Welcome to the forum! This is a great place to get your info about guinea pigs.
First of all,
definitely get 2 (make sure they're the same gender, as pregnancies are very dangerous for guinea pigs) since guinea pigs are social herd animals and do much better with a friend. And always
adopt from a shelter or rescue, never a pet store! Pet store pigs often have medical issues, which can range from mites to pregnancy, and buying from a pet store promotes selling of live animals which are often kept and bred in bad conditions.
1. I don't know exactly, but they're not cheap. Always remember that guinea pigs can also have really
expensive vet bills, so you would need to be prepared to spend a lot on them.
2. You don't really need vitamin C tablets as long as your pigs have high-quality plain pellets with stabilized vitamin C, and appropriate amounts of fresh vegetables every day. Guinea pigs always need
unlimited high quality grass hay available, 24/7! It is
essential to their digestive systems and helps keep their teeth trimmed. They also need a
cup of veggies per pig, per day: such as romaine or leaf lettuce, bell pepper, small amounts of carrot, etc.
3. Noise level vary from pig to pig. Mine only really makes a ton of noise when she thinks she's getting her veggies, but some guinea pigs might be louder.
Some other things you should know:
•They need at least
7.5 square feet of cage space for one pig, and 2 more square feet for each additional pig. Pet store cages are almost always way to small for even one guinea pig! Do them a favor and build a C&C cage. Did you say they would live
under your bed? I'm sorry, but that is a terrible place to keep guinea pigs.
•
Never use cedar bedding, as it contains phenols which are risky to their sensitive respiratory systems. Also avoid pine bedding unless it says that it's kiln-dried.
•They need a
knowledgeable vet who specializes in exotics, and you need to find a good vet before you need one, as guinea pigs can go downhill very fast.
•They are
not low-maintenance pets! Please don't get guinea pigs thinking they'll be easy and inexpensive to take care of.
Guinea pigs are wonderful pets, but they're not for everyone. If you think you are capable of taking great care of them, go for it!