How long do Patagonian Cavies live?
In captivity Patagonian cavies commonly live 10-14 years with good care.
What do Patagonian Cavies eat?
Their diet is herbivorous roughage: grass and good-quality hay should dominate, supplemented with leafy greens, vegetables, and a small amount of herbivore or guinea-pig pellets with added vitamin C. Do NOT feed them seed mixes, sugary fruit, or excessive pellets, which cause obesity and gut disease.
Housing and space
They need a large, secure outdoor run of at least several square meters per pair, with fencing buried 30-60 cm (12-24 in) deep and extending upward because they dig and jump. Provide a sheltered, dry, predator-proof barn or hut and shade. They tolerate mild cold with shelter but need dry footing and room to run.
Common mistakes with Patagonian Cavies
Fatal mistakes are keeping one alone (they bond for life and fail without a companion), shallow or unburied fencing they dig and escape under, confining them in a small cage (they are runners), and feeding seed/pellet-heavy diets instead of hay and grass.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Solitary housing — maras pair-bond and decline without a companion.
- Shallow fencing — they are powerful diggers and escape underground.
- Caging instead of running space — they need to gallop daily.
- Pellet/seed-heavy feeding — they need hay and grass as the diet base.