Can Guinea Pigs Just Live Side by Side?

[KrankyCrumpet]

Hi.

I had four guinea pigs (2 male, 2 female) all rescues and both genders lived happily in their separate cages as pairs. Unfortunately one of my boys passed away a month ago and after a week we knew our remaining boy (14 months old) would need a friend. We did put him next to the girls and they often chatted between the bars.

We found him an 11month old desexed male friend, they got on like long lost lovers for about three days and then we had a massive falling out that has resulted in the pair being separated as blood was drawn.

We now have the 2 boys cages connected so they can chat through the bars, they still teeth chatter through the bars sometimes.

I have a few questions, firstly, can they live like this? Or do they require an in cage mate to be happy?
Secondly, has anyone experienced this kind of whirlwind bonding and falling out and then successfully re-introduced their piggies?

Thanks!

(Note: We don't really want to see if the new desexed male gets along with our girls as we don't want to rock their strong 2.5 year bond. They are pretty set in their ways.
We also have spoken to the vet about having our original male desexed but he did explain there can be risks obviously associated and recommended we only proceed if really require him desexed.)

 

[rhymer]

I've had a couple of male piggies do this. Both lived long and happy lives living side by side with just contact via a cage divider. In fact they seemed like good friends, they just couldn't live together.
So long as they can see,hear and smell each other, they should be fine.xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi.

I had four guinea pigs (2 male, 2 female) all rescues and both genders lived happily in their separate cages as pairs. Unfortunately one of my boys passed away a month ago and after a week we knew our remaining boy (14 months old) would need a friend. We did put him next to the girls and they often chatted between the bars.

We found him an 11month old desexed male friend, they got on like long lost lovers for about three days and then we had a massive falling out that has resulted in the pair being separated as blood was drawn.

We now have the 2 boys cages connected so they can chat through the bars, they still teeth chatter through the bars sometimes.

I have a few questions, firstly, can they live like this? Or do they require an in cage mate to be happy?
Secondly, has anyone experienced this kind of whirlwind bonding and falling out and then successfully re-introduced their piggies?

Thanks!

(Note: We don't really want to see if the new desexed male gets along with our girls as we don't want to rock their strong 2.5 year bond. They are pretty set in their ways.
We also have spoken to the vet about having our original male desexed but he did explain there can be risks obviously associated and recommended we only proceed if really require him desexed.)

Hi!

Yes, two single guinea pigs can live next to each other as long as they have full communication by scent (pheromones), sight (body language) and by ear (vocalising) for round the clock social stimulation.

Fall-outs can happen during the post-bonding dominance phase when the shape of the relationship is being worked out. Unfortunately piggies won't usually go back together again after a full-on bite.

Please take the time to read these guides here. You will find them very helpful:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[loisguineapigs]

Hi.

I had four guinea pigs (2 male, 2 female) all rescues and both genders lived happily in their separate cages as pairs. Unfortunately one of my boys passed away a month ago and after a week we knew our remaining boy (14 months old) would need a friend. We did put him next to the girls and they often chatted between the bars.

We found him an 11month old desexed male friend, they got on like long lost lovers for about three days and then we had a massive falling out that has resulted in the pair being separated as blood was drawn.

We now have the 2 boys cages connected so they can chat through the bars, they still teeth chatter through the bars sometimes.

I have a few questions, firstly, can they live like this? Or do they require an in cage mate to be happy?
Secondly, has anyone experienced this kind of whirlwind bonding and falling out and then successfully re-introduced their piggies?

Thanks!

(Note: We don't really want to see if the new desexed male gets along with our girls as we don't want to rock their strong 2.5 year bond. They are pretty set in their ways.
We also have spoken to the vet about having our original male desexed but he did explain there can be risks obviously associated and recommended we only proceed if really require him desexed.)

Hello! A lot of male guinea pigs can experience this, my guinea pigs were fine but recently have been a bit nippy with each other. It is normal and they should be fine living side by side for the time being. I recommend once or twice a week putting them together under your supervision and just re-bonding them. Hopefully this will work xx

 

[Betsy]

Hello! A lot of male guinea pigs can experience this, my guinea pigs were fine but recently have been a bit nippy with each other. It is normal and they should be fine living side by side for the time being. I recommend once or twice a week putting them together under your supervision and just re-bonding them. Hopefully this will work xx

If you put them together time after time this will stress them out. Piggies don't do playdates and every meeting is like the beginning of a full on bonding session for them. As @Wiebke has already said once piggies decide they don't like each other they will not change their minds.

 

[KrankyCrumpet]

Hi, thanks everyone!

They can full see each other and even groom each other through the bars.

Such they had to have a falling out.

Thank you for your guidance, I now feel better about having them in alone in a separate joined cage.

 

[Reenie]

Hello! A lot of male guinea pigs can experience this, my guinea pigs were fine but recently have been a bit nippy with each other. It is normal and they should be fine living side by side for the time being. I recommend once or twice a week putting them together under your supervision and just re-bonding them. Hopefully this will work xx

Pleased don't do this. Putting them together is a full on bonding experience each time and the piggies will be very stressed. They have made it clear that they don't want to be together, and side by side cages is a perfectly fine solution. @Wiekbe is an expert in piggy bonds, so please follow her guidance.