Do I get a friend?

[Deleted member 145660]

Hello everyone, this morning my sweet Ozzy crossed the rainbow bridge after a long hard fight. He left behind his cage mate and best friend Ace. Ace is extremely social and loves running around, playing, and causing trouble (and eating of course). Even before Oz passed I was toying with the idea of getting a third pig because Oz never could play like Ace wanted him to. I didn’t because I didn’t want to cause him any stress during his time with us (we never knew just how long that would be) and Ace didn’t seem to mind just having a sleeping buddy. He loves Oz and they got along pretty well. Now that Ozzy has gone I’m afraid that Ace might be lonely. He knows that Ozzy has passed and I allowed him time with Oz after he had gone. It hasn’t even been a day and getting another pig will be extremely hard for me because 1) I don’t want to feel like I’m replacing Oz and 2) I don’t want to have more serious health problems with Guinea Pigs (Oz had long term health issues). Should I look into adopting another pig or two? Ace is already two so if I do adopt should it be a pig close in age or a baby? Should I get two piggies or one? Lots of questions (sorry) but I’m a first time owner and I have never done this part of it before. I just want to absolute best for my piggies

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Ace does need a new friend. Piggies shouldn’t be alone.
Hoa soon you get a new piggy depends on Ace. If piggy is fine and still eating well, then you can usually wait a couple of weeks before a new friend is needed. This will also give you time to grieve.

You certainly aren’t replacing Oz. I know it feels like it, but you would instead be giving Ace the friend he needs. Oz will always have a special place in your heart but a new piggy will too.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

If he is struggling, not eating enough, then (once medical issues we ruled out) it can be a sign that piggy isn’t coping being alone and a new friend is needed much sooner.

You will need to get just one new piggy as you cannot keep three boars together. If you tried to have three boars in one cage, there would be big fights and separated piggies as boars cannot form a functioning hierarchy when there is more than two.

Your other option is to neuter Ace, have the six week wait for him to become infertile and then find him a sow friend or two (you can keep only neutered boar with any number of sows) provided your cage is big enough.

Character compatibility is the key factor, not age - piggies need to like each other to be able to form a relationship be able. If you have rescue centres near who can help you find a character compatible friend, then that is best. They can provide you with support and help in bonding and help if things don’t work out.

If you need to buy a piggy from a pet shop, then always have a plan B in mind in case they aren’t compatible. This will mean they won’t bond and will need to live in separate but side by side cages. This is the next best thing as it does mean they aren’t alone, even though they can’t be in the same cage.
If you do need to do a bonding yourself, there is a specific process to it and I’ll add a guide in below, but we can help you when the time comes.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Freela]

I'm sorry for your loss. I know it's emotionally hard getting another guinea pig so soon after losing one... rest assured you're not replacing Ozzy. Pets are individuals who cannot be replaceable. What you would be doing is giving a good home to another piggie and giving a companion to Ace. And even if bonding with a new pet is hard at first, you will eventually come to love the new pig for its own unique personality.

As for choosing a companion, is Ace a male or a female? If he's a male, please only get one new friend, as boar trios are unlikely to work out. Given you're also in North America, rescues where your pig can choose their own friend are unlikely to exist. You may have to pick out a new friend sight unseen and hope for the best, with a contingency plan for them to live separately but alongside each other should things go badly. Hopefully someone with more boar experience will be along to help, as I only have sows. There are good resources for how to do introductions as stickies on the behaviour page. We actually do new introductions in the bathtub with towels put down... no corners to get backed into, neutral ground, and we put a pig at each end and a food pile in the middle and watch them until things look settled before moving them to a very well-cleaned, scentless, "new" cage that will be for the both of them.

Good luck and once again, so sorry for your loss!