finding another cavy friend

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi
I recently got a young unneutered male cavy, and i was thinking about finding him a friend. I am gone during the day and thought another cavy would be a good idea so they could keep each other company while im gone. I found another very sweet young unneutered male and i was thinking about getting him. I have researched on the internet and found most sites say two males arent always the best together, but if introduced slowly they could become good friends. What is your opinion on this? If I do get the other male i would have to wait until summer to take him home.

Any info. is much appreciated

Nadalie
  
Answer -
Hi Nadalie,

What age is your current piggy and the one you are thinking of getting? Guinea pigs go through puberty at 4-9 months of age. An older boar (1 year plus) and a boar under 6 months of age usually get along best since only one goes through puberty; this partnership has more success than two boars who are the same age.

One of the main concerns about boar partnerships is the potential of fights. Housing which is too small is a major factor of fights breaking out; the risk of the boys fighting can be reduced by keeping them in a large space and putting food dishes, hay piles and hideys on opposite sides of the cage. http://www.cavycages.com is one of the best piggy cage websites around these days.

When you bring your new pig home, the first step is to quarantine the new cavy for 3 weeks. This way any illnesses the new pig has can be spotted before exposing the new guinea to your other one (thus making the other one sick). It also allows time for the new pig to adjust to the new environment, people and routine without the added stress of immediately having to cope with another pig.

The way you introduce them is an important factor of how their relationship will develop. You must introduce them on neutral ground - an empty bathtub lined with towels or blankets makes a good starting point, as does putting them outdoors in a secure enclosure on the grass. Rumblestrutting (rumbling noise and butt-swaying), nipping, chasing, mounting (regardless of the gender mix) and mild teeth chattering are all very normal dominance behaviours and are no immediate cause for concern.

If they start biting (puncturing the skin), snorting, lunging with the mouth open, yawning (showing teeth) or circling each other, get a small towel and be ready to throw it over them to stop the progression of a fight. If blood is drawn, one pig is injured (more than just a scratch), one pig won't let the other move/rest/eat without trying to fight, or if a ball-of-fur fight breaks out, throw the towel on them, pick up one pig with the towel over him (the wounded pig ideally), treat any injuries and leave it for a few weeks. Keep them in a divided cage so they can see, hear, smell and touch each other but not do any harm. When they start ignoring each other most of the time (just the occasional rumblestrut, teeth chatter etc) try the introductions again - on neutral territoy.

Put aside a full day each time you introduce them since it is essential you supervise them until you are totally happy with their relationship.

When they eventually get along on neutral ground, clean their cage thoroughly. Clean all plastic toys, hideys, food dishes, water bottles in hot soapy water to neutralise them. Any wooden toys must be taken out of the room until you know they get along in the cage.

Sometimes, boars just won't get along. If this is the case, they will be fine just living in the same room; they have the company - it's just not immediate company. They still know there is someone else who speaks their language, they just can't get to them and do any harm.

Good luck.

- Laura


HI,
 One more question, When I got my first guinea pig (the unneutered male)the people I got him from said he was "young" They were guessing a couple months. I have now had him for two months. If i wait until late July to get the other cavy do you think it would work? The other cavy would probably be a couple months.

Thank you VERY much for all the information!

Nadalie

Answer
For now I would watch your guinea for any hormonal behaviour - lots of rumblestrutting, mounting toys, a bit 'stroppy' - and see how the testicles grow. By about 10 months to one year old his 'boy bits' should be very obvious! Younger pigs usually just have a donut shape in the genital area rather than the full package. If he is hormonal and his 'boy bits' grow visibly then he is going through puberty and is at least 4 months old.

Roughly what size would you say your boar was when you first got him? Guineas usually fit snugly in one hand between 6 and 10 weeks old. If he was about this size or just a little bigger, by late July he would probably be about 7 or 8 months old. It's hard to say for sure since it is difficult to determine a pigs age if you're not given any specific guidelines.

I think it is worth getting the young boar and see how they get along. It is risky but it might just work. Another idea, since your current boar would likely be reaching the end of puberty, is to adopt an older boar from a rescue or shelter. You will often find lone boars aged 1+ in rescues and shelters who will gladly accept the company of a younger pig. Either idea is worth a try, but to be honest I would be more inclined to search rescues for older boars first. I can see less risk in doing that.

Hope I could help. Guinea pigs can be mysterious creatures when they want to be!

- Laura