researching guinea pigs

Question
I have had guinea pigs growing up but I'm still trying to do as much research as possible before getting one. I am seriously considering getting 2 females because I've read that they would do better with company than alone. My only reservation I have with this is that they won't bond with me and only with each other, is that true? I have heard that it really isn't much more work to have 2 instead of 1, how can that be? Isn't it double the mess, double the food, etc? Do they need separate food/water bowls like dogs do? If I end up getting 2, do you think I should buy them from the same place at the same time because they will already be used to each other? Thank you so much for your time!

Answer
Hi Ashley,

Definitely get two! Guinea pigs are only really happy when they have a friend, and a cage is the same size for one or two piggies. They will share a water bottle and a food bowl, and will need cleaning out every 5 days regardless of how many you have. It only becomes extra work when you have multiple cages!

Males or females will both live happily in pairs. The difference is that you cannot keep males in groups of 3 or more, whereas females can live together in very large groups. I would recommend getting two males if they are your first piggies, as they have a longer life expectancy and there is no risk of them being or getting pregnant; although males do need you to check them "down below" daily, as well as their eyes, ears, noses, claws, and mouths the same as females.

You should also buy two piggies together, preferably from the same litter. This way they will already have bonded and will be the same age. The best place to get piggies from is an animal rescue; they will have been fully health checked, you will be sure of the sex, and you know you'll be giving unwanted animals a good home. It is often possible to buy guinea pigs from rescues at a younger age than from a pet shop as rescues are often given pregnant mothers and have to re-home the babies. They will let the babies go as soon as they are ready to leave their mother (4-6 weeks, depending on whether they are boys or girls).

If there isn't a rescue near you, try to find a breeder. They are often looking for people to buy their male babies as pets, as they do not need to keep as many for breeding purposes. Only go to a pet shop as a last resort as piggies in pet shops are often kept in poor conditions by inexperiences staff; this means they come with health problems such as mites and wounds, and females are often prenant.

It's a good idea to do a bit of research before you go to buy your guinea pigs; learn how to tell the difference between boys and girls yourself, so you can be sure. And always ask how old they are; they should really be at least 6 weeks old if they've been separated from their mother.

If you have any other questions about what cage/food/equipment you'll need, what sort of guinea pigs to get, or anything else ... just ask!

Best wishes,
Jenny.