Introducing a Female to a Male

Question
I have a 3yr old male guinea who had a male friend but died when they were 1yr. We tried replacing it , with male, but it didn't work so we kept them separated. The replace then died 2yrs later so we just have 1 male left. We would like to introduce a female now, we don't want babies though. If so what age should the female be, will they get along, shall we have them neutered? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Mel.  I would strongly recommend you not consider getting a female guinea pig.  The reason i say this is because it would mean serious operations to neuter.  It would be your male that would be castrated and should complications arise, which they do, you could end up losing your boy.  I don't think this is something you would really like to happen as i can tell you care for your pig.
Introducing new pigs can work well if done slowly and in the right way.  I would recommend you look to see if there are any baby males about that need rehoming.  Young pigs below 6 months are the best age of male to get as dominance factors aren't so much an issue then.  Older pigs can enjoy younger pigs being around and it can liven them up.  If you find a suitable young male, introduce the pair on neutral ground, like on a floor where your pig has not been before, so they can happily sniff and check eachother out.  After a time, put the pair into a freshly cleaned out cage and see how they settle together.
I hope this helps you!

Becky
www.cavycapers.com