Can you have just 1 guinea pig?

[Marg]

I would like to know becaus ei have heard different things.

[skipperdoo]

Yes, you can have just one pig and some pigs prefer to live as a solo. However, something really important, they are very social critters and if there is no other of their kind around, you are the person who will need to do a lot of interacting with him/her so he/she doesn't get lonely and just sit in a cage all day.

[Jemima]

I agree with Skipperdoo--they are very social animals and can easily get lonely and bored if they are by themselves. You need to be their social and entertainment contact in that case. My daughter's pig, Saige, has been bored and lonely since her two sons were seperated from her. We are hoping my other daughter's pig conquers an infection so they can be back together.

However, if you can ensure he/she is provided plenty of human companionship and fun, it can work. My vet's guinea pig was by herself and she lived til twelve years old!! And a friend of mine had hers live to thirteen, and a second one lived to eight!!

Best of luck to you!

[perdylilo]

They are social: my guinea pig never popcorned or was very happy until I brought home her friend... and when I put my two boys in one bigger cage, they were much more happy, though it was probably partly due to the bigger cage...

[Marg]

Okay because other websites that I have visited, some of which were forums said it is horrible to leave them by themselves and if your only getting one don't get any at all (I could never do that!).

[Josie]

i am sorry about pestering you to get another 1..... *hangs head* ya know i love ya really. but everywhere i look says that it is cruel to have them lead a solo life, but, i guess if you interact with it then it will be fine.
hugs and kisses
josie

[Marg]

Ok Josie! Its fine at least you were not as mean as other people! Well I might get 2 its just I might not and it could be a while.

[luci]

We got 2 Guinea pigs and they fought so in the end they preferred to live alone!!! i think its always best to get 2, then you can always be sure that they arent lonely. in the end, if they fight they are telling u that they wanna be alone!

[samnbud]

I had one to start with, he was a loner. I got him at 2 years because his whole life he hated other piggy contact. So the owner got fed up and sent him away to a shelter. I took him in and he wouldnt interact with any of my piggies so I just left him in a cage all his own, close to the other cages and held him all the time and he was never happier. If you have the time and devotion to interact with your pig then one is fine. But if you only have a few short periods of when you can give your pig attention, then that is when you may need a cage mate. So if you cant supply at least an hour or 2 a day then yes you may need another pet. But also that may not work either. Some pigs get used to solitary life and see another pig as an intrusion on their space. If you do decide to get another one for your well being and they dont get along you can always place their cages side by side. Oh by the way for my loner pig I used to play very soft music or tv for him so he would hear something and it wouldnt be quiet or lonly when I was away. Its really up to you. Do you think your pig is lacking in the attention department? Does he show signs of boredom or lonliness?

[Josie]

she hasnt got him yet, she is getting him when she gets back from holiday. thats why she hasnt posted for ages.

[luci]

I'm just wondering, what are the symptoms of a lonely pig??

[Merry]

I voted no. Piggies are very social animals and most will be bored and unhappy living by themselves, especially while you're out of the house. It's unfair to them to keep them this way. However, if it's absolutely impossible for you to get two pigs, there are those rare ones that won't get along with any cavy they are paired up with. If you adopt from a rescue (which I'd recommend anyway) it usually says something about this in the piggy's description. And the funny thing is that these cavies are often actually some of the friendliest with people.

I'd still go for two, but if you can't that's something worth looking into.

[samnbud]

I think we all would pick no. But then in this case a yes may be in order for some of us. Its not wise to keep buying more piggies just to see if you can find yours a mate.

[Merry]

You know Rosie? She lived alone for quite awhile. She was very skittish, and hated other pigs. Every time I brought Shakira over for a visit, they would lunge at each other after the first few minutes. When she came back to live with me and I started re-introductions, their fights were so vicious I had no choice but to separate them.

But I knew that she and Shakira both would be happier if they could actually live together. Have someone to play and cuddle with when I was doing other things. I let them have a little floor time together, every day. When they started fighting, I would plop a grid in between them and put them back in their cages. It was discouraging, and I admit I had my doubts about them ever getting along.

Where are they now? Happily sharing their 4x2 C&C in my room - no separators, mind. Rosie is much more confident now. Before she would run to the other side of the cage when she saw a person. Now she stands up at the bars alongside Shakira. Having a cavy friend does make a difference. It's something that we humans can't replace.

I think that 99% of the time it's not that the cavies won't get along with a friend, it's that we're not willing to try very hard with them. Like I said before, there will be that odd exception to the rule... but I'd rather try too hard than not hard enough.

[Teebers]

That's a great anecdote, Merry.

[samnbud]

Isnt Merry always the best? Try, try, and try again!

[Merry]

Getting a little off-topic, are we? Thanks, though!

[samnbud]

No I wasnt I was telling her to keep trying and to not give up!! LOL And I happened to throw in a complement!

[Marg]

Samnbud yet again thank you for all your help. I would be able to provide as much care as needed. Also I don't have the guinea pig yet so I can't answer some of your questions.

[vegan]

There always the ones that prefer to live by themselves, those are the rare exceptions.. other than that guinea pigs are social animals who thrive on each others company, so they really should live with another guinea pig friend.