Buying a Guinea Pig

Question
I have a son that wants a guinea pig.  He will be keeping it in his room which has only room for 1 Guinea Pig.  My daughter wants a hamster.  Can a hamster provide the socialization a guinea pig needs?

Answer
Hello Susan.

It's not a GREATLY terrible thing for a guinea pig to be by himself, although it helps in aiding the guinea pigs happiness. The thing with guinea pigs is that they need to keep busy. They like interaction, and can become bored or lonely. If your son and your family (because it usually ends up being the parents that take care of the animal) give the guinea pig lots of attention, he can be pretty content. It's when we work our 8 hours a day that the poor pig is sitting in his cage, alone.  The hamster could not provide the socialization the pig needs. Excercise time, another pig, holding and talking to the pig is the socialization he needs. He will need some extra though if he's going to be by himself. I wouldn't even put the two next to each other. You don't know what they will do.

For more information on guinea pigs, I have found this site to be informational.
www.guinealynx.com

HOpe this helps.
Christy :)