Guinea pigs are interesting creatures, and their sleeping habits are no exception!First and foremost, a guinea pig sleeps just like any other mammal. They have two types of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement).A guinea pig’s sleep schedule is very intriguing yet interesting. Guinea pigs frequently sleep throughout the day, taking 10-30 minutes naps. However, this varies. Some guinea pigs take short naps, some sleep for only four hours each day, and others may fall asleep for up to eight hours. It all depends on the guinea pig’s specific needs and personality! If you see your pet guinea pig sleeping with its eyes open, don’t panic! It is completely normal for them to do so!On the contrary, guinea pigs that sleep with their eyes closed show that they trust you. Guinea pigs also do not need to lie down when they sleep. Since these small and furry animals are prey animals, they are constantly on the alert for any danger or predators in their environment. This is why guinea pigs sleep with their eyes open. They aren’t really diurnal or nocturnal but guinea pigs tend to be most active at dawn, dusk, and during the day. When your pet guinea pig is mostly awake, it’s during the dark of night. If you notice, your guinea pig being lethargic, tired, or sleeping almost all the time, get them to a vet immediately as this can be a sign of vitamin C deficiency. Excessive tiredness or lethargy in your pet guinea pig could also be because of their diet and the food they’re eating. Make sure that your guinea pig enjoys a healthy diet packed with nutrients and especially vitamin C.How do I know if my guinea pig is sleeping?Every guinea pig is unique and different but most guinea pigs can function on less sleep. They can be wide awake and very active despite not sleeping for even half the number of hours that humans sleep for!Understanding your guinea pigs’ sleep schedules is ultimately very crucial to learn about how they sleep. Your guinea pig should also get a healthy amount of sleep. First and foremost, your pet guinea pig doesn’t have a fixed sleep schedule. They will sleep or take a short nap for a few minutes whenever they feel tired. If you see your guinea pig standing completely still in its cage with its eyes open, your pet is taking its much-needed rest for the day. They may also lie down on their sides or stomach or probably burrow themselves in the bedding when they want to take a rest. They may also curl up into a ball for added warmth and security.If guinea pigs sleep with their eyes closed, it’s a positive sign as they now trust the environment and are sure that are no dangerous animals or predators lurking around. Guinea pigs can also adjust their sleeping patterns depending on their environment and schedule. For example, if there is a lot of noise or commotion going on in their surroundings, guinea pigs will likely wake up more often to monitor what is happening. If you notice that your pet is not letting you sleep at night due to them being awake, you can keep their cage in a separate part of the house that is safe and clean.Guinea pigs are very light sleepers! Any small noise will wake them from their slumber. One reason why your guinea pig might be constantly waking up at night could be because of the sound your fan or air conditioning is making. If you notice your guinea pig sleeping throughout the day and through the night as well, it could be a sign of some illness.What does it mean if your guinea pig sleeps with its eyes closed?Guinea pigs are cute pets that surprisingly take naps with open eyes! Adding on to this strange behavior, they’ll do it standing up! Regardless, these pets nap with their eyes closed at times too. If you notice your pet guinea pig sleeping with closed eyes, you should be happy. This is because it is a way of your pet telling you that they trust you as well as the environment that they’re in. It could also mean that they are at peace or in a state of relaxation, knowing there aren’t any threats in their immediate environment.Guinea pigs sleeping with their eyes opened is an instinctual behavior that they depict in the wild too. Typically, you’d notice a guinea pig sleep in the wild with its eyes open as a way to be aware of its surroundings and to be careful in case there are predators around.Does a guinea pig sleep more in the winters?Guinea pigs are highly active rodents that are warm-blooded in nature. As a result, they are primed to live in climates or environments that have a warm temperature.However, when winter approaches and the temperature drops, you will notice guinea pigs taking a nap frequently or just sleeping for many hours on end every day. This is because your pet guinea pig is trying to save up energy and at the same time, trying to keep itself warm. It is quite common among guinea pigs so there is no cause for concern.There are some things you can do to help your pet guinea pig out when the weather conditions become too harsh or extreme. During cold weather, place sufficient bedding in your pet’s cage to keep it warm, and cozy yet safe. This will allow them to sleep well too. You can also consider buying heat pads to keep your guinea pig’s cage when it becomes cold.Make sure to keep checking your guinea pig to ensure that it is warm as well when the temperature drops low. This is very important because if they become too cold, they can develop some serious health and respiratory infections. Ideally, guinea pigs do well in a room-temperature environment. Keep their cage away from direct heat sources like sunlight.Why do guinea pigs have odd sleeping habits?Guinea pigs are extremely odd when it comes to their sleeping schedule and habits. These small rodents are extremely active so they need to replenish their energy through the day and night. Sleeping for a good number of hours every day helps them get the rest and energy they need.Neither diurnal nor nocturnal, these adorable pets can function on a minimum of four hours of sleep every day and spend most of their day awake. Most of the time, when you look at your pet guinea pig’s cage, your furry friend will mostly be very active, running around the cage and playing by itself. This is normal behavior and you should not be alarmed as their sleeping patterns are not similar to that of humans. The main reason why guinea pigs sleep or take short naps is that these cute animals in the wild are at bottom of the food chain. As a result, they sleep for a few hours, with their eyes open at times, to be aware of their surroundings, if in case there are any predators around.If the cage of your pet guinea pig is placed in your bedroom, you might feel like your pet doesn’t sleep at all! This is not true! Guinea pigs sleep at night too but they don’t sleep for too long. If you feel like your guinea pig is keeping you awake at night, move your pet’s cage to another part of the house. Sometimes, when you look into your guinea pig’s cage, it may appear as if your pet is standing completely with its eyes open. Don’t worry! They’re sleeping and they will continue to do this quite often!What can I do to make sure my guinea pigs are getting the sleep they need?Guinea pigs sleep either for a few minutes, taking a short nap break or they can pass out for hours. The way and manner in which guinea pigs sleep varies and it is perfectly alright! Nonetheless, you can do some things to provide your guinea pig with the best sleep possible.The first thing to bear in mind when it comes to making sure that your pet guinea pig enjoys a comfortable sleep or nap after a tiring day is good bedding. Guinea pigs sleep either standing up with their eyes open or lying on their stomachs or sides with their eyes closed. Either way, when they sleep while lying, they tend to burrow themselves in some sort of material or bedding. Your guinea pig’s cage should consist of at least 2-3 in (5.08-7.62 cm) of bedding. In between these layers, you can place an absorbent material that absorbs their urine so as to avoid any puddles where your pet is left in its own mess.At the top layers, you can use fleece or shredded newspapers as bedding material since guinea pigs love the feel of them against their small bodies. Check your pet’s bedding regularly too for the presence of lice or fleas as they can irritate their skin and fur. It is best to maintain hygiene within the cage by changing the bedding once or twice every week. The next thing to look for in your guinea pig’s sleep schedule is their diet and the food that they’re consuming. Fresh timothy hay and food sources that are rich in vitamin C like kale and broccoli along with certain fruits can be fed to your guinea pig. Out of all these, Timothy’s hay is crucial as it provides them with a great deal of nutrition and fiber and at the same time, aids in their digestion. If your guinea pig’s diet lacks Vitamin C, it can end up becoming tired and lethargic, adversely affecting their health.Once you get these things right, your guinea pig will be enjoying an amazing and healthy sleep.Did you know?Did you know that guinea pigs are one of the few animals that can enter into a deep sleep called torpor? Torpor is similar to hibernation in humans. Guinea pigs will lower their body temperature and heart rate in order to conserve energy when food is scarce. They also have a 340-degree vision making these fluffy and adorable creatures have a wide visual range! In the wild, this works very well to their advantage, as they can sense when a predator is near and accordingly plan their escape!Did you also know that guinea pigs eat their own fecal matter? Yes, another bizarre behavior that is actually very common and healthy for them! The feces of a guinea pig is extremely healthy for them as it contains amino acids and Vitamin B. When you see them doing this, don’t be alarmed! Just step away for a few minutes and let them take care of their business!This might shock you but there was once a time when giant guinea pigs roamed the Earth too! Scientists and paleontologists through extensive research have been able to find fossils that indicate your pet has some big-sized ancestors that roamed the Earth almost eight million years ago! The scientific name of the giant guinea pig version was Phoberomys Pattersoni and was nicknamed ‘Guinea-zilla’! This creature was also believed to have huge teeth and the ability to swim in the water. It could have probably been close in resemblance to the present-day beaver! Wow, just imagine if you had to pet the Guinea-Zilla!
Guinea pigs are interesting creatures, and their sleeping habits are no exception!
