Trying to decide how to house guinea pigs

[NewGuinPigOwner]

Hello!

My roommate and I are currently planning on adopting two guinea pigs, most likely a pair of males. The thing is that we would both like to keep one, but I know that they are social animals that need a lot of socialization with both their owner and other piggies.
The problem is that we both go to separate places during the summer, and some weekends. We would both like to take one of our piggies home. I am trying to decide the best way to go about making this less stressful for the guinea pigs, if doing like this is even an option.
Here are the options we are considering:
1.) Keep them in separate cages besides during play time and allow them to interact during those kinds of times.
2.) Keep them in the same cage and separate them during the summer but make sure to give them extra attention.
3.) Only get one guinea pig to begin with so that they don't have to stress at all, but I'm worried about them being lonely.
4.) Keep them in the same cage and make sure to take them to the same place during the summer.

If anybody has any suggestions/ideas about this, or advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Piggy1011]

I personally wouldn’t bother getting any until your in one place, settled. Piggies are a big financial worry. You have to save for vet bills monthly just in case, food, hay, nuggets. Piggies can live for 7 years plus. The last thing you want is finding your in a situation where you have to give up your Piggie for whatever reason.

 

[Jomundy]

The thing with guinea pigs is once separate so when u take one home at summer ect it causes a lot of stress and the possibility of them bonding again after separation is not always great . They also go through the greaving process once separated . And if kept alone can get depressed ect x

 

[Lady Kelly]

4. Only option 4. I think it would be cruel to keep a piggy or two living separately for your own convenience rather than for their benefit. Also, as mentioned above, separating them regularly will just mean they have to go through rebounding everytime which is incredibly stressful for them.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would agree with everything lady kelly has said.
Option 4 is the only option worth considering.
Along with the stress of constant separation, there is also a risk that once they’ve been separated that they may simply refuse to then go back together, and then you’re back to two lonely piggies.
If you go with two males, you need to make sure you have as large a cage as possible, as they need more space than the average pair of females. Which would need to be factored in with your taking them to one place for the weekend/summer. Do you have the means to transport such a large cage from one location to another, or is there the possibility of keeping a second/third cage at the other locations ready for them when you get there.
Sometimes changing their cages, particularly with males, can cause issues with dominance etc so you would want to look into that.

 

[Gia]

Hello!

My roommate and I are currently planning on adopting two guinea pigs, most likely a pair of males. The thing is that we would both like to keep one, but I know that they are social animals that need a lot of socialization with both their owner and other piggies.
The problem is that we both go to separate places during the summer, and some weekends. We would both like to take one of our piggies home. I am trying to decide the best way to go about making this less stressful for the guinea pigs, if doing like this is even an option.
Here are the options we are considering:
1.) Keep them in separate cages besides during play time and allow them to interact during those kinds of times.
2.) Keep them in the same cage and separate them during the summer but make sure to give them extra attention.
3.) Only get one guinea pig to begin with so that they don't have to stress at all, but I'm worried about them being lonely.
4.) Keep them in the same cage and make sure to take them to the same place during the summer.

If anybody has any suggestions/ideas about this, or advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Option 4 is the only one I'd consider. Either that or don't get any piggies at all. It's cruel to constantly separate the pigs from their companion.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello!

My roommate and I are currently planning on adopting two guinea pigs, most likely a pair of males. The thing is that we would both like to keep one, but I know that they are social animals that need a lot of socialization with both their owner and other piggies.
The problem is that we both go to separate places during the summer, and some weekends. We would both like to take one of our piggies home. I am trying to decide the best way to go about making this less stressful for the guinea pigs, if doing like this is even an option.
Here are the options we are considering:
1.) Keep them in separate cages besides during play time and allow them to interact during those kinds of times.
2.) Keep them in the same cage and separate them during the summer but make sure to give them extra attention.
3.) Only get one guinea pig to begin with so that they don't have to stress at all, but I'm worried about them being lonely.
4.) Keep them in the same cage and make sure to take them to the same place during the summer.

If anybody has any suggestions/ideas about this, or advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi and welcome!

Good that you are doing your research beforehand!
Here is our Wannabe Owners most helpful guides collection, so you can make an informed decision as to whether guinea pigs are the right pets for you or not before you get them and then run into trouble over problems you have not been aware of.

Guinea pigs are a major financial and care commitment for the next 5-7 years if they are healthy. The biggest budget post in their whole life are vet cost, which can quickly run into the hundreds of pounds or dollars if you come up against something serious. In the US, any vet fees have to be paid before treatment, so you have to have to save up on a weekly basis right from the start.
Can the two of you really provide that for this period and can you also guarantee that you are still together and in accommodations that allows any pets during this time?

Guinea pigs are group animals that do not deal well with separation. Each separation is like their friend dying for them. That is not something you want to put a beloved pet through repeatedly for your own gratifcation.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

You can either time share your guinea pigs with one of them taking both piggies during holidays and weekends or - if you do not want to have such a long term commitment, consider getting a hamster from a solitary species instead.
If you opt for a pair of guinea pigs, then you will have to make provision as to what happens with the piggies if you have a disagreement or fall-out or you live in different places. Splitting them up is not fair on the piggies.

 

[Beemz]

Even if you get 4 you still would have the issue of putting the pairs together each time and them having to work things out. The only way I would do it is to take turns as to who takes them home each time.

 

[Flutterby]

I agree, option 4 only I'm afraid. They are a big commitment.

 

[NewGuinPigOwner]

Alright, so it looks like it's option four. That's what we've pretty much agreed on after I made this post, but I just wanted to make sure. I am planning on starting with an 8 square foot cage for the first week or so, and after I see how I like the style because it's different than what I'm used to, I am getting another connectable cage so that it is 16 square feet. The reason that I am looking into everything before, is to decide what is best for them. I would not intentionally make a decision that would be cruel to them or harm them. I am just looking into different options and trying to decide what is best. I have some money saved up already in case of a medical emergency, and plan on saving more. My best friend has had a happy guinea pig for 4 years now, and I recently joined some different owner groups. Thank you everyone for the advice, I appreciate it.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s great that you are researching before getting them.

Space is a key factor for piggies, particularly males. If you can get to the biggest cage size either from the start or as quickly as possible, it can make all the difference. Two males need more space than the average pair of females. Having them in a large enough cage can make them settle in easier but also help to stop some dominance issues easier.
It can help with males to have two of all equipment, two food bowls, two water bottles, several hay piles, several open ended hidey houses. Open ended is helpful because it stops a piggie being cornered by the other piggie.

My two boys started off in 10 sq ft ( a 2x4 c&c cage) I then found this forum and realised that even though a 2x4 c&c is a great space, their arguments could be due to lack of space with them being male. I quickly moved them into a 25 square foot cage (a 4x4 c&c) and their arguments stopped pretty soon after. They still bicker occasionally but with so much room, they never last long as there is plenty of space to get away from each other. I just wish I had got the bigger cage from the start as I would have saved myself some money and not had to do it twice!