Bonding

[Mumzhippo]

After help about bonding boars please.
We had two boy guinea pigs aged about 8 weeks unfortunately one has died aged around 11 weeks old. This happened a week ago now do I get a other baby guinea pig and try and bond them together. I have brought a bigger cage as been reading up the bigger the space the more they are likely to take to each other.
Not really sure what to.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you look across the top banner on this site you will see ‘Guinea pig guides’. You will find the guide on bonding in there - sorry I don’t know how to attach links. With boars you need a large space, so getting a bigger cage was a good thing to do. Making sure you have open ended hideys and two of all equipment also helps.

However, if you just go out and get a new piggy, you have no idea whether they will have compatible personalities and there is a risk that they will never be friends regardless of what you do.
Do you have a rescue centre near you who offer boar bonding - they can help in finding a suitable companion which can increase the chance of a successful bond.

Also, having two young boys of similar ages, means that they will hit hormonal spikes at similar times which can sometimes result in a higher risk of fights and the bond failing.

 

[Wiebke]

After help about bonding boars please.
We had two boy guinea pigs aged about 8 weeks unfortunately one has died aged around 11 weeks old. This happened a week ago now do I get a other baby guinea pig and try and bond them together. I have brought a bigger cage as been reading up the bigger the space the more they are likely to take to each other.
Not really sure what to.

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss.

Please take the time to read these guides here.
If you can get to one of the rescues listed in the bereavement guide, then please consider rescue dating your little boy. This means that he comes home with a boar he clicks with (key to any boar bond) only if acceptance has happened at the rescue under experienced supervision. You can also be assured that your adopted piggy is quarantined/vet cared and fully healthy at the time he has been put up for adoption. You can also be assured that he is properly sexed. An age difference is generally of advantage when one of the boars is sub-adult as that increases the chances of them making it through the teenage months as a pair.

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

If you can't get an already quarantined piggy from a good standard rescue (not all are; we can only guarantee for the listed ones), this guide here applies:
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.