Finding A New Mate For A Bereaved Piggy

[timbit12]

timbit lost his cage mate ro almost a week ago.
They were not particularly bonded, as they didn't cuddle and sometimes fought and needed a cage divider.
On the first day, Tim was a little agressive towards me and lazy overall but seemed alright by the end of the day. He was in the cage with ro for several hours overnight after his passing (when we found him he was very cold and stiff so we know it happened early in the night) so we suspect he is well aware of what happened.
His eating habits have not changed and seems to be eating more now (ro was a little bit of a food hog). He is moving around on his own and purring.
I think it's safe to say he is ready for a new mate but I worry if it is too soon he will reject a new friend.
We will be getting a young baby so that he is more likely to accept him. He will either live in a divided cage or separate cage altogether until he is big enough to be housed with Tim.
Does it seem to early? Should they be housed totally separate for now or will a divider be okay?

 

[Wiebke]

timbit lost his cage mate ro almost a week ago.
They were not particularly bonded, as they didn't cuddle and sometimes fought and needed a cage divider.
On the first day, Tim was a little agressive towards me and lazy overall but seemed alright by the end of the day. He was in the cage with ro for several hours overnight after his passing (when we found him he was very cold and stiff so we know it happened early in the night) so we suspect he is well aware of what happened.
His eating habits have not changed and seems to be eating more now (ro was a little bit of a food hog). He is moving around on his own and purring.
I think it's safe to say he is ready for a new mate but I worry if it is too soon he will reject a new friend.
We will be getting a young baby so that he is more likely to accept him. He will either live in a divided cage or separate cage altogether until he is big enough to be housed with Tim.
Does it seem to early? Should they be housed totally separate for now or will a divider be okay?

Hi! I am very sorry for your loss!

The best way to find a character compatible friend of an age is by rescue dating at a piggy savvy rescue that offers this service. this means that you come home with a new mate only of acceptance has happened.
A few rescues also offer residential bonding, where your boy stays for up to a week and will be introduced and hopefully bonded with up to three rescue boars over the course of his stay. This form of bonding is very time consuming, but a resulting bond is as stable as any sow bond. There are usually waiting lists, but if you can get to one of these rescues, it is well worth it as it maximises the chances and minimises the risks for you.
With any of our recommended rescues you are also guaranteed that any adopted guinea pigs are fully quarantined and healed before being put up for adoption.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig (includes links to recommended good standard rescues in several countries)

If you get a guinea pig from a place without a mandatory quarantine, please consider whether you want to do this or risk the need to treat both piggies. Importance Of Quarantine

Here are our very detailed bonding tips: Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[timbit12]

Thanks for the reply!
I have located several rescues in my area. One in particular has some young and unbounded males. They also have a two week policy, you take them home and if it doesn't work out or they don't bond well you can bring them back and try again.
As stated in my question my main priority is to not be rushing tim into anything. I want to ensure it is not too soon to introduce him and he is ready to move on.
I am also curious if the should live divided or totally separate.
My concern right now is not at all how to find a new friend who will bond but if the time is right, and if I do, how to set up their living situation.

 

[timbit12]

We visited the vet who said regardless of bonding compatibility with a new piggie, if it is too soon there is a possible tim will reject him by being territorial over Ro's space in hopes he may return. The vet said to ensure he has greived properly and is ready to accept him.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the reply!
I have located several rescues in my area. One in particular has some young and unbounded males. They also have a two week policy, you take them home and if it doesn't work out or they don't bond well you can bring them back and try again.
As stated in my question my main priority is to not be rushing tim into anything. I want to ensure it is not too soon to introduce him and he is ready to move on.
I am also curious if the should live divided or totally separate.
My concern right now is not at all how to find a new friend who will bond but if the time is right, and if I do, how to set up their living situation.

If you get him a companion, they should have a divider they can interact through. Guinea pigs talk with smell (pheromones), body language and not just sound.

Your boy is ready to find a new friend when he comes out of deep mourning and picks up his daily life again, as discussed in much more details in the bereavement guide link I have given you in my last post; please take the time to read it!
There is no firm time, as you have to look at how obviously a piggy is grieving, but it is generally sooner than we humans would. 1-2 weeks is a good time frame.

When you get babies from a rescue, please enquire whether they have a mandatory quarantine or not. Rescues are not licensed or supervised, so anybody can call themselves a rescue (or a breeder) with results that are accordingly and very varying standards and practices. We can only guarantee for the listed rescues.
Also make sure that any babies are born from rescued sows and are not intentionally bred.

You always have to introduce piggies on neutral ground and neutralise/rearrange the cage if an introduction in the bonding is going well. Please read the bonding guide; you will find many of your questions answered in there!

 

[timbit12]

What is wrong with intentionally bred babies or non recused moms?
Given that they are at the rescue now and that rescues don't typically seek out breeders, babies, or guinea pigs of any sort and only takes those in need.
The young guys at this shelter (3 of them) are not one litter and range from 1-4 months old.
I'm not sure about their past or even how much the people running the rescue know, but regardless of their prior circumstances they are in a rescue now searching for a home.
If they had been bred intentionally and later abandoned, how would this be an issue? I understand why breeders are an issue but I feel as though that is not supporting breeders and pet store chains to adopt a bred pig from a rescue.
I may not be totally informed on normal rescue processes, so am I wrong in say this?