Please can anyone help me? last week i got a male guinea pig from pets at home, they cant tell me how old he is but they said he wont be more than 12 weeks old. I asked if he should be kept in a pair and they said he would be fine on his own, however he is very quiet and although i've only had him a week i thought he would be squeaking by now. He is eating fine and pooping great so my husband says he's probably still just settling in but i don't know if he's lonely or not, i've looked on the net for info and just keep reading that boars will fight and i would just like to hear from anyone with experience who can suggest my next move - Mungo lives inside and we have just made him a big C&C cage and use fleece not shavings which he seems to like but he sits hunched up and never squeaks.he likes his ears being tickled and is placid.Should i get him a friend? what age should his friend be? or am i just an over-protective parent?! thanks x
advice please?
- Thread starter nittynora
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hi nittynora, guinea pigs are pack animals and should be kept in groups as then really need company of there own kind.
i don't have boys so cannot help with that but someone on here will be able to help with if you should get a boy or girl.
there are loads of rescue centres where you can find a friend, where are you?
hope that helps sally
i don't have boys so cannot help with that but someone on here will be able to help with if you should get a boy or girl.
there are loads of rescue centres where you can find a friend, where are you?
hope that helps sally
D
Dacota
Have you had him checked over by a vet? The reason I ask is that you said that he sits hunched up and seams very placid.
Don't want to worry you, always a good idea to get G.pigs bought from pet shops checked out, but G.pigs are low down in the food chain in the wild so initially in a new home they will hide up and be very flighty.
As he is eating and drinking ok I very much doubt there is anything to worry about - I would rather suggest a vet then there be something wrong which goes unknown - they are very good at hiding illness!
He definately needs a friend, boys do get along ok if introduced correctly. Check out the rescue posts on here, there are loads looking for a new home and the members who have them are very experienced and would be able to advise better than I :red
Welcome to this site (its very friendly and helpful) and the wonderful world of piggies
Don't want to worry you, always a good idea to get G.pigs bought from pet shops checked out, but G.pigs are low down in the food chain in the wild so initially in a new home they will hide up and be very flighty.
As he is eating and drinking ok I very much doubt there is anything to worry about - I would rather suggest a vet then there be something wrong which goes unknown - they are very good at hiding illness!
He definately needs a friend, boys do get along ok if introduced correctly. Check out the rescue posts on here, there are loads looking for a new home and the members who have them are very experienced and would be able to advise better than I :red
Welcome to this site (its very friendly and helpful) and the wonderful world of piggies
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like he needs a friend (and you were given bad advice when you bought him!). A baby boar would probably be best, let us know where you are and I would think there will be a rescue near you.
Meanwhile I would just let him settle, if he likes his food you could try feeding him something tasty from your hand - lettuce or something high value.
Sophie
x
Meanwhile I would just let him settle, if he likes his food you could try feeding him something tasty from your hand - lettuce or something high value.
Sophie
x
Glynis
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Hi there and welcome from us in OZ 
awwwwww your piggie sounds like he needs a mate....some don't actually wheek, but if they've got a mate who's a wheeker they will eventually wheek and chat away as well
Any questions you have do a search or post on here, there's always somebody about to help or advise and if not they always give support xx>>>xx>>>
Welcome to the wonderful world of piggies, ahhhhhhh you'll be sooo addicted lol once you have them your heart just melts x)
Hope to hear more from you soon and remember we're all here to help you
awwwwww your piggie sounds like he needs a mate....some don't actually wheek, but if they've got a mate who's a wheeker they will eventually wheek and chat away as well
Any questions you have do a search or post on here, there's always somebody about to help or advise and if not they always give support xx>>>xx>>>
Welcome to the wonderful world of piggies, ahhhhhhh you'll be sooo addicted lol once you have them your heart just melts x)
Hope to hear more from you soon and remember we're all here to help you
P
piggiesforever
Hello and welcome, I agree that your little guy would thrive if he had company. There are cases of boars fighting and falling out but I have never experienced this first hand and have always kept boars in pairs. One of my boars who lost his cagemate became very withdrawn and stopped wheeking and when I introduced him to a baby he got a new lease of life.
The trick is to introduce them carefully on neutral territory
The trick is to introduce them carefully on neutral territory
gosh what a response!
Thanks to all you guys who replied, I'm really disappointed that i didn't get two *** it sounds like he would have been a lot happier from the start.if i went back to the pet shop and got another male a similar age would they fight when they got to about 5 months old or so? He is just the cutest little thing you ever did see - he has a black head and black feet; he looks like he's wearing gloves and socks! and the rest of him is pale grey. He was checked over before i bought him and i was told he was healthy.He does eat dandelion leaves and other veggies from my hand, and I think he will tame up in time when he's more used to us.i'm more bothered that he doesn't look happy. I live in halifax, west yorks and searched the net for rescues nearby as i don't drive, but couldn't find any.
Thanks to all you guys who replied, I'm really disappointed that i didn't get two *** it sounds like he would have been a lot happier from the start.if i went back to the pet shop and got another male a similar age would they fight when they got to about 5 months old or so? He is just the cutest little thing you ever did see - he has a black head and black feet; he looks like he's wearing gloves and socks! and the rest of him is pale grey. He was checked over before i bought him and i was told he was healthy.He does eat dandelion leaves and other veggies from my hand, and I think he will tame up in time when he's more used to us.i'm more bothered that he doesn't look happy. I live in halifax, west yorks and searched the net for rescues nearby as i don't drive, but couldn't find any.
Nemo
Adult Guinea Pig
Maybe they might still have some of his cage mates in pets at home? I think with two boars you might have to be prepared for the fact they might fight at some time and you may have to seperate them. I've had two young ones together and had to seperate them and also two I bought together from pets at home years ago when it first opened, starting fighting badly so I had to seperate them. It might just work out though. Good luck and let us know how you go on.
I think with two boars you might have to be prepared for the fact they might fight at some time and you may have to seperate them. I've had two young ones together and had to seperate them and also two I bought together from pets at home years ago when it first opened, starting fighting badly so I had to seperate them. It might just work out though. Good luck and let us know how you go on.confused now!
grrrr If it is so likely they are going to fight what is the best thing to do? risk it but may need a new cage?(will have to break that news gently to hubby as Mungo's cage already takes over half the dining room!) or not bother and have a sad little piggy? i only want the best for him and i don't know what to do! Gosh I've had 3 kids no **** and now I've gone to pieces over a guinea pig! is this a mid-life crisis? Also i've just had a look on the rescue pages and i had no idea that there are so many unwanted guineas around - i actually feel quite sick that i bought him from a pet shop.
grrrr If it is so likely they are going to fight what is the best thing to do? risk it but may need a new cage?(will have to break that news gently to hubby as Mungo's cage already takes over half the dining room!) or not bother and have a sad little piggy? i only want the best for him and i don't know what to do! Gosh I've had 3 kids no **** and now I've gone to pieces over a guinea pig! is this a mid-life crisis? Also i've just had a look on the rescue pages and i had no idea that there are so many unwanted guineas around - i actually feel quite sick that i bought him from a pet shop.
G
Grace
I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that you bought him from a pet shop - he still needed a good home!
I have always kept pairs of boars (if not in threes and fours) and only ever had a problem with one boar (in 30 + years) who preferred to live on his own.
I love boars and currently have six pairs of boars all living together very happily.
The suggestion to see if any of his old cage mates left isn't a bad one, or alternatively keep an eye out for a much younger boar. I have in the past paired up two mature boys successfully and a mature boy and a baby, but sometimes 'teenagers' can be difficult.
I have always kept pairs of boars (if not in threes and fours) and only ever had a problem with one boar (in 30 + years) who preferred to live on his own.
I love boars and currently have six pairs of boars all living together very happily.
The suggestion to see if any of his old cage mates left isn't a bad one, or alternatively keep an eye out for a much younger boar. I have in the past paired up two mature boys successfully and a mature boy and a baby, but sometimes 'teenagers' can be difficult.
Angeladeedah
Adult Guinea Pig
If you get him a friend from a rescue centre some of them will let you take your piggy along with you and then he can pick out his new friend himself.
M
Ms_Fi
I bought two boars from P@H about 6 weeks ago now and within a week one of the boys had passed away. I went back to P@H and got a 'replacement' for our deceased piggie and introduced him to our remaining original male.
We were lucky as our new lad was a litter mate of our remaining piglet and so far they're getting on fine. It's been 5 weeks now that we've had the two boys and apart from some fairly persistant humping they get on really well. The newer boy (Big Red) was really sweet when The Colonel was poorly last week and looked after him really well.
When we get one out of the cage the other one starts squeaking away calling his mate - put the two of them together and they chatter away to each other and snuggle up on your lap.
We were lucky as our new lad was a litter mate of our remaining piglet and so far they're getting on fine. It's been 5 weeks now that we've had the two boys and apart from some fairly persistant humping they get on really well. The newer boy (Big Red) was really sweet when The Colonel was poorly last week and looked after him really well.
When we get one out of the cage the other one starts squeaking away calling his mate - put the two of them together and they chatter away to each other and snuggle up on your lap.
Goldie
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi Nittynora ... welcome to the forum and the addictive habit of owning guinea pigs.
Congratulations on getting your little boar.
I started owning piggies over 17 years ago with what I thought was two baby boars, but no it was a boar and a sow ...... you can guess the rest!
Anyway, I would imagine that your boar is taking time to settle into his new home. It will be very strange to him and if he is alone, he will probably be a little more timid and take longer to become brave.
Yes, the petstore was wrong to say that he would be ok alone and they are naturally pack animals.
But you have a couple of options available to you. You could get him another young boar, introduce them gradually on neutral territory, and see how it goes. But you do run the risk of having to eventually separate them. I had two litter brothers who always lived together until I found that Shaun was biting Stuart on his back and caused abscesses to form. I separated them and eventually had both neutered and they now live with a pair of sows each, although at the moment Shaun is playing stepdad to little Junior.
Then I had Joey, an adult boar, who lived very happily with his son, Simba ... no problems at all.
The other option to you is that you get an older boar, perhaps a neutered one from a rescue, or one that the rescue centre knows its personality and can advise you. Obviously, that is a problem is you don't drive and they isn't one near you. The good thing about adopting one from a rescue is that you will be able to introduce them and see how they get along.
The final option is wait until he is over 6 months old and have him neutered. Having said that, it is costly and carries a risk, but he could then live with a sow or two.
I am sure that if he is eating, drinking, pooing and weeing ok then he is well. Probably a bit over-whelmed. I am sure that he will be feeding out of your hand very soon ... offer him nice things and let him take them from your hand. It might take a while but he will get there.
Congratulations on getting your little boar.
I started owning piggies over 17 years ago with what I thought was two baby boars, but no it was a boar and a sow ...... you can guess the rest!
Anyway, I would imagine that your boar is taking time to settle into his new home. It will be very strange to him and if he is alone, he will probably be a little more timid and take longer to become brave.
Yes, the petstore was wrong to say that he would be ok alone and they are naturally pack animals.
But you have a couple of options available to you. You could get him another young boar, introduce them gradually on neutral territory, and see how it goes. But you do run the risk of having to eventually separate them. I had two litter brothers who always lived together until I found that Shaun was biting Stuart on his back and caused abscesses to form. I separated them and eventually had both neutered and they now live with a pair of sows each, although at the moment Shaun is playing stepdad to little Junior.
Then I had Joey, an adult boar, who lived very happily with his son, Simba ... no problems at all.
The other option to you is that you get an older boar, perhaps a neutered one from a rescue, or one that the rescue centre knows its personality and can advise you. Obviously, that is a problem is you don't drive and they isn't one near you. The good thing about adopting one from a rescue is that you will be able to introduce them and see how they get along.
The final option is wait until he is over 6 months old and have him neutered. Having said that, it is costly and carries a risk, but he could then live with a sow or two.
I am sure that if he is eating, drinking, pooing and weeing ok then he is well. Probably a bit over-whelmed. I am sure that he will be feeding out of your hand very soon ... offer him nice things and let him take them from your hand. It might take a while but he will get there.
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thanks for the advice - i have e-mailed my local RSPCA to see if they have any boars that need rehoming and to see what they suggest about the situation and my husband and i have decided that we could get another male and if they don't get along we can divide the cage so they at least don't get lonely.i am reluctant to go back to pets at home when there are so many piggies desparate for a home.On a positive note Mungo has perked up this evening and did a few crazy laps round his cage...he is just soooo cute!x)
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