Friend for my Piggie

[Ferdypig]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum so I'm sorry if this kind of question has been answered before. I'm wondering about giving my piggie a friend. First I should probably give you a bit of background:
My piggie is called Ferdy. He's a male (I had a friend who's a veterinary nurse check this) and I've had him for about 18 months. I had hamsters before him but no other guineapigs. When I got him I had done a bit of research on the net and I really wanted two but when I went to the first petstore they only had one. He wasn't a tiny baby and he had been handled quite a bit by the shop owner so he was pretty tame. They told me they didn't know when they would get more in and that two males might fight anyway (which I know now is nonsense). So I went to another store which had 2 pigs (females) but they didn't look as healthy and they didn't seem to have been handled at all AND I couldn't stop thinking of the poor wee piggie on his own in the other shop so I went back and got him. He's absolutely adorable and seems pretty happy but I've always worried that he might get lonely. I'm out at work all day but I take him out for at least 3 hours every evening and play with him and let him run around the living room. He gets all exciting and starts popcorning when I play with him which I think is a good sign.
Anyway, I'll stop rambling and get to the point. Do you think I should introduce a friend to him? I read on this site that it's a good idea to introduce a young pig to an older one. Has anyone tried it? Am I being really cruel not giving him a friend?
Thanks

 

[Piglet]

Welcome!

Yes, you should definately get him a buddy. Guinea pigs thrive when they are in groups or pairs and I think you would see that change. Please adopt the buddy, and don't buy him from the pet store

 

[AngelsCavies]

Yeah you should start with a young baby cause older males has dominated their place first. I will be have 4 new babies introduced to my 3 males sometime next week. But once a day I take one baby male out to meet with the 3 males.

 

[Ferdypig]

Thanks Angelscavies and Piglet.

Piglet - after reading this site I'm definitely going to try the shelters.

Angelscavies - do your older males take to the baby OK or does it take a while?

 

[AngelsCavies]

Well I know Prince is ok with babies. I take the baby boys over to his cage everyday so he can meet with them and be comfortable with them and they all seem to like it. Also Prince is the boss of the boys cage so the other 2 who is only 2 months and prince had no problems with the other 2 when they came in. It may take time for some males. some has been around babies and some hasnt.