haleya
New Born Pup
Hi all,
A little over 3 years ago, I worked at a pet store and brought home 2 guinea pigs, about 2 months apart. Aside from the few weeks or so it took to introduce them, they have shared a cage ever since. I've never had guinea pigs before that.
The pigs, both male, shared their cage, beds, hides, food bowl, water bottle, hay box, etc. No fights, but they maybe annoyed each other from time to time (one pig, Chewy, was more dominant than the other, and the more submissive pig, Rocket, had neurological issues that may be caused some annoyance lol). They never cuddled or groomed each other, but definitely communicated with each other through their little noises and mannerisms, ate together and co-existed in sync. I'm not sure if this would be considered completely 'bonded'.
Now to the sad part.
Rocket passed away about 2 weeks ago (I'm absolutely devastated).
I wasn't sure if Chewy would be too affected by it to the point of me needing to run out and get another pig like some online articles said to do. To be honest, I personally don't want another pig, so I was hoping he'd be okay and I got some advice to just give it a bit of time and see how he does by himself. I knew that I shouldn't rush into anything because it's hard to tell if he's actually sad when I'm just so sad myself and maybe projecting my sadness onto him.
So now, here we are, two weeks later and I still am not sure if he's okay or not.
He eats all of his veggies, he eats hay and pellets and treats and drinks water just fine. But after doing these essential things, he just goes back into his hide and lays down. To me, he looks pitiful and sad, but I may just be paranoid. He gets excited for veggie time but then goes back into his hide.
When Rocket was here, he would usually sleep in his comfy bed most of the time, but now he only sleeps in the hides.
It also makes me really sad that I don't hear him talk anymore. He and Rocket used to chit chat all the time and mosey around the cage.
I don't know if this is normal behavior for a guinea pig who lives alone and is content, or is it lonely behavior?
Chewy was very dominant over Rocket so maybe he'd even prefer to live alone and I'm just being paranoid or projecting my sadness onto him.
Please let me know what you think of this. I know the natural instinct is to say to just get another guinea pig, but if it's not completely necessary, please be honest. Like I said, I don't really want to get another pig, and only will do so if it's absolutely necessary for Chewy's happiness and health.
TIA for your thoughts. Picture of Chewy included
A little over 3 years ago, I worked at a pet store and brought home 2 guinea pigs, about 2 months apart. Aside from the few weeks or so it took to introduce them, they have shared a cage ever since. I've never had guinea pigs before that.
The pigs, both male, shared their cage, beds, hides, food bowl, water bottle, hay box, etc. No fights, but they maybe annoyed each other from time to time (one pig, Chewy, was more dominant than the other, and the more submissive pig, Rocket, had neurological issues that may be caused some annoyance lol). They never cuddled or groomed each other, but definitely communicated with each other through their little noises and mannerisms, ate together and co-existed in sync. I'm not sure if this would be considered completely 'bonded'.
Now to the sad part.
Rocket passed away about 2 weeks ago (I'm absolutely devastated).
I wasn't sure if Chewy would be too affected by it to the point of me needing to run out and get another pig like some online articles said to do. To be honest, I personally don't want another pig, so I was hoping he'd be okay and I got some advice to just give it a bit of time and see how he does by himself. I knew that I shouldn't rush into anything because it's hard to tell if he's actually sad when I'm just so sad myself and maybe projecting my sadness onto him.
So now, here we are, two weeks later and I still am not sure if he's okay or not.
He eats all of his veggies, he eats hay and pellets and treats and drinks water just fine. But after doing these essential things, he just goes back into his hide and lays down. To me, he looks pitiful and sad, but I may just be paranoid. He gets excited for veggie time but then goes back into his hide.
When Rocket was here, he would usually sleep in his comfy bed most of the time, but now he only sleeps in the hides.
It also makes me really sad that I don't hear him talk anymore. He and Rocket used to chit chat all the time and mosey around the cage.
I don't know if this is normal behavior for a guinea pig who lives alone and is content, or is it lonely behavior?
Chewy was very dominant over Rocket so maybe he'd even prefer to live alone and I'm just being paranoid or projecting my sadness onto him.
Please let me know what you think of this. I know the natural instinct is to say to just get another guinea pig, but if it's not completely necessary, please be honest. Like I said, I don't really want to get another pig, and only will do so if it's absolutely necessary for Chewy's happiness and health.
TIA for your thoughts. Picture of Chewy included
