Guinea pigs are very active pets and usually sleep only for a short time.
This makes it difficult to tell if they’re asleep so you wonder – “Do guinea pigs close their eyes while sleeping?“
The simple answer is no! Guinea pigs normally sleep with their eyes open. It’s a behavior that they’ve developed as prey animals.
Most times, when you think your guinea pigs are just relaxing or in deep thoughts, they might just be asleep. This will seem confusing especially if their eyes aren’t closed.
However, it’s still possible for them to close their eyes for a while during sleep. It’s rare and can only happen when they feel safe and comfortable while sleeping.
Now you know guinea pigs don’t normally sleep with their eyes closed, strange right?
This might leave you wondering – why do guinea pigs sleep with their eyes open?
Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Why Do Guinea Pigs Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Guinea pigs sleep with their eyes open because they don’t feel completely safe. However, it is normal for them as prey animals to always be conscious of their surroundings.
In the wild, guinea pigs can’t defend themselves. The only way guinea pigs protect themselves from predators is by hiding or escaping.
They are mostly hunted when they are asleep in the wild. So, they’ve developed the habit of keeping their eyes open to be able to act on time to danger.
Even in our homes, where it seems safe for them, they still live with this behavior too. This is why on some occasions they might run away when you try to pick them up despite being so close to you.
It’s not a lack of trust, but instead a kind of reflex action. They’re just being proactive to danger, which is common to prey animals.
All these behaviors are natural to them and for their safety only. So, you shouldn’t be worried if your furry friends never close their eyes.
Does it mean they can’t close their eyes? Well, they absolutely can!
Nevertheless, when do guinea pigs close their eyes?
Let’s discuss this next!
When Do Guinea Pigs Close Their Eyes?
Guinea pigs do close their eyes whenever they feel very safe, comfortable, or tired. Their habit of keeping their eyes open is a normal thing for them as prey animals.
Moreover, if your guinea pigs trust you so much they can close their eyes when sleeping next to you. Even when you cuddle them, guinea pigs can always close their eyes as they sleep.
ALSO READ: Can You Sleep with Guinea Pigs in Your Room?
If they feel so protected in their cages, they can close their eyes for some time while sleeping. However, this isn’t something you’ll see them do very often as they’re used to keeping their eyes open.
How Do I Know If My Guinea Pig is Sleeping?
You can tell if your guinea pig is sleeping in many ways. Since they rarely close their eyes, knowing if they’re asleep at times isn’t that easy.
Here are some ways to tell if they are sleeping aside from them closing their eyes.
- When guinea pigs are asleep they stay pretty still and that’s a common thing about sleep.
- You can also look at their ears and whiskers. They are normally restless and tremble slightly while guinea pigs are asleep.
- They are lying still together in their cage. It’s a common thing for them to go to bed at the same time despite even having separate beds.
Some guinea pigs even sleep next to one another whenever they have to sleep. However, this is rare to see but very common with guinea pigs who have greatly bonded together.
RECOMMENDED READING: Do Guinea Pigs Like to Sleep Together?
Final Thoughts
To sum up, guinea pigs normally sleep with their eyes open. It’ll seem like they aren’t sleeping at all.
However, it isn’t something you should worry about. it’s normal for them!
They are prey animals and do so much to protect themselves from danger. So, sleeping with open eyes is one of the ways they have to stay safe.
These creatures hardly close their eyes even while in deep sleep. Most guinea pig owners may never even see their guinea pigs’ eyelids except when they die.
However, there are times they can close them for a short time during sleep.
Nevertheless, it happens only when they feel safe and free from threats. In addition, if you find it hard to tell if your guinea pigs are asleep because of their eyes.
I hope you found this article helpful, do forget to share it with your friends!
