MOST ASKED QUESTIONS: One or More Guinea Pigs? | Squeak Dreams
Like 4 Dislike 0 Published on 24 Jan 2016
Five reasons why new owners should always consider getting more than one guinea pig!
1. Guinea pigs are naturally social animals, it is how they live in the wild. The need for company of their own kind has not been bred out of them.
2. You will miss out on seeing interactions and behaviour between guinea pigs if you only have a single piggie. They can be an absolute delight to watch and bring a smile to your face every day! Single piggies are generally quieter, more introvert and less active.
3. Guinea pigs kept in pairs/groups may be healthier than single piggies. Studies on laboratory animals have identified this, with completely isolated piggies (where they cannot see/smell other guinea pigs) reducing their water intake and losing weight. References found here: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm
4. Guinea pigs kept in pairs/groups can be more confident and easier to tame.
5. Twice as many guinea pigs isn't necessarily twice as much work (more like 25%)! However this is not so for vet bills. If the possibility of having to pay more vet bills is making you think one guinea pig is better than two - you should consider a different pet.
All these reasons point to one conclusion: the welfare of guinea pigs should always come first. If money, space, time or anything else limits your capacity to look after more than one guinea pig, then perhaps they are not the right pet for you.
Link to information on cage sizes: https://guineapigcages.com/