I really want to get guinea pigs, but is it important to have 2+? I feel like my parents might say no if I asked for more than one.
Hi! Unfortunately, companionship is REALLY important for guinea pigs. Sadly Switzerland is after 15 years still the only country where is forbidden by law to keep and sell group animals as singles.
If your parents do not consent to keeping two guinea pigs, then please research for solitary pet species and wait until you are able to give any social pets what they need. This is for your own sake as well as your pets because you will always have that feeling of having betrayed your beloved pet by withholding the single most important thing in its life.
Even nearly 50 years on, I do feel guilty for not pushing more strongly as a child with my mother and our neighbour to allow me to keep our single and their bereaved boar together as a pair since they did get on really well during lawn time and always ended up squeezed up tightly in the smallest hut because of their desperate need. It has started my interest in social behaviour and trying to see things from the perspective of a guinea pig, not just a from that of a human and their human desires. it was then that I vowed to myself to never deny any pet of mine the right to companionship and enough space. I went about two decades without piggies for the simple reason that I could not give them the life I wanted them to have in a small inner city flat. Anyway, I have made up big time since with building up and running a large group when conditions were finally right... and in all honesty, I appreciate and enjoy my piggies a lot more because I had to wait for having them for so longagain.
Times are thankfully changing, but you can do that only mind by single mind; and it is a rather slow and gradual process. The older generation has sadly very often not made that chance in attitude (especially when not being pet keepers themselves) and that is the reason why so many teenagers run into trouble over that point.
Don't fear, you have the stuff to make a good pet owner and a responsible parent once you can take control over your own life!
In the meantime stick to small pets like solitary hamsters (all other pet rodents and rabbits, including rats, are social group animals), learn about pets and their welfare needs, support rescues (you do not have to be local for that) and save up for a vet fund so you can afford the necessary vet care whenever needed. That is the next big sticking point when you are still a dependent; and it can be a heart-breaking experience that will put a huge strain on the whole family.