Are my girls ready to move in together? Please advise

Meggy50

Meggy50

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For the last week I have been bonding my 15 week old Lilly with a new companion Candy, who is 9 weeks old. Lilly's sister died suddenly 3 weeks ago.

We followed all the advice on bonding and have introduced them on neutral ground etc and the first few sessions went really well with no aggressive behaviour at all. The last two sessions have had been a little different. There hasn't been any fighting but when Candy tries to go up to Lilly in her hidey, Lilly will raise her chin and then they kind of tousle a bit until one moves out of the way. There is occasional teeth chattering but not much and a little bit of chatting/squeaking. I think in total they have had about 8 hours of floor time since we started the process and today they were in the play pen for most of the day. Once they have had a little tousle, they quite happily eat next to each other but they don't snuggle up together like Lilly used to do with her sister Daisy. Candy is quite energetic, always bouncing round the cage and wheeking, whereas Lilly seems old for her age and is very quiet and still. Candy quite often runs and popcorns round the cage and bumps into Lilly and then Lilly will be a bit aggressive back.

So my question is.....should I try and put them in the same cage now or continue their dating? Is this usual behaviour and how long does it usually take for them to completely settle down and relax around each other? I am just a bit scared of putting them together in case they fight during the night when I am not watching them!

Thanks
 
Glad they’re getting along well! Sadly most piggies don’t cuddle together, I have 5 and none of them will cuddle up. It doesn’t mean they aren’t friends though! :)

It’s best not to keep separating as they restart the bonding process, how big is your cage? If it’s plenty big enough I’d certainly say it’s time for them to move in together! :)
 
Candy is in a temporary cage for the time being and Lilly has a cage that is 115cm squared. I have ordered a new c and c cage which will be a 4 x 2 but it hasn’t arrived yet. Should I wait and put them in the new c and c cage as this will be new to both of them?
 
I would wait and put them in the new c&c together. Unfortunately your stream of reintroductions is putting them under a massive amount of stress as they have to start from the beginning every single time. Are their cages next to each other so that they can interact through the bars? I would put them in that position until your new cage is ready
 
We did not realise that. We thought they had to spend time together over a week or so to see how they got on before going into a cage together permanently. We thought we were doing the right thing by gradually increasing the time they spent together ready to stay in their new cage. I feel awful now you’ve said we are putting them under a ‘massive amount of stress’. That was not our intention at all.
 
Meggy50 said:
We did not realise that. We thought they had to spend time together over a week or so to see how they got on before going into a cage together permanently. We thought we were doing the right thing by gradually increasing the time they spent together ready to stay in their new cage. I feel awful now you’ve said we are putting them under a ‘massive amount of stress’. That was not our intention at all.
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Please do not fret, none of us know these things until we get to a point like this. It I obvious you are a caring owner and trying to do best for your piggies, you wouldn't be here asking questions and building them a new cage if you weren't. I would bet my life that every single member of this forum has made a mistake at least once through just not knowing and trying to do the right thing so you are certainly not alone. I include myself, plenty of mistakes here but all done with the best of intentions.
 
They'll be fine. Definitely putting them in a new cage together is best and a great way to start them together as it's fairly neutral. They are more then ready to be together and sound to be a good pair. Two of everything including huts. Try at first to keep most of the furniture out or anything that can be used for a push as it can promote more one being cornered and let them get used to each other without intervention. There will be some nose wars, some squeaks and dancing as well as other common dominance behavior. Not to worry-it's normal. Typically the first 15 minutes or so, they will get on fine then can show signs of dominance afterward for some days. A week or two with daily settling more each time is to be expected. They eventually can be fast friends.

You're really doing a great job with these babies. Congratulations on the family extension.
 
Thank you for the advice. Should I leave the hidey houses in or out of the cage at first? I have ones that have multiple holes so they cant get cornered but I could just put fleece over the corners of the cage for the first day or so. I know Lilly gets a bit territorial over hidey houses.
 
Meggy50 said:
Thank you for the advice. Should I leave the hidey houses in or out of the cage at first? I have ones that have multiple holes so they cant get cornered but I could just put fleece over the corners of the cage for the first day or so. I know Lilly gets a bit territorial over hidey houses.
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Personally, I would put the hidey houses in the cage as they have multiple exits.

Hope all continues to go well x
 
It doesn't sound like you'll have problems with them; try the hideys. You'll see in the first day if there can be a problem-if the more submissive one goes in and seems to have a lot of problems that go on for the day then use your judgement on that. All guinea pigs are really different. One of my hideys was full in the opening with plenty of room for the little one to get out on any side so I kept it in but the little one seemed to freeze in the new environment and not understand that she had plenty of room to get out and go the other side of it. I didn't remove it but I did watch to be sure it didn;t become more serious.

I think the most mine got into were the nose wars and some squeaking and they really got used to each other very quickly (honestly only small momentary scuffles the first day then they were bonded fairly well after). My first guinea pig is a fairly relaxed personality and it sounds as if yours are as well.
 
You'll be fine. You'll probably find that things will go well, as I expect you'll get some new toys or cardboard hiders. Just make sure all hideys have 2 entrances/exits so one doesn't get trapped. When they are pushing each other's chin up that is a sign of dominance. They are just telling the other one lm boss. There are not fighting you'll have to put some photos up when you get your C&C cage.
 
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