Where to get a ginea pig? From a shop or privately?

Adopt a pair from a guinea pig rescue or you can find them in shelters as well. This varies by your location, but check first! See www.petharbor.com and www.petfinder.com to see if there are guinea pigs up for adoption near you. You can also check private listings to see if there are people near you giving up their pet guinea pigs that they can no longer keep. If the above aren't an option due to your location (keep in mind transports can often be worked out), try finding a reputable breeder. I wouldn't recommend pet shops simply because most have no clue how to care for guinea pigs (breeders often aren't great either on care though, unfortunately). But more than that, because pet shops (especially large chain stores), get their guinea pigs from pet mills. Price shouldn't be your main factor. If you're worried about the cost, you should get another type of pet. Ways to cut cost would be to build your own cage (see www.guineapigcages.com) and to buy hay in bulk at a feed store instead of in tiny pet store bags. But vet bills can get high. So be prepared. I'd recommend reading www.guinealynx.info for guinea pig care information so that you're informed before you adopt or buy.