How Many Guinea Pigs Can Live Together? (Find Out Now)

Guinea pigs are small, cute, and cuddly pets that everyone will fall in love with. Often, piggie parents are tempted to keep taking in more piggies. So, you might wonder, how many guinea pigs can live together? 

As a rule of thumb, anywhere from 2 to 8 guinea pigs can live together as long as they have enough space, there’s a good pairing of personalities and gender, and you’re able to provide them with the proper care. In general, it is best to err on the side of caution and start with 2 guinea pigs that you can properly care for.

Guinea pigs are very delicate and sensitive animals. They require your attention and care. So, it’s important to pick a number you are comfortable keeping and can provide for.  

Read on to find out how many guinea pigs you should keep and what pairings you should choose.  

How Many Guinea Pigs Can Live Together? 

A general rule of thumb is that 2 to 8 guinea pigs can live together comfortably.  However, it’s important to consider the gender, personalities, and the type of habitat and space you have available when deciding how many guinea pigs can live together in your home. 

The thing is, with guinea pigs, it’s not just about the number. It’s a bit more complicated than that. There are several factors to consider that will tell you what number of piggies to get.  

Before you decide on the number of piggies you want to get, first you should consider:

• Gender 
• Individual characteristics / personalities
• Type of habitat you have 
• The care you can provide

1. Gender 

Guinea pig pairings are very dependent on the gender of the piggies. The female guinea pigs (sows) and the male guinea pigs (boars) have very specific ways of matching. Which one do you want? The boars or the sows? Or both? 

Sows tend to be less temperamental and more likely to get along with other piggies – at least earlier on. Boars on the other hand can be quite peaceful unless they’re in adolescence or in the presence of a female guinea pig.  

Here are important details to consider in terms of the sex of piggies: 

• If sows and boars are kept together, at least one should be neutered to avoid reproduction. 
• Boars are slightly more likely than sows to stop getting along and fight each other – especially during their adolescence
• Both sows and boars make great pets. Boars are surprisingly cuddly and very loveable.  

2. Individual Personalities and Characteristics   

Aside from gender, you should also consider the individual characteristics of each guinea pig.

No two guinea pigs are exactly alike, and that’s certainly true when it comes to their personalities. Some guinea pigs are confident and outgoing, while others are shy and timid.

As a result, the question of how many guinea pigs you can put together depends largely on the individual personalities and characteristics of the animals in question.

In general, it’s best to start with just a pair of guinea pigs – let them bond together well. Once they’ve formed a strong bond and are comfortable with each other, you can consider

The important thing is to take things slowly and let the guinea pigs set the pace. By giving them time to adjust, you can help ensure that everyone ends up happy and healthy.

3. How Much Space You Have

This is actually one of the most important things to consider. Guinea pigs need SPACE. Their enclosure should be as large as possible. If they’re crowded, they’re prone to:

• Respiratory diseases like pneumonia 
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) 
• Bumblefoot 
• Skin Infections 
• Fly Strikes  
• And stress…LOTS OF STRESS

Guinea pig habitats should be well ventilated. Great air circulation ensures that they don’t easily contract upper respiratory infections.  

The recommended height of enclosures for guinea pigs should be at least 12” high. And it’s recommended that you have a cage that’s at least 7.5 square feet for 1 guinea pig. The table below has specific measurements for guinea pig enclosures:

# of Guinea Pigs	Size Of Cage
1 piggie	10.5 square feet
2 piggies	10.5 square feet
3 piggies	13 square feet
4 piggies	16 square feet

4. Care That You Can Provide

Before you go out and get yourself a guinea pig or two, you should first consider if you’re able to provide the proper care for them.

Guinea pigs aren’t low-maintenance pets. They require a lot of time and effort, and you need to be prepared to put in the work.

Not sure if you can commit to taking PROPER care of guinea pigs? Ask yourself a number of questions:

• Do you have the time to spot clean their cage every day? To deep clean it at least once a week?
• Do you have the space to store their food and hay?
• Will you be able to take them to the vet for regular checkups?
• Can you set aside money for health emergencies?
• Do you have space to quarantine sick animals?
• Do you travel often? If so, who will be able to take care of your guinea pigs while you’re away?

Seriously consider your answer to these questions. And please be honest with yourself. If you’re not able to commit to taking proper care of guinea pigs, then it’s best not to get any at all.

Guinea Pig Grouping Tips

Typically, you want to start with just a pair of guinea pigs. Once they’ve formed a strong bond and are comfortable with each other, you can consider adding more.

Note: Adding a third male guinea pig to a bonded pair is risky. Those pairings tend to fall apart.

When keeping guinea pigs as pets, it’s important to provide them with companionship by putting them in groupings. The most common way to group guinea pigs is by gender. As you prepare to group your piggies, here’s  a few tips to help you out:

• Two boars or two sows are a great way to start.  Two guinea pigs will usually live together peacefully.  Most of the perfect matches are of the same sex. 
• The best option is usually two sisters or brothers from a litter.
• Mother/daughter and father/son pairs also make for great matches. This is because the relationship hierarchy is easier to establish.  
• Young boars go through a testosterone influx that triggers aggressiveness. So, pick two boars with a large age gap. This way, you won’t have two piggies going through adolescence at the same time.  
• A bigger age gap in boars also makes bonding much smoother since older boars are more (typically) receptive to baby boars. This is because they don’t feel threatened.  

A trio (3) is not recommended. One piggie is normally left out of the group. There are also cases of ganging up to bully one. There is a very low success rate of bonding in a trio, especially in the case of boars.  

A quad (4) tends to be a better match than three since they can pair in twos (it’s good for everyone to have a bestie, right?) There is also the fact that no one will be left out during cuddle time.  

You can comfortably keep six guinea pigs as long as you ensure that you match them well. Also, provide them with a large enclosure and plenty of food.  

So, there you have it, the odd numbers – not so much. Even numbers are the way to go.  

You don’t want to see those innocent-looking cuddly babies get aggressive and refuse to bond. They can get surprisingly vicious. 

Is It Better To Keep Guinea Pigs In Pairs? 

Yes, it’s better to keep guinea pigs in pairs. It’s not recommended to keep a lone guinea pig. They’re herd animals and feel safer and secure in the company of other piggies. Most guinea pigs are also prone to depression which will worsen if they’re alone.  

The sounds and smell of other guinea pigs help them calm down and function better.  

1. Companionship 

Guinea pigs require the company of other piggies. Their instincts will lead them to bond and form hierarchy relationships with other piggies for survival. They will play together, groom each other, share food and sleep together.  

They need companionship for both their physical and mental health.  

2. Less Picky Eating 

Just like how humans get a better appetite in the presence of others than alone, piggies are the same.

Your fur babies are less likely to develop eating disorders when living with other guinea pigs.  They’re also more likely to try new foods if they see their piggie friends trying them.

3. More Active 

Guinea pigs are more active in company than alone. Remember children in the playground? Running around like they’re in a pinball machine.

Yeah. It’s the same for guinea pigs. The company of other guinea pigs will encourage them to be more active. 

They will play around more with each other mainly through; 

• Nipping 
• Mounting 
• Chasing 
• Grooming 

What Types Of Guinea Pig Groupings Are There? 

There are several types of guinea pig groupings that depend on gender and the number of piggies in a group. These can be: 

• Neutered Males or Unneutered Males In Pairs  
• Neutered Male and One (Or More) Females 
• Female In Pairs Or Small Groups  

Guinea pig groupings need to consider the gender of the piggies. This is because guinea pigs are hierarchical in nature. They’re usually in herds of a single male with several female piggies.  

The pairings need to take into account their natural instincts for it to work.  Below are examples of groupings of guinea pigs.

1. Neutered Males or Unneutered Males In Pairs  

Males can be kept in pairs neutered or unneutered. However, it’s advisable to have them sexed since it calms down their adolescent hormones. The rise of testosterone tends to cause fighting in these male pairs. It can lead to serious injuries and the drawing of blood.  

For male pairs, it’s better to keep a younger male with an older male. This way only one will be undergoing hormonal changes.  

2. Neutered Male and One (Or More) Females 

If a male is to be grouped with females, it either has to be neutered or the females are neutered. Guinea pig pregnancies are very risky and often lead to death. A neutered male can actually be paired with one female or even two or three. It has been noted that female piggies tend to be calmer in the presence of a male piggie.  

3. Female In Pairs Or Small Groups  

Sows or female guinea pigs are much friendlier compared to their male counterparts. They can get along better with each other. They can be kept in pairs or groups. In each case, there will be one guinea pig who is dominant while the other/s are submissive.  

Watch this video to find out more about guinea pig pairings and the best matches.  

How Many Guinea Pigs Are Too Many? 

For an individual person, 8 guinea pigs should be the maximum number to keep. Any more than 8 might lead to neglect as you might not give enough attention to them. 

However, the number can also depend on the resources you have. How many guinea pigs can you support? The factors to consider for this are;

• The amount of space you have for their enclosure 
• The amount of food you can afford (mostly hay and vitamin C) 
• Vet visits (regular and emergency ones)

As pets, guinea pigs need adequate space, food, and entertainment. They also need care both from you as an owner and the veterinarian. So, consider all these before you decide on the number.  

Can 6 Male Guinea Pigs Live Together? 

Yes. 6 male guinea pigs can live together. The trick with boars is to make sure you balance out their personalities, that they have tons of space, and that you keep an even number of them.

So, match their temperaments and you will have a perfectly peaceful group of pets.

Oh, and space. Get the biggest cage you can find. Boars always need space. For peace and harmony.  Cramped boars are cranky boars. And cranky boars fight…A LOT.

Can 5 Male Guinea Pigs Live Together? 

No. 5 male guinea pigs can’t live together. This grouping will likely cause fights. Although there are cases where one boar might be dominant in the herd, it’s better to work with bonded pairs. 

So, this grouping might leave one out and cause fighting or bullying. 

Can 4 Male Guinea Pigs Live Together? 

Yes, 4 male guinea pigs can live together. As long as they’re matched based on their temperaments, it can work quite well. Here you can have two pairs who get along quite well. 

Add a large enclosure, and you are set for adorable fur babies for pets.  

Can 3 Male Guinea Pigs Live Together? 

There’s a slim chance that 3 male guinea pigs can live together, but a group of three typically doesn’t work. A trio is not an advisable pairing of guinea pigs. Guinea pigs bond as pairs and get territorial very easily. This grouping will lack balance. 

It will most likely cause fighting or even worse, bullying.  

Can 2 Male Guinea Pigs Live Together? 

Yes. 2 male guinea pigs can live together. This is a highly recommended pairing. Always pick your boars based on their personalities. If they match easily, the fight for domination is shorter and they bond fast. 

How Many Guinea Pigs Is Too Many? 

Typically, more than two guinea pigs is too many. For most people, taking care of more than two guinea pigs is just too much work and they end up neglecting them. Guinea pigs need a lot of attention, space, and care.

Just like any other pet, there’s no definitive answer to the question of how many guinea pigs is too many. It ultimately depends on the individual’s ability to provide care and attention to each animal.

For some people, two or three guinea pigs might be the perfect number, while others might find that they have the time and space to care for a larger group of 6 to 10.

There’s a few factors to consider when deciding how many guinea pigs is too many for you.

• Think about the size of your home and whether you have enough space to provide adequate housing for all of your cavies.
• Consider your lifestyle and whether you have the time to properly care for multiple guinea pigs.
• Factor in the cost of food and veterinary care, as well as any other supplies that you will need to purchase.

By taking all of these factors into consideration, you can make an informed decision about how many guinea pigs is too many for you. 

Things To Remember About Keeping Guinea Pigs 

They need an unlimited amount of hay. Piggies should always be chewing to keep their teeth ground. Ensure they always have hay with low calcium.

The bigger the cage, the better. Always give them a lot of space. 

You should keep at least two guinea pigs at a time. Piggies are herd animals. They don’t do well alone.

Always neuter your guinea pigs when you get them – especially if you plan on having a mixed gender group. There’s too many piggies in the shelter that need adopting, and pregnancy is risky for cavies. 

Same-sex pairings are advisable since it’s easier for them to bond. Select male/male or female/female pairings for an easier introduction.  

Since guinea pigs need hierarchy, pick pairings that can establish that faster. Such as old/young, big/small, feisty/quiet, father/son, or mother/daughter. 

Guinea pigs can inbreed. Don’t keep unneutered pairs of related guinea pigs together.