SINGLE, COUPLE OR FUNCTIONAL COMPANIONSHIP

Guinea pigs, in general, feel well when they are not alone. Therefore you should think about buying two animals at the beginning. This doesn't necessarily mean two cavies, a rabbit can also be considered as a good companion, too.

If you decide to do so, you shouldn't just put two animals together in the cage, but, if possible, take two animals who have known each other already from either birth or from the pet shop. In a pet shop there will for sure be a possibility to watch the animals for a while.

But as I said before, there's always the risk, that the animals start to fight later on and therefore have to be separated.
There's never ever a guaranty for that! Even familiar relationship doesn't change that fact.

Deciding for a couple makes the probability higher, that the animals get well with each other, but on the other side you will have offspring quite fast. Asking me, I would warmly recommend every owner of a guinea pig couple to let them have babies at least one time before thinking about a castration or  spaying. It's a tremendous experience to watch those little "dwarfs" grow up so fast. And I'm sure, in everybody's circle of family and friends are people who would love to care for youngsters.