getting a guinea pig

Question
hello
i am going to get guinea pig. I'm not sure where to get one though. there is a nearby animal shelter that has a few but there is a pet store too. where would be the better place to get one. i understand that if i were to get one from the shelter they might have been mistreated in the past. so would it be better to just by one from the pet store? when choosing the gender, is a female or male different to take care of? and one more question. is it a good idea to have more than one, especailly if you are gone some part of the day? thankyou for your time.

Answer
Hi Samantha

Getting a pig from a shelter will give a home to a pig that really needs one so this is best.

I have never noticed any differences between males and females in terms of temperament or behaviour.

Guinea pigs are social animals so get a pair. Two males that have lived together since young are fine but dont put 2 adult males together for the first time as fighting is likely. Two females are best as females usually get on fine.

Andy