If you happen to’re trying to undertake guinea pigs, you could have heard that they’re herd animals. This will depart you questioning: what number of guinea pigs must you get?
As a newbie, a bonded pair of guinea pigs is the proper match! You can additionally go for a trio in case you’d like three, however you need to probably keep away from having 4 or extra till you could have the expertise to know that you may take care of them correctly. Don’t undertake a single guinea pig except you intend to bond them with one other guinea pig shortly.
On this article, we’ll talk about what it’s prefer to undertake pairs, trios, and herds of guinea pigs that will help you resolve what number of piggies are best for you.
Can You Hold a Solo Guinea Pig?
Guinea pigs are herd animals. Within the wild, they dwell in massive teams consisting of a boar and lots of sows. Protecting a solo guinea pig is just not moral.
People can not meet all of a guinea pig’s social wants. Similar to we have to speak to different people, they want different guinea pigs to maintain them firm!
Solo guinea pigs grow to be careworn and should develop despair. They need to solely be stored alone of their cage in the event that they’ve had many failed bondings with different guinea pigs. Even then, they shouldn’t be the one guinea pig in your family! They need to be stored side-by-side with one other pair or group of guinea pigs in order that they’ll socialize safely. This has been proven to cut back stress in single piggies.
Can Guinea Pigs Reside With Different Animals?
Like people, different animals similar to rabbits can not meet a guinea pig’s social wants. It’s additionally harmful to maintain guinea pigs with different pets.
Rabbits, cats, and canines might be asymptomatic carriers of Bordetella, which is without doubt one of the main causes of upper respiratory infections in guinea pigs. URIs might be lethal, particularly in the event that they’re not handled promptly.
These animals may also damage guinea pigs. Canines and cats might even see them as prey, and even damage them by mistake whereas attempting to play. Rabbits typically bully guinea pigs and their robust kicks could cause accidents.
Protecting Two Guinea Pigs
Guinea pig pairs can encompass two males, two females, or a neutered male and a feminine. A spayed feminine and a male are additionally superb, however this isn’t typical since spays are extra dangerous than neuters.
Most individuals start with two guinea pigs, and it’s start line in case you’re uncertain of what number of you’d prefer to undertake. You possibly can all the time undertake extra sooner or later in case you resolve to!
The minimal cage dimension for 2 guinea pigs is 7.5 sq. ft, however the superb cage dimension is 10.5 sq. ft or extra. Larger is all the time higher, and males typically require more room to maintain their bond intact.
Protecting Three Guinea Pigs
Guinea pig trios can encompass three females or one neutered male with two females.
Male guinea pig trios not often work out. They want a ton of area and all the boys have to be extremely docile.
Two males will very probably struggle over a feminine, so that is additionally not match!
Guinea pig trios require not less than 10.5 sq. ft, and ideally 13 sq. ft or extra.
Protecting 4 Guinea Pigs
After getting 4 guinea pigs, it’s formally a herd! Like trios, herds can encompass all females or one neutered male and a number of other females.
Protecting 4 guinea pigs is plenty of work and might be costly. Ensure you have not less than 13 sq. ft for his or her cage (however ideally 15 sq. ft or extra), are prepared to scrub up plenty of poop, and might afford vet payments if all of them get sick.
If that is your first time caring for guinea pigs, I strongly advise beginning with two or three first.
Protecting 5 or Extra Guinea Pigs
Herds of 5 or extra piggies aren’t for most individuals. They’re messy, costly, and take up plenty of area in your house–not less than 16-19 sq. ft, to be precise!
Do not forget that even in case you can sustain with their day-to-day wants, veterinary bills add up shortly, particularly as your piggies age. My guinea pig, Child, wanted remedy for the final 12 months of his life, which was a month-to-month expense. Whereas I used to be lucky to not run into surgical procedures or emergency vet visits, these can simply value over $500.
This isn’t to discourage you from adopting a big herd in case you’re keen about guinea pigs and might take care of them proper! Simply do not forget that it’s a giant dedication to maintain this many, and the choice shouldn’t be taken flippantly.
Bonding Guinea Pigs
You possibly can’t simply convey a brand new guinea pig dwelling and put them into your resident piggy’s cage, as it will typically finish in preventing between the 2! It’s essential to learn to bond your guinea pigs, beginning with a impartial territory.
This needs to be someplace they haven’t been earlier than with both new or cleaned gadgets, so neither of their scents are within the space. This reduces the possibilities of them getting territorial.
You’ll wish to keep away from hides at first and depart solely a hay pile within the heart of the bonding space. When you’re comfy with how they’re getting alongside, you’ll be able to add double-entrance hides similar to tunnels.
Study bonding habits earlier than introducing your piggies to 1 one other as effectively. Humping, rumble strutting, and a little bit of chasing are all regular. “Tornadoes” the place they assault one another whereas spinning are usually not, and needs to be damaged up. Ensure you put on an oven mitt or hold an merchandise readily available to get between them so that you don’t get bitten by mistake!
In case your guinea pigs draw blood, it’s time to finish the bond.
Conclusion – How Many Guinea Pigs Are Proper for You?
Whereas it is dependent upon the particular person, most individuals ought to begin their guinea pig care journey by adopting two to a few guinea pigs. Any greater than this may be overwhelming for a newbie!
When you’ve got the area, time, and funds to take care of extra piggies, it’s by no means flawed to undertake extra down the road. Simply do not forget that caring for a big herd is sort of a full-time job, and never doable for most individuals.
It’s additionally essential to do not forget that you don’t essentially want the utmost quantity of guinea pigs that may slot in your area. It’s higher to have a cage that effectively exceeds the minimal and provides your piggies loads of room to run round and popcorn to their hearts’ content material!
