Guinea pigs are herbivores, and in their natural habitat, they live in herds. They communicate with each other through sounds and body movements. Guinea pigs need to live in stable social groups. Social interaction with other guinea pigs is beneficial to their health and welfare. The lack of this interaction is stressful and detrimental. When deprived of company, solitary guinea pigs become lonely, bored and depressed. They will start eating and drinking less and sleeping more. Your guinea pig’s health will rapidly deteriorate.
No matter how loving and committed you are to your pet guinea pig, you can never pay him as much attention as or fill the social void of another guinea pig. If you are thinking of keeping a guinea pig, remember that they do best with the companionship of another pig. The safest option would be to get a pig of the same sex, so the pair will not start breeding. When you get another guinea pig, gradually and cautiously introduce them, these interactions sometimes become aggressive, especially between females.