Hello! I would like to get a guinea pig. However I know it’s best best to get two. I was thinking of looking for one that wasn’t getting along with cage mates or just considering getting one that catches my eye and giving it loads of attention and possibly a mirror. But I would feel really guilty if I knew I didn’t give it the best life possible. Opinions?
Hello a few questions
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LeifCG
Junior Guinea Pig
you should always get 2 no matter what. They are social animals. Here's a way some people have put it. What if the only person you could hang out with spoke another language? That's what it's like with a person and a pig. It's much better to get 2 and it doesn't really cost much more.
Guineautopia
Forum Donator 2025/26
Hi, welcome to the forum.
Guinea Pigs are herd animals and should not be kept alone.
A cat carrier is fine for two pigs as a travel cage to bring them home.
Have you read the wonderful guides on this site re cage sizes and daily care. They are really helpful. Minimum cage size for two pigs is 5foot by 2 foot, but the bigger the better.
Have you got a rescue near you? They would be able to find piggies best suited to you.
Guinea Pigs are herd animals and should not be kept alone.
A cat carrier is fine for two pigs as a travel cage to bring them home.
Have you read the wonderful guides on this site re cage sizes and daily care. They are really helpful. Minimum cage size for two pigs is 5foot by 2 foot, but the bigger the better.
Have you got a rescue near you? They would be able to find piggies best suited to you.
Hello and welcome.
Definitely piggies are best kept in same sex pairs or in a mixed sex pair but ONLY if the boar is neutered 6 weeks before introduction to the sow. They are lovely little social creatures.
A cat carrier is fine for transporting a pair of piggies.
Definitely piggies are best kept in same sex pairs or in a mixed sex pair but ONLY if the boar is neutered 6 weeks before introduction to the sow. They are lovely little social creatures.
A cat carrier is fine for transporting a pair of piggies.
Please always aim for two guinea pigs. They are group animals. You just can't give them the 24 hour stimulation that they need.
I currently have got a (dumped) guinea pig that has obviously been kept as beloved single from a young age at some point. So far, I have not been able to bond her with other piggies because she is scared stiff of even babies when she comes face to face with them. However, Beryn is still profiting massively from having piggy company all around her, and her favourite place is in the corner where four pens meet to sleep next to other piggies. she loves to roam and to say hello to all my other guinea pigs as long as they are safe behind bars!
If a guinea pig truly doesn't like others, then it can be kept as single as long as you are at home all day. But this should only happen after you have given a piggy every chance to date other piggies and to find one they click with.
The vast majority of single piggies are those that have been failed several times by humans - from being sold as singles or as a mismatched pair in too small a cage, then taken back as an 'unbondable' aggressor to live in isolation for the rest of his life and then being offloaded once they get older or boring...
Long time rescue experience has shown that over 95% of all piggies can actually be bonded and that even those that are not bondable are much more lively and happier when they can hurl abuse at other piggies next door!
I know of 6 year old single piggies that have finally found a new friend via rescue dating with a dedicated new owner - guinea pigs are never too old to find a new friend. My Calli, who has just celebrated her 9th birthday and was a depressed widow of 7 years when she came here can corroborate that - she has not made friends quickly, but is now very closely and happily bonded with a widow of mine and she has certainly not been depressed since her arrival here with so many piggies to interact with!
Even if you really want to get single piggies, it is much better to have two adjoining cages with interaction through the bars for ongoing stimulation and interaction. Guinea pigs really rely massively on this. Recent research has clearly shown their social interaction is much more complex than previously assumed and central to their wellbeing.
Sadly Switzerland is still the only country where it is illegal to sell and own single guinea pigs - but their pioneering animal welfare law is the result of direct democracy and pressure from the grass roots, not of political will from above!
Companionship
If you truly only want a single pet, then guinea pigs are unfortunately not the species for you.
Yes, I have looked into cage sizes and such and will be purchasing c and c grids. I will definitely try to bring up the idea of two to my parents but I’m pretty sure I’ll get a “let’s start with one” for the small cat carrier I meant for vet trips or a holiday trip to my aunt who’s 4 hours away. I would have another full sized cage set up down there, but would both of them be okay in the small space for a bit? I’m actually an expierenced hamster owner but after my last one died I’ve been looking into animals that are active during the day and live longer so it’s not a constant cycle of life and death. Guineas are quite different so I’m just trying to make sure I have everything correct so my piggies can have the best life possible.
A carrier is far too small even for a single guinea pig; it is there for transport and transport only!
Guinea pigs are ground roaming group animals and need every extra bit of space you can give them to stay fit and healthy.
As long as your parents are not willing to cooperate with minimal welfare aspect (companionship and cage size count for that), I would not persist and rather save up for the time when you can provide for any pet as you should. It is not you, but any pet of yours that will pay the price if you go through with getting a pet whose basic needs you cannot cover. You are not the first teenager and won't be the last in that situation.
I have had to wait for over a decade to get more guinea pigs once I left my parents' home for university, simply because I was not prepared to compromise on any of my pets' wellbeing (and in some of the flats pets were not allwed in the first place). I have never rued that decision; now that I have the right conditions to have guinea pigs again, I truly appreciate it and my guinea pigs fare all the better for my being more mature and committed.
You also need to look at vet cost. Guinea pigs need so see a vet sooner or later. This can quickly cost several hundreds of pounds or dollars, especially when it comes to a life-saving operation or any more specialist treatment. Can you pay or are your parents willing to pay for that without delays?
Like hamsters, guinea pigs are small animals that cannot wait for weeks until you have sweet talked your parents; you need to see a vet often as a life-saving emergency asap or within 24 hours. Home treatment on spec with cheap human or low dosed shop products is not a solution, but rather adds to the problem, prolongs suffering and can even be fatal. This is an aspect that many new owners completely overlook - the biggest budget post in any pet's life are vet cost. Don't become yet another teenager who has to sit by and watch their pet die an agonising death because their parents won't pay for vet cost.
Please also be aware that the average lifetime of a healthy guinea pig is 5-7 years. My Calli has just celebrated her 9th birthday. Can you say where you'll be in that time and can you commit to spending at least 2-4 hours with a single guinea pig every single day of its life just to cover its desperate need for companionship? Never mind any school exams, friendships and social interaction of yours. It depends entirely on you even when your interests are shifting and developing!
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Welcome to the forum.
It’s great that you are doing the research before getting guinea pigs. That’s a sign of a caring owner.
Like you I kept hamsters for over 20 years because they were the pet that fitted my life best.
I had piggies as a child and only came back to them about 7 years ago when I could provide properly for them.
With hamsters the cycle of life and death is harder because of their short lifespan, but they are such cute little creatures.
You’ve been given lots of good advice to discuss with your parents but in the end it’s their call.
One day you will be able to make your own choices and there will still be piggies needing a loving home.
It’s great that you are doing the research before getting guinea pigs. That’s a sign of a caring owner.
Like you I kept hamsters for over 20 years because they were the pet that fitted my life best.
I had piggies as a child and only came back to them about 7 years ago when I could provide properly for them.
With hamsters the cycle of life and death is harder because of their short lifespan, but they are such cute little creatures.
You’ve been given lots of good advice to discuss with your parents but in the end it’s their call.
One day you will be able to make your own choices and there will still be piggies needing a loving home.
Yes. I was wondering if the carrier was okay for transport, not as a full time cage. I just don’t want them to feel super crowded and argue in the car or something. I am most definitely getting 2 and I will still try my best to give them 2 hours of attention a day. Thank you guys for your help making sure I didn’t make a huge mistake and only get one.