, ideally at least 0.7 m² (7.5 sq ft) for two, with hides, hay racks and floor time.
Diet and vitamin C
Unlimited grass hay, a cup of fresh vegetables a day, and plain guinea pig pellets. Bell peppers, parsley and leafy greens are good sources of vitamin C; without it they get scurvy.
Their teeth grow all their lives; hay keeps them worn down.
Breeding safely
A sow's pelvis can fuse if she isn't bred before about 7 months old, making birth dangerous. Responsible breeders plan around this, and boars are separated from their sisters and mother by 3 weeks.
Health
Watch for weight loss (weigh them weekly), crusty eyes, sneezing or hair loss, and see your vet promptly. Long-haired breeds need regular grooming.
Satin breeds can inherit a painful bone disease; ask the breeder about their lines.
Further reading
General information to help you prepare, not veterinary advice. Every animal is different: ask an experienced vet about yours. Reviewed by PerfectPal on October 13, 2026.