Can You Mix Gp's Ages?

[Vabbit]

To make a long story short, recently, one of my guinea pigs died. One survived. I can't bear to see the survivor so quiet, and lonely. What I need to know is can you add a 12 week old Guinea Pig to a 2 year old guinea pig? Thank you in advance.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Absolutely. I have a group of four and the oldest one is over 5 with the youngest being around 10 months

 

[Swissgreys]

Welcome to the Forum.

I think it is wonderful that you are considering getting your lonely guinea pig a friend.
And actually I think often groups with a mix of ages work best.

 

[Wiebke]

To make a long story short, recently, one of my guinea pigs died. One survived. I can't bear to see the survivor so quiet, and lonely. What I need to know is can you add a 12 week old Guinea Pig to a 2 year old guinea pig? Thank you in advance.

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your your loss. Yes, age is much less an issue than mutual liking and character compatibility. I have bonded a 3 year old neutered boar with a 7 year old sow and 5 months old neutered boar with a 5 year old sow (the latter are still very much in love coming up to two years of a very happy 'marriage').

Please be aware that not every piggy is going to click with every piggy - and that includes acceptance of babies. Ideally you date a bereaved piggy at a good rescue that offers this service if you can get to one, so you come home only with a new companion if acceptance has happened. the other advantage of using one of our recommended rescues is that their piggies are fully quarantined/healthy when put up for adoption, so you do not have to work around quarantine or being prepared to pay for vet treatment for two piggies.
If you do the fully bonding yourself, you always need to have a plan B at the ready in case a bonding doesn't work out.

Recommended good standard UK rescues: Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
Recommended rescues in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Importance Of Quarantine

Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Tiamolly123]

Hi & welcome to our friendly forum.
Yes you can, sooner you put a new one in the older one will perk up.

 

[Vabbit]

Thank you for all your help guys. I put the new one in, but, but the old one still seems to be depressed. Will time fix this?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for all your help guys. I put the new one in, but, but the old one still seems to be depressed. Will time fix this?

Hi! Have you done a proper introduction as in the guide I have linked in for you or just plonked the baby in the cage? How long has your piggy been mourning? Is your bereaved piggy still eating on its own or not?

 

[Merab]

I bonded a bereaved 3 year old sow with 2 baby girls. They gave her a new lease of life once they settled in together. Give them time to get to know each other. Hope it works well for you.

 

[Vabbit]

No, I haven' read it. I will after I post this.

Well, the Guinea Pig died Monday. Since then Tigger, the old one has been quiet ever since. However, I don't know if it was Cookie that was doing all the squeaking and noise, and Tigger was the follower and the copier.

 

[Merab]

Tigger needs time to grieve. Be patient with her and be gentle with yourself too. We also grieve for lost pets

 

[Vabbit]

I bonded a bereaved 3 year old sow with 2 baby girls. They gave her a new lease of life once they settled in together. Give them time to get to know each other. Hope it works well for you.

Thank you. Hopefully the same happens to mine.

 

[Wiebke]

No, I haven' read it. I will after I post this.

Well, the Guinea Pig died Monday. Since then Tigger, the old one has been quiet ever since. However, I don't know if it was Cookie that was doing all the squeaking and noise, and Tigger was the follower and the copier.

It takes about 4 days on average for guinea pig to be in deep mourning, so give Tigger time to pick up her life again before introducing a new companion; you can keep them next to each other so they can get to know each other through the bars during that time. The only time a guinea pig needs instant company as a life saver is when they stop eating and drinking (acute pining). In all other cases it is better to wait until your piggy is ready for a new friendship.

Please take the time to read the links. You may find them very helpful!

 

[Vabbit]

Tigger needs time to grieve. Be patient with her and be gentle with yourself too. We also grieve for lost pets

So, she will probably get better? And is it the death that causes this?

 

[Vabbit]

It takes about 4 days on average for guinea pig to be in deep mourning, so give Tigger time to pick up her life again before introducing a new companion; you can keep them next to each other so they can get to know each other through the bars during that time. The only time a guinea pig needs instant company as a life saver is when they stop eating and drinking (acute pining). In all other cases it is better to wait until your piggy is ready for a new friendship.

Please take the time to read the links. You may find them very helpful!

I see you name them all Welsh names?

 

[Vabbit]

Wiebke, also, it has been 3 days since Cookie passed away. And Tigger is still eating, so she is okay. But to be honest, Cookie was the one we all noticed, she was the noisy one, Tigger was just copying. I feel bad saying this, but I don't really know what Tigger's ''Normal'' life is...

 

[Wiebke]

I see you name them all Welsh names?

Yes, my piggies have all got Welsh names. The Tribe founder piggy happened to be a guinea pig rescued in Midwales and named Llewelyn by the rescue. My Wlesh husband wanted to keep the name and it has snowballed from there.

 

[Merab]

Yes Vabbit, death affects guinea pigs. Being withdrawn has been my experience of piggies who have lost a cage mate. They recover in their own time. Give yourself time to get to know Tigger too - the time after death can be healing for you both. Get to know baby too - what’s her name?

 

[Vabbit]

Yes Vabbit, death affects guinea pigs. Being withdrawn has been my experience of piggies who have lost a cage mate. They recover in their own time. Give yourself time to get to know Tigger too - the time after death can be healing for you both. Get to know baby too - what’s her name?

Oreo

 

[Vabbit]

Yes Vabbit, death affects guinea pigs. Being withdrawn has been my experience of piggies who have lost a cage mate. They recover in their own time. Give yourself time to get to know Tigger too - the time after death can be healing for you both. Get to know baby too - what’s her name?

Oreo

Oreo

 

[Vabbit]

Yes, my piggies have all got Welsh names. The Tribe founder piggy happened to be a guinea pig rescued in Midwales and named Llewelyn by the rescue. My Wlesh husband wanted to keep the name and it has snowballed from there.

I like their Welsh names, and actually. I am 100% Welsh.

 

[Freela]

Yes, personality is far more important than age in determining what guinea pigs will get along. Our original pair had very different lifespans (we lost one prior to age 2 due to a severe dental issue and jawbone infection and the other lived to be 6.5 years old), so we haven't had pigs of the same age in years. After losing Frenzy so young, we paired up Linney and Sundae (2-year age gap), then Sundae and Hadley (4-year age gap), and now Hadley and Leela (2.5-year age gap.) They have all been fine. I have found it helpful to try to match personalities as best as I can (i.e. knowing that Linney was really dominant, I made sure that her new buddy was not top pig in her existing group.) Some places will allow your pig to 'date' in a rescue setting to find a compatible friend, but that isn't offered in all countries/areas.