Just one guinea pig?

[SweetnessAndBlight]

In my childhood (50 odd years ago), I kept Abyssinian guinea pigs outside, 3 females so they could snuggle up together and be warm.
Fast forward to now and I have a rescue guinea pig, male with a palace of a home.
May I ask, would you get a second guinea pig for friendship and warmth?
I know it wouldn't be plain sailing.
One of them would have to be neutered.
I want what's best for him, this little thing who depends on me.
Please help if you can.

Definitely get another, they get lonely. You could get a young male so no neutering. A local shelter will probably be able to help you with “dating”.

Hi OP
guinea pubs are really social and should never be kept alone, boys can get along just fine together without being neutered
If you take him along to a rescue they will help bond him with another before you bring them home.

*pigs

How old is he?
It's best to keep them indoors.
Yes they are much happier with a friend. A younger baby male will probably be best so he doesn't feel he's be challenged.
They are social creatures and love to chatter together and play.

As others said you need to get him a friend asap. They are social creatures and can suffer being alone. In some countries it is illegal to own a single one.
Contact local rescues who could advise on a male your pig could be paired with. Depending on his age a younger male would be best. Neutering pigs can be a dangerous procedure.

We have a very elderly female who's friend died last year. Had always had pairs due to their sociability. Vet advised we play it by ear regarding getting her a new friend as she was old and a younger piggy might stress her out. However if she got stressed by being alone, then look at getting her an older friend via a rescue.

She's actually thrived on her own, is happy and healthy and about 5.5 now. So while no, it's not advised to keep guinea pigs on their own, in certain circumstances and with lots of human interaction, and a bit of extra care when it's very cold, they are perfectly happy to be so.

We still have Millie who is now 7 years, 3 months. Her last friend died 18 months ago and she wouldn't bond with a new friend from the local rescue once they were both in Millie's hutch and new friend had to be returned. Sometimes they are just too old and set in their ways to accept a new friend.

OP if your piggy is young I would try to find him a friend. Millie is proof they can live a long time.

7 @fortifiedwithtea!!!! That's brilliant. Our previous girl lived to 6.5 and we were proud of that. Millie must be a very happy lady!

Thanks for replying. He's one and very friendly. The rescue centres I've found online are in far cities - he's in London. Are there any in or near London which I've missed?
I wouldn't have thought of a younger male. Good thinking!

Absolutely they need a friend, I had one originally and soon added more and they are so much happier in a group x

Try your local RSPCA. My last rescue pig was from there -she's lovely. Also Blue Cross have a wide range of animals available

The Ark Guinea Rescue in Bromley
Palace piggie Rescue in Crawley
Hounslow Animal Welfare Society

All the above have pigs available

I travelled 1.5 hours to get my Gingerpig and about an hour to get Madampig. Admittedly those journeys were lovely country drives not trying to cross London!

FernieB, thanks for the info!
Will let you know how my little piggie and I get on.
Thank you.

We matched our older, grumpy bereaved boar with a gorgeous little baby boar - they got on really well like a wise uncle/playful nephew

Pictures or it didn't happen!!

I love guinea pigs. Definitely get a friend

Has your boar always lived alone or did he have company before you got him? Did the previous owners try to match him ?

A baby boar would be the easiest to match him up with, but you'll need to keep a close eye on the dynamics of the relationship when the piglet gets to his teens and thinks "HaHa , I could be AlphaPig here..."

Plenty of room for boars and some "Get Out of My Face Space"

Or you could have him neutered and get some females but take on board the risks in surgery , (and they are not 10% guarenteed to get on ...glares at my GP5 who doesn;t like our neutered boar)

100% not 10% Hairy Trucker Hands

I took a single female who was left over and found she was a he. Anyway I found him another male friend they were great mates when they were little would cry for each other when one was taken for handling . As they grew up would just fight in the end had to be separated

It can take a couple of tries to find suitable personalities, especially in boars! I would try find a good rescue who is willing to bond for you.

Pigs are never happier on their own, not ever. Sometimes it's just a small case of a personality clash and need to retry with a different pigs, which is when rescues are handy rather than buying from a pet shop where you can not return.

Your boy is 1 so not quite into the chilled adulthood stage yet, 2 boars will need plenty of space 2 bowls, 2 bottles and 2 hides so they can get away from each other if they need too.

I've successfully bonded a few males but it can take a few tries, and plenty of time. I'd recommend buying a temp home for the newcomer if you plan on bonding at home whilst they get to know each other.

Neutering pigs have no changes on their personalities at all so wouldn't bother with the expense / upset of that unless you want to give him a wife or two!

Please don't believe he will ever be happier alone, it's never the case they are such herd animals a life with only human interaction is a lonely life for a piggy!

Our older boar recently lay good buddy. He's 2 so we got him a baby boar. They've been together 3 weeks now and are great together.