Guinea pig is lonely!?

Question

I just got a young male guinea pig like 2 weeks ago. I love him and everything but I think he is lonely. I have tried to make him as comfy as possible. Should I get another male friend? I don't want to get him a female because you know what would happen and my mom would not like that! Or could I trade him for a female guinea pig and then get another female? What should I do?!

I would like to know if I could trade him for a female and then buy another female, would that be possible?

Answer 1

Above and beyond basic care requirements, many people struggle with knowing the right thing to do to keep their guinea pig (or pigs) happy. Should you have two? What sex? How do you introduce them? Will they get along? What if they don't? What if they fight? What if a companion dies? Do they get bored or lonely? What if you have an unplanned litter? Should you neuter or not?
Guinea pigs are a social, herd animal. They do better in groups. A pair of guinea pigs is a better option than just one. There are a number of issues to weigh on both sides of the one or two cavy question. Bottom line, the decision for just one is usually the result of what is best for you. The decision for two is usually the result of what is best for the guinea pig. We usually go with what is best for the guinea pigs. If you cannot provide the best possible life for the animals, then perhaps you should consider an animal that would be happier living within your constraints. That may sound tough, but it's worth thinking about. Any responsible rescue will try to guide you to an animal that works well for your situation.

Many people will tell you they have one guinea pig and he or she is just fine, happy as a clam, living out a great life. And that may be, but most of these situations don't have a point of reference for a comparison of that same guinea pig living with or next door to a friend.

On the other hand, if you are adopting a guinea pig from a shelter or some other situation that may have resulted in the death or sub-standard life of that animal, and that animal must live as a single guinea pig due to your circumstances, then should we debate the finer points of how happy that animal is versus how happy it could be? It seems silly at that point. Regardless, we are presenting information to help you make a decision using a combination of the best interests of you and your animal. You need to decide the priorities.

At Cavy Spirit, we have a lot of anecdotal and experiential evidence of guinea pigs being happier living with another guinea pig. What about scientific evidence? See some of the comments below. Basically, even if you have a guinea pig, be it male or female, that cannot get along with another guinea pig, that guinea pig is almost always happier being near another of it's kind, even if separated by a cage wall. There is the rare guinea pig who is happier being a loner, but it is very unusual and definitely not the norm.

Here are some of the issues to think about when deciding whether to get one or two guinea pigs.

The guinea pig pair itself
Is the pair a mature, bonded pair with a known personality? Are you 100% certain of the sex? Remember, pet stores frequently missex animals and knowingly or unknowingly sell a pregnant female or a breeding pair. The more you know about the pair you are considering adopting or buying, the less risk you have of some of the other issues in this list. If you are considering getting two independent guinea pigs who aren't currently living together, then it's just about the same as the next section Adding a 2nd Cavy.

If the pair is young (under 6 months) and same-sex (siblings or otherwise), then you will be risking the fact that they MAY not get along in the future, especially as they progress through adolescence. If you get a male/female pair and the male is neutered or the female is spayed and they are currently living together, it is very rare that they will cease to get along at any point in the future. Any tiffs are usually temporary and they will settle right down again.

While it is a risk that a same-sex pair may stop getting along in the future and it does happen, it is not a common occurrence. However, you should be prepared to deal with it, if it happens.

Adequate cage space
While we publish minimum cage size requirements for 2 guinea pigs as 7.5 square feet (or a 2x3 grid cage), our Cavy Spirit minimum is 10.5 square feet (or a 2x4 grid cage). Even ONE guinea pig needs 7.5 square feet. So, adding a few more square feet for two should be possible in most cases. Two boars should not be housed in less than 10.5 square feet, in our opinion. For more information on cage sizes and ways to provide it, please visit our Guinea Pig Cages web site. (The 2x4 grid cage pictured sits on a 5' x 30" work table.)

What if you need to separate your guinea pigs at any time because they stop getting along? You'll need to make sure that you can provide them both adequate cage space with a common grid wall so that they can be next to each other for company and safe interaction. Ideally, that means a pretty large cage -- a 2x6 grid cage (which requires a 7.5 or 8 foot long table). That cage allows a common grid wall divider down the middle to provide the minimum cage space of 2x3 grids (or 7.5 square feet) per guinea pig. That can be a tall order for many people (15 square feet of cage space). In those circumstances, many people will compromise on cage space (such as the one pictured to the right) and some will try to compensate with additional floor time. A split 2x4 grid cage (photo right) will provide each guinea pig with 5 1/4 square feet of space. That does not meet our minimum but is still almost 2 sq feet larger than the typical "large" SuperPet cage.

Additional cost
Many people think that if you have two guinea pigs, you will spend twice as much in time, cleaning, and maintenance. Not so. It just doesn't work that way. One might experience a cost increase of maybe 25% by adding one guinea pig.

Another cost that might occur, which is very hit and miss, is vet care. You do increase the chances that you may have a medical problem down the line. And while some vet expenses can be significant, most are not. However, if you travel down the ill-advised path of breeding, count on more vet bills. And if you happen to buy or adopt a pregnant guinea pig, be aware that you also have an increased likelihood of required vet care.

In general, a non-breeding pair of guinea pigs does not cost much more, in time or money, than a single guinea pig.
We've been talking about the "happiness" of the guinea pig. We use the term loosely. We are not intentionally applying human emotions to the animal. We are using the term as a general way to describe a better state of health and behavior of the animal.

Many guinea pig forums abound with woeful stories of people whose guinea pig seems bored, listless, won't wheek or talk, pop, run around, etc. Guinea pigs interact with each other with their acute sense of smell and hearing as well as speech and touch. To remove the ability for a social animal to interact with another can dramatically impact the health and overall emotional state of the animal. Not only that, you as the caretaker miss out on all kinds of fun and interesting behavior.

Also, if you happen to get a very young guinea pig from a pet store, as is so typical of pet store guinea pigs (they are usually barely weaned), that guinea pig hasn't been taught much yet from any other guinea pigs. Some guinea pigs will not eat fresh food you may offer because they don't recognize it as food and aren't used to it.

An amusing, but standard, guinea pig behavior is their friendly but serious competition for food. Some people have had a single guinea pig who is very fussy and finicky about what kinds of food it will eat. When a friend is added, that fussy guinea pig usually can't stand to see the other guinea pig eating something that they are not, and will eat it too. In this way they help each other keep their diet varied, balanced and healthy. They play together. They chase each other. They usually snuggle together. They keep each other healthy and happy.

Imagine being abandoned on another planet with no other human to see or talk to. Just some giant alien creature who tries to kindly interact with you every so often. Well, for some us, that would be cool and fun. But for most of us, wouldn't it be nicer to have someone to share your life with? That's what it means to be a social animal.

Bonding with You versus the The Other Guinea Pig
A common concern we hear about getting two rather than one guinea pig is that the guinea pig won't "bond with me" if he or she has a friend.

Generally speaking, this is not a concern. Guinea pigs are not dog-like in their behavior and bonding with humans. Please don't have those expectations or you are likely to be disappointed. Guinea pigs all have their own personalities. Some are more friendly than others. Over time (and it can take quite a bit of time with guinea pigs) they will learn to trust you and recognize your scent and sounds. In this process, it doesn't make much difference if they have a friend or not. A friend does make a difference to them when you are not around.



Adding a 2nd Cavy

You already have a guinea pig and are thinking about getting a friend for him or her. You've reviewed the issues above and decided that you can provide the proper cage space and resources needed.

What additional considerations do you need to think about?

What kind of guinea pig to get?
Male or female? Young or old? First and foremost, you want to make sure that you do NOT end up with a breeding pair or a pregnant female. Not convinced? Think you may want babies? Please don't. Please read the Breeding page first.

If you have a male, you'll want another male. If you have a female, you'll want another female. This is the easiest path to take, since it does not risk surgery to neuter or spay.

Have you heard that males fight? Did you know that females may fight, too? Did you know that some males and females also won't get along? Guinea pigs all have their own personality. It's a matter of matching up personalities. Many, many people have pairs or trios of boars who get along great. We match up boars all the time.

We try to match up a dominant with a subordinate guinea pig. It helps to have a feel for their personalities. What if you have no idea about the personalities? An older with a younger guinea pig is a good option (larger to smaller one). They usually establish a natural hierarchy with the younger one being subservient to the older one. You just need to be careful that you don't have a very feisty younger guinea pig with a very laid back older guinea pig. In that case, the younger one may challenge the older one's position as 'alpha' guinea pig (or top guinea pig or the boss guinea pig).

Please note: Males living with males (and no females) do NOT need to be neutered! It will NOT change their behavior.

When you pair up a young guinea pig with any other guinea pig (young or old), there is a chance that as he or she goes through their adolescent period (3-5 months), they will challenge the other guinea pig for top guinea pig position. This can lead to some fighting. Most of the time they figure it out for themselves. Occasionally, the fighting is extreme and they must be permanently separated. Again, remember this can happen with ANY guinea pig pair, male/male or female/female.

Answer 2

That's great you're thinking of getting a buddy for your pig.

I agree with Justified that trading him in is something of a silly idea - you've already bonded with him, and he with you. Why waste that? Instead, look into finding another male to go with him. Contrary to popular belief, male pigs CAN get along - I have four FOUR! in the same cage, and though they squabble, they get along just fine. They're not like Beta fish that turn around and fight each other...

I'd highly recommend looking into adopting - most rescues already have pigs paired up (i.e. used to being around other piggies) and will have an idea of their personalities. Getting a rescued male will give you a better chance of not only having a pig that's used to being handled, but also a healthy pig. Pet store pigs have a higher chance of carrying mites and Upper Respiratory Infections.

You could also consider adopting a spayed female - that way you wouldn't have to worry about any piggy babies coming along. A spayed female and a male would be fine together, and spayed females are available for adoption as well!

Good luck!

P.S. - Though they might end up getting along, rabbits and guinea pigs do NOT make good cage mates. There's a significant size difference, and I've heard too many horror stories of guinea pigs getting kicked and injured by rabbits' strong back legs.

Answer 3

Oh good grief! You're already ready to trade him out like a pair of bad shoes??

Yes, by all means, get him a male friend. They should be as close to the same age as possible. The whole key is how they are introduced. See http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm for info on how to do this. Scroll down & read the two sections titled Quarantine & Introductions. It is a MYTH that two male pigs will fight. I have many males that live in perfect harmony with each other. In truth, they *do* have a higher chance of fighting than females, but a whole lot depends upon the personality of the pig & how they are introduced.

You can find your piggie a buddy by visiting http://www.petfinder.com/ . Find a local shelter or rescue near you by doing the quick search on the left side of the page. A reputable rescue will be able to help you select the best cage mate for your pig. They are interested in the well being of the animal and not their pocketbooks like the pet stores.

You should also visit http://www.guinealynx.info/ and http://www.guineapigcages.com/ for info on the proper care, diet, & housing for guinea pigs.

Answer 4

It's great to hear you're wanting to get him a friend- guinea pigs are very social animals and do best when they are in a group. I'm also pleased to hear you aren't planning on breeding him!

Don't trade him in, you can get him a male companion and with careful introduction and a large cage so that they have plenty of space they will not necessarily fight. Try www.guineapigcages.com , particularly the forum on there for advice with this.

Alternatively you can get him a spayed female as a companion- there is obviously no risk of breeding if the female is already spayed, or you could see about getting your boar neutered. Try your local shelter when looking for a new guinea pig- there are always lots looking for new homes so adopt if you possibly can :)

Despite what some people have suggested, do NOT get him a rabbit as a companion. Rabbits and guinea-pigs are completely different animals and do not communicate in the same way so it will not help his loneliness. Rabbits are obviously a lot bigger than guinea pigs and have very powerful back legs- even accidentally they can paralyse or even kill a guinea pig with one kick. Rabbits and guinea pigs have completely different diets- rabbits need different pellets to guinea pigs and rabbit pellets often contain a substance to prevent a disease in rabbits, but this preventitive ingredient is toxic to guinea pigs as it builds up in their body. Guinea pigs, unlike rabbits, do not produce their own vitamin C and so need lots of this provided in their vegetables. Rabbits also carry a bacteria that can pass on to guinea pigs which can make them seriously ill. To summarise, rabbits and guinea pigs should never be housed together.

As I already mentioned, www.guineapigcages.com is a great site with lots of information about your new pet. www.guinealynx.com is also very informative. Good luck finding him a friend, he'll be very pleased if you do :)

Answer 5

I've got a guinea pig in a large enclosure that sits on the floor. It has no top on it whatsoever. They will not climb anyway. I've also got a tiny female chihuahua. The dog will jump into the guinea enclosure and they are buddies. The chihuahua is extremely jealous of the guinea pig, when attention is paid to it.

Answer 6

CavySpirit is the BEST! Listen to what they have to say.

People who have one pig often justify it by saying they will spend lots of extra time with the animal. Will you? If you sleep at night or have a job/school during the day then that's 16 hours a day the pig will be all by itself.

Not acceptable considering almost all pigs do better with a buddy. Two pigs are not much more expensive to care for than 1.

Answer 7

I had once rescued 2 guinea pigs just as they were walking past me to be put to sleep because a mother dropped them off at a pet store who didn't want them. I fostered them only until I could find them homes. They both went with one lady who about 6 months later told me that 2 were too many for her daughters to care for. I took one and she kept the other.

Years went by and I was asked to babysit for 2 other pigs for 1 week. My guinea pig perked up, squeeled happily, chewed on the bars, ate more, drank more, etc. I had no idea he had missed his sister. When I gave the pigs back to their owners my pig went back to his quiet self. I was determined at that time that I will never keep only 1 pig at a time... I realized it wasn't fair to them. That guinea lived to be 8 years old and happy!!

I now keep only 2 male pigs at a time in seperate cages. Although they fight when put together I keep their cages side by side. They chew on the bars that join and talk to each other all day. They will talk in a language that inly they understand as I have noticed that they warn each other of potential danger and run to hide, or come out for special treats when the other one calls. They are in sync with one another.

You do have to remember though that the least amount of money you will ever spend on the pig is the price of the pig itself. I have spent over $200. in vet bills on one pig in the last week alone. The pig cost $5. at a shelter. The cage was only $20. If you can't afford expensive vet bills on occasion you may have to watch a pet die. It is also very difficult to find a good small animal vet who doesn't think of them as "just a guinea pig" when they are really sick. 2 guinea pigs may cost you twice as much.

Only once did I consider trading a guinea pig in for a different model, but I'm glad I didn't. She turned out to be one of my very favorites in the end. You have that guinea for a reason... of all the pigs you could had found you found that one. Keep him. He was meant to be yours. If you do get him a friend please get from your local shelter. They get put to sleep all too often there where pet stores keep them until homes are found. Save the life of your new best friend!!

Answer 8

If you put him in a spot where he can see people then he wont be lonely anymore.It sounds like it will be best not to get another guinea pig since your mother doesnt feel like breeding guinea pigs and if you put to or more males in the same cage,they will kill and/or hurt each other.I would suggest getting a rabbit.(I Don't blame your mother, you have to buy another cage to put the father in if another guinea pig has piggies because he will eat them and if the mother gets tired of them,she will eat them and at a few weeks old you will have to separate the piggies espacially if their is more than 1 male and get more cages, so you see it is really stressful to breed piggies and a lot of $)

Answer 9

i think trading him for a female guinea pig and getting another female guinea pig is the best idea. If you got another male they would most likely end up fighting.

Answer 10

You can usually put two females together or a male and female together without too much trouble - though the latter will generally result in the arrival of baby guinea pigs, and the father will need to be removed until the babies are weaned and adopted out. It can, however, be trouble to try and put two males together.

Answer 11

Guinea pigs are very social they NEED a playmate to keep them healthy and happy.