Do i need to have two guinea pigs

Question

i can only get one guinea pig is that ok or do i HAVE TO get two guinea pigs

Answer 1

One is good, and easier to take care of than two.

Answer 2

its always good to have 2 or more they like to be with company all the time, i mean unless u can give it attention most of the day then its ok, i have a boy thats alone and hes spoiled rotten bec i give him way too much attantion bec hes all alone

Answer 3

You don't have to do anything but it is best to have guinea pigs in pairs since they are very social animals.  You can never make up for a guinea pig having a buddy.  If you only get one just make sure that you interact with it a lot every single day.

Answer 4

You don't HAVE TO, especially if your pig isn't very friendly, but it is usually best to find your pig a buddy so it won't be lonely, especially if you're not around to play with it all the time. If you do get your pig a friend make sure to follow this...: http://www.guinealynx.info/quarantine.ht...

...to make sure you don't pass any illness. You can find your pig a friend here: http://www.petfinder.com

Having two pigs housed together is not harder to take care of than just one pig. Make sure you have a cage that's big enough for one or two here: http://www.guineapigcages.com

Also, pigs can be a bonded pair so if you're only going to get one make sure it is not already bonded.

Good luck!

Answer 5

1 is good and easy to take care of and

2 is nice but not completely necessary

Answer 6

I think one guinea pig is good. However I would make sure to give it enough attention and love.

Answer 7

It is perfectly fine to have just one guinea pig. The reason to have two is just so it has company. Just try to spend time with it and make sure it has at least 30-40 minutes of out of cage time each day.

Answer 8

It is certainly ok to have only one guinea pig because I only had one. However, double check that you wont regret only getting one like I did and I rushed in to geting another piggy. However, my plan to get them living together failed and now I'm stuck with two giant cages in  my living room. :(

Good luck with your piggy!

Answer 9

You could get one... but you SHOULD get two!

Really, if you can only get one, you shouldn't get any!

Guinea pigs are a social species and NEED the company of their own kind. Their ancestors and wild relatives are all social species. They would never naturally live alone.

Keeping social species alone is known to cause health and welfare problems, including:

abnormal behaviour (stereotypies and depression)

reduced immune response

reduced fitness

even reduced lifespan!

It is undeniably cruel.

In some countries, animals are being protected from this type of cruelty. For example, EU legislation for lab animals specifically states that social species should not singly housed unless this is vital for good scientific or veterinary reasons.

And the UK Animal Welfare Act requires that pets "needs" are met - including any need to be housed with other animals.

A single piggie is extremely likely to be bored, lonely and miserable. Most people who later get their single piggie a friend have noticed that their piggie now seems much happier, popcorns more etc.

Of course, many people will tell you their single guinea pig is fine. How exactly do they know? Have they actually measured its heart rate or hormone levels? Do they actually know how to assess behaviour? Have they ever actually seen a happy, socially housed piggie?

Some people will tell you its okay to have a single piggie if you "spend lots of time with it".

Sorry - this is nonsense!

For a start - you are not a guinea pig, so you can not communicate or interact with a piggie in a natural or meaningful way. You won't eat or sleep together, won't play, run laps and popcorn together. Won't worry about who's boss, or squabble over the best veggies etc. No amount of human attention can make up for the company of another piggie!

Even if it could - how much time can you really dedicate to interacting with your pet?

For a start you spend a lot of your day asleep in bed. You will then have work or school. On top of that you need to eat, do homework or chores, socialise, shower etc.

When you think about it you would actually spend very little time with a piggie - so this gregarious animal will be completely alone for almost the entire day, every day!

Please do the right thing, the responsible and ethical thing. If you want guinea pigs please adopt a same s*x pair - they will be much happier.

If you only want, or can only get, one animal - please don't get a piggie - go for a naturally solitary species instead.

Answer 10

You can get one, but they are social animals and would appreciate a little friend if they both got fixed :)

They are very cute running around the floor playing hide and seek with their squeaks i would recommend two if you know what you are doing and how to look after them, but if it's your first time, get one and make sure you can and will look after it and then think about getting a little friend  

Answer 11

it is ok to only get 1 guinea pig