intriducing two male gps

Question
"Hi!

We adopted our first guinea pig two months ago (Cosmo), and two days ago we adopted another piggie (Orlando).  Both are young males.  We are keeping them separated for a "quarantine" period...but how long do you suggest we wait before introducing them?  We are getting a little concerned because Orlando seems exceptionally timid, he does not come out of his house and he has not eaten (that we can tell) since we brought him home.  Tonight they were both outside in large, separate cages next to each other. It was only when Cosmo came to the side of the cage and "whistled" that Orlando moved at all.  He did sample a blade of grass, but that was it.  My feeling is that the sooner we can introduce and house them together, the sooner Orlando will relax and learn that it is safe to be active again.  But I also don't want to rush the process....any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks very, very much!


Answer
We adopted our first guinea pig two months ago (Cosmo), and two days ago we adopted another piggie (Orlando) <They love to be in pairs>.  Both are young males.  We are keeping them separated for a "quarantine" period <Good Idea, You wouldn't want to give cosmo an unknown disease>...but how long do you suggest we wait before introducing them <A Month or So>?  We are getting a little concerned because Orlando seems exceptionally timid <Common for a new guinea pig, my new pig was cowering the in the house for almost 3 weeks>, he does not come out of his house and he has not eaten (that we can tell) since we brought him <Why don't you try giving him 30 pellets, then leave him alone for a couple of hours, then come back and  count the pellets home.  Tonight they were both outside in large, separate cages next to each other. It was only when Cosmo came to the side of the cage and "whistled" that Orlando moved at all.  He did sample a blade of grass, but that was it.  My feeling is that the sooner we can introduce and house them together, the sooner Orlando will relax and learn that it is safe to be active again.  But I also don't want to rush the process....any thoughts or suggestions?

<I would wait one month, introducing them for a half hour, progressively to an hour, every couple of days. If there is any signs of fighting (other than establishing dominance, which makes it look like they are mating) then restart at the beginning. This will get them accustomed to eachother. Then you can switch their cages so that orlando is in cosmo's cage and vice versa. That will also get them accustomed to. After the month, You can put them in the same area and just make sure to watch for any fighting>

<John Kliewer>