hi, I have a 11week make Guinea pig that lives in a 5x3 c&c cage. I am hoping that around Christmas time I will get him his cage mate. The only think that is putting me of getting him a friend is the fighting and the fact that they may not get alone
Please could you give me all advice possible to help me make my decision
Hi! Many of our recommended good standard rescues offer boar dating under expert supervision at the rescue, so you come home only if there is success and you have the rescue's support throughout the whole life of their adopted boar, which is guaranteed healthy. The key to any successful boar bond is mutual liking and character compatibility. An age difference can also help to stabilise the bond, so that only boar goes through the teenage hormones at the time. Boars have got such a bad press because the majority are same age shop boars that are bought for looks, kept in too small a cage and that hit the hormonal spikes together.
For the same reason, I would strongly recommend to date your boy now before his testicles start descending and it is so much easier to find a match. Right now, he is desperate for company because he is still a baby and can will profit most from a boar he can attach himself to and learn from. By Christmas and throughout winter/early spring, he will be right in the thick of puberty and at the most tricky bonding age for boars. Most good rescues will be closed around Christmas anyway. The sooner he gets company, the happier you will make him, to be honest.
Alternatively, if you are very worried about fall-outs, you could consider having your boy neutered as soon as he is able to (ca. 4-6 months, once his testicles have descended and his weight is satisfactory for the vet's pre-op check). Crucial for that is finding either a general vet with lots of experience in guinea pig neutering or an exotic vet with lots of practice in small furries' ops in order to minimise the risks of post-op complications. Your boy then faces a full 6 weeks post-op wait until he is 100% safe to go with sows. My surprise baby Tegan is the unplanned daughter of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine), so it can really happen as late as that. Again, if you can date him at a one of our recommended rescues for a sow or two, you can ensure that you have piggies that get on and a safety net. Age in cross gender pairings is much less relevant than mutual liking. The crucial bit is initial acceptance; after that, cross gender bonds are the most stable piggy bonds.
Our recommended good standard UK rescues locator, which lists the rescues we can guarantee for. Their piggies are all well cared for while in rescue, have undergone quarantine and any necessary medical treatment, so they are perfectly healthy when put up for adoption, as well as used to human interaction. A good rescue will also know the personality of the piggies in their care.
Unfortunately, anybody can call themselves a rescue (as well as a breeder) and results can be accordingly. Many general rescues are not exactly piggy-savvy and do not offer boar dating, so the risks are all on your side. By the way, anybody can also call themselves a breeder; there is unfortunately no check on their basic biological knowledge (sexing, separation age), necessary medical care and conditions in which they are being bred. The ones that advertise guinea pigs for sale breed for money and not for welfare.
Recommended piggy savvy rescue:
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
Recommended Uk vets:
Guinea Pig Vet Locator
