Can my guinea pig stay by himself?

[toastedmarshmallow]

Just that really. We've had him for about 3 months, he was a adopted piggy from pets at home. They said he would be fine by himself as that was what he was used to. I've been wondering if he would prefer a friend.

He seems happy (not that I'm a gp expert), he has lots of attention and cuddles. The only behaviour he has that is a bit odd is that he sometimes runs around his hutch or run in a crazy way.

If he does need a friend what is the best way to go about it? He isn't neutered yet but I'm happy to do that if needed. Do I get a gp about the same age or size?

He's about 7 months old now if that makes any difference.

He'll be fine on his own I used to have two piggies but one sadly passed away and my old girl lived happily to a ripe old age on her own. They do like running around wildly every now and again just like dogs, rabbits, etc.

I'm not clued up about guinea pigs, but we had 2 and one died. Only 4 months old. All stuff on the internet says they are sociable animals so we're going to go to a guinea pig rescue to match him up with a friend.

they should live in pairs. you could get another of the same sex from the store. or one would need to be neutered if they werent the same sex. try guineapig rescue perhaps?

he would be fine by himself because that's what he was used to - yet in P@H they have signs up about guinea-pigs like to be in company

Some -very few- guineas are social misfits that don't like the company of others but they are rare sorts with behaviour difficulties.

Choices: if you want to get him a pig friend, there's the option of a baby boar (you'd need to get a young piglet. Some sites recommend a 4 week , newly weaned. I bought GP3 from a rescue when he was 6 weeks old. Our GP1 had lost his brother so he was desperate for piggie company. He had never been alone)
You need to introduce them, let your pig 'pick' the one he wants. Make sure they have enough space ( most Pet Shop hutches aren't big enough TBH)

If you neuter (I've just had our GP3 boar neutered) you need to find a vet that does a good number of small animal castrations (common in rabbits, not piggies)
Your boy is a good age, there's a minimum weight (not an issue with GP3).
We got him two sows from rescue when GP1 died but they are separate until he's sterile. He can chat to them.

I have no guarentee that the match up will go smoothly. I've got to introduce them properly (neutral ground and he's going to try and bonk them. That's why we didn't get him a boar piglet )

If the worst happens, you might end up with two pigs side-by-side. But at least they'd have a pig to chat to.

My boy is side-by-side with his sows. There are many hours in the day that we're not here. He's never been alone apart from 6 days when GP1 died.
He has really picked up with having company again.

Your boy is still young, it's not good advice ( P@H ) to keep them alone.
Phone a Rescue and they might agree to boar match him for you.
But read all the boar threads first
Boars are Love Sponges

can I ask as you are so knowledgeable, my female piggy lost her (same sex) mate a couple of months ago but she is 4 years old. is she too old for another mate?

Hi R4 - it's not really a question of if they are too old, it's the fact you'll have a rolling stock of guineas.
fortifiedwithtea had a 'mature' boar left alone after his brother died, she side-by-sided him with two sows (he was too risky for surgery I'm guessing) but when he died she had two sows, then one, now three

We have one boar and two sows, all about the same age, (he was one when we got the girls) waiting to have their Official Bonding when he's sterile,

Sows can be quite set in their ways though (we've had boars the past few years, I'd had sows as a child, some mix okay, others not). I've had a house pig that was the last of 4 sows, she lived about a year after being alone, but she was free range indoors so made sure she was the centre of attention

If you wanted to carry on with pigs, you could get a couple of younger ones perhaps? Maybe two sisters?

Thanks for all the advice seems like the majority opinion is for a friend. UK have to find put of there its a local rescue place. There are 2 girl gps to appt at pets at home at the mi but I don't think our hutch is big enough. it's the dandelion fern one from pets at home as well.

So many typos sorry can't preview properly on my phone!