A New Guinea Pig

[Guinea10]

Hey, so I've had a sow living by herself since July and she's 7 months. I want to get another baby female and I'm going to put the baby in a separate cage for 2 weeks (because of the quarantine period). I want to know if it's ok to move my 7 month pig into the cage that the baby will be in (it will be a bigger cage by the way). Obviously I will ensure they get along first, but I'm worried that my older guinea pig may get stressed in a new foreign cage with a new baby guinea pig.

 

[Wiebke]

Hey, so I've had a sow living by herself since July and she's 7 months. I want to get another baby female and I'm going to put the baby in a separate cage for 2 weeks (because of the quarantine period). I want to know if it's ok to move my 7 month pig into the cage that the baby will be in (it will be a bigger cage by the way). Obviously I will ensure they get along first, but I'm worried that my older guinea pig may get stressed in a new foreign cage with a new baby guinea pig.

Hi and welcome

If you get a baby, please waive the quarantine. The need for company is overwheening in youngsters so that the stress of being alone can be worse than the risk of illness (and can help to promote the latter). Just as long as you are braced that you will need to treat both if there is an issue with skin parasites or ringworm.

It will also make intros easier as you can stage them in the new cage, which neutral ground for both.

 

[Guinea10]

Hi and welcome

If you get a baby, please waive the quarantine. The need for company is overwheening in youngsters so that the stress of being alone can be worse than the risk of illness (and can help to promote the latter). Just as long as you are braced that you will need to treat both if there is an issue with skin parasites or ringworm.

It will also make intros easier as you can stage them in the new cage, which neutral ground for both.

How likely is it that there will be an issue with parasites or ringworm?

 

[Guinea10]

So, is it ok if I introduce them and put them together in a neutral cage immediately?

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I didn't quarantine Steve when I got him and just put him in a neutral space with Mo straight away because of how young he was.

 

[Swissgreys]

How likely is it that there will be an issue with parasites or ringworm?

It depends a lot on where the new piggy comes from really.
A lot of pet shops have problems with disease due to the constant turnover of piggies, often from less than ideal conditions.
But if you do get a piggy from a pet shop and it has health issues the pet shop should cover the cost of any treatment required.

And it is fine to introduce the girls in a neutral area and then once they are getting on put them back into a new cage together.
This thread offers a really good explanation of the process:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs

 

[Guinea10]

I didn't quarantine Steve when I got him and just put him in a neutral space with Mo straight away because of how young he was.

My one will probably be about 3 months, is that young enough?

 

[Jesse's pigs]

My one will probably be about 3 months, is that young enough?

My Steve was 5/6 weeks old when I bought him home and he was tiny. As said above where did you get the new arrival? If you know where it was kept ect then you can take the risk of introducing now.

 

[Guinea10]

My Steve was 5/6 weeks old when I bought him home and he was tiny. As said above where did you get the new arrival? If you know where it was kept ect then you can take the risk of introducing now.

I found out today that the new arrival will be 4 months old (and from a pet shop). Hopefully the introduction will be ok, especially because my 7 month old guinea pig has been alone for most her life.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I found out today that the new arrival will be 4 months old (and from a pet shop). Hopefully the introduction will be ok, especially because my 7 month old guinea pig has been alone for most her life.

Try not to stress about it! I was the same as you- Mo (the ginger piggy) had been alone for around a year before I brought Steve home. Mainly because he had a health scare and the first friend I had for him sadly passed away. I introduced them straight away (first time binding it was a bit scary) and luckily Mo accepted Steve with open arms! I'm going to tag two threads that may help you- the first thread is when I bought Steve home and the second shows you what I saw.

Remember that during binding you should expect to see:
1- mounting
2- rumbling
3- potentially nipping or raising their heads
4- chasing
5- noise!

Please try not to separate unless there is blood drawn or you feel a piggy will come to harm. Remember to do the introductions in a neutral space with a nice pile of veg.

Both my boys are from a breeder who lives locally and I took a risk introducing them straight away instead of waiting and luckily nothing happened. I did trust the man whom had raised them seeing as all my pigs (Vinnie,Mo and Steve) are from him. I have known people who gave got their guinea pigs from such places as Pets At home and introduced them straight away so if you feel she is healthy then you can start bonding.

One last thing- please do double check the gender. That is the main thing pet stores mess up on. You don't want any baby pigs lol.


1 To 2


Videos To Help Those Who May Be Thinking Of Bonding Guinea Pigs.

 

[Guinea10]

Try not to stress about it! I was the same as you- Mo (the ginger piggy) had been alone for around a year before I brought Steve home. Mainly because he had a health scare and the first friend I had for him sadly passed away. I introduced them straight away (first time binding it was a bit scary) and luckily Mo accepted Steve with open arms! I'm going to tag two threads that may help you- the first thread is when I bought Steve home and the second shows you what I saw.

Remember that during binding you should expect to see:
1- mounting
2- rumbling
3- potentially nipping or raising their heads
4- chasing
5- noise!

Please try not to separate unless there is blood drawn or you feel a piggy will come to harm. Remember to do the introductions in a neutral space with a nice pile of veg.

Both my boys are from a breeder who lives locally and I took a risk introducing them straight away instead of waiting and luckily nothing happened. I did trust the man whom had raised them seeing as all my pigs (Vinnie,Mo and Steve) are from him. I have known people who gave got their guinea pigs from such places as Pets At home and introduced them straight away so if you feel she is healthy then you can start bonding.

One last thing- please do double check the gender. That is the main thing pet stores mess up on. You don't want any baby pigs lol.


1 To 2


Videos To Help Those Who May Be Thinking Of Bonding Guinea Pigs.

Thank you! This really helped