I am a new Owner (yesterday), I need some urgent, very reliable advice

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Andywilson

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Hello,

My partner and I purchased two 5-8 week old guinea pigs yesterday (boys), from Pet for Homes. We were very excited, now we are thinking it was the worst decision we ever made.

I will start by saying we already owned a guinea pig cage sized 76cm x 48.5 cm wide, which I owned previously when I had to separate two rats. The shop said the size should be fine and we were considering spending more on a bigger cage when they are bigger but we don't want to spend £60+ on a gigantic indoor cage now.

We took the boys home apparently from the same litter (there was over as dozen together in shop). We cuddled them each then introduced them to their new surroundings. Within hours one was seemingly being more dominant over the other one, whenever they were both together in the sleeping compartment. I had to stay up to 3am in the morning, looking over them, while one was chasing the other around the cage and out of the sleeping area, every half hour or so. We hated the noise and decided to go back to the shop today. We were advised to bring the one we thought was being more dominant back, which I adored and were given a replacement boy. We got home, cleaned the cage out for a fresh start, introduced toys, new hay etc and put the new boy in with the existing boy we kept. Within half an hour the same behaviour has started all over again and we are at the end of our teather with worry. The new boy is now being dominant even more so. He puffs up his hair and ushers the other one around. The one that gets terrorised just makes a very nervous, constant chattering sound in the bed area when the new guinea pig comes in, then then front up to one another.

I need so serious reassuring advise as to what I need to do or if this is normal? Even if I was to spend over £60 on a new cage would this all start again?

At this rate they will both be going back tomorrow and that pet shop will have three guinea pigs to re-home.

I feel terrible for the one we took back.

Can anyone help me tonight?

Thank you.

Andrew & Jo.
 
Hi and welcome

I am no expert and have come here for some advice myself and must say you've come to the right place.

You've done the right thing asking the questions.

From my limited experience boars are a little harder to pair together than sows but not impossible.

Pets at home isn't the ideal place to get your piggies (just google and you'll be shocked at the results you get). However you can't change the past and I hope someone with more knowledge will be along soon to help.

Hope it works out.
 
Unfortunatly this is common with pet shop piggies. first things first, males need to establish who is dominant, that is normal.

THere is a thread on normal/agressive behaviour at the top of our behaviour thread it would be good for you to have a read :)

THe definatly need a bigger cage. atleast 120x60cms for two guinea pigs, bigger is better.

Guinea pigs, much like us, like to choose their own friend. Pet shops do not take this into account, I am not particularly experienced with boar intro so hopefully someone will come along with more advice very soon! :)
 
First things first... That cage is WAY to small...
The minimum amount of space required for a pair of piggies is 120cm cage... Especially as they are boys...
The chances are if you go and purchase another cage the fighting will stop...
But if you go to pets at home to buy a new cage please get the ferplast 120 not the ferplast 100 Wich the staff will recommend...
The chances are being so young they will settle once there not living in each others faces...
There's not much more advice to give then that...
Good luck
x
 
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I have two boars at the moment. Charlie (3 years old) and George (11 weeks). I was advised that they need/must have two of everything! i.e. water bottles, bowls and beds/hidey holes...and enough space to be apart from one another....min size cage 2x4. Hope this helps.

Kym

x
 
You could try possibly getting another cage and putting one of the piggies in the other cage, and putting the cages next to each other. Therefore, there will still be two guineas to keep each-other company, but they won't be able to hurt each-other. To be honest I'm not too sure, but I've heard stories where it has worked for other people. I hope that you soon will have two piggies that get along. Best of luck!
 
Just a thought, I bought a cage which is the same size as the ferplast 120 from a shop called just 4 pets. (not sure I can post link if you google it it's the first or second result).

The cage is well built for the money and is a little cheaper than the ferplast version.
 
Hello and sorry you are having a worrying time.

This thread might be useful for you to read through as it tells you about typical boar behaviour.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

Maybe you can then watch what is going on at your house. The pet shop has just set you up with a new, untried relationship - not very responsible of them really. They will be trying to sort out who is boss. A pile of hay can be a distraction but they will be very disturbed by the changes in pairings and a new house.

You do need a bigger cage - whatever the outcome, 2 guinea pigs need 4ft by 2ft - and 4ft is about 120cm. These are RSPCA guidelines for the living space for 2 guinea pig.

I am sure some others will be on to add more but good luck and try and stay calm to help your new pets.
 
P.s.
Once the housing situation has been sorted out... You can then watch them and decide if more has to be done...
But I'm thinking it will probably sort it self out once they have a new cage...
x
 
For starters its best to have 2 of everything - 2 hideys - one for each pig - 2 food bowls and water bottles in case the more dominant one trys to stop the other from eating or drinking - there is info on here and on a site called cavy spirit about how to bond your boars - pets at home should have told you this was normal behaviour whilst they are trying to sort out their heirarchy - not just switched pigs! - I am sure more experienced members will be on here later - you could also try bathing them together - ( a bonding bath ) - but dont PANIC! there is lots of help on here and from the cavy spirit website - I myself have to bond two females to a male later in the week.
 
Thank you ever so much everyone, we will purchase a ferplast 120 tomorrow and give them two sleeping compartments. I feel partly responsible now for not giving them a large enough cage from the beginning but hopefully I can make amends.

I wish we hadn't brought from Pets for Homes but the piggies need a chance in life and I would to be a good owner to them, just wish they could just get on from the outset. We've got two drink bowls and food bowls so it's just the cage size and bedrooms we need to sort out.

Thank you everyone
 
I'm sorry you're going through this. I know how hard and horrible it is when you get two that don't bond. My first pair of piggies was Nibbles and Charlie. Charlie was awful biting me and my brothers. After a week we made the decision to return him and picked out laid back boy we called Nugget. It worked out well for us. I would have to say that cage is too small but I wouls say the Ferplast 100 or Ferplast 120 would be fine.

As I said I'm so sorry you're going through this and hope it works out.


Amy
x
 
As others have mentioned, the cage is far too small so well done for getting a 120cn tomorrow. With boars you need to make sure they gave two if everything, not necessarily water bottles or hay racks, but two hiding places and two bowls. The behaviour they are showing is normal and they need to establish a hierarchy between them.

Rubblestrutting, mild teeth chattering, chasing one another and humping is normal, just watch out for increased loud teeth chattering and fighting.
 
With any guinea pig bonding there has to be time for them to sort out who is 'boss' - the underpig will always protest and things can look/sound pretty awful to us - as long as you supervise and watch for any fights, things should settle down.

Pets at home charge £75 for the Ferplast 120 - this site sells the same cage for £61.99 with free delivery:

http://www.justcages.co.uk/rabbit-cages/ferplast-rabbit-120-rabbit-guinea-pig-cage?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=shopping#v_1134

Zooplus also sell a 120cm sized cage for £39.99 with free delivery and 5% off your first order:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/rabbit_cage/120_cm_cages/83034
 
Sows can also display similiar behaviours. When I first brought home my two girls (5 weeks old) the more dominant was chasing her sister from the hide house and chasing her around. By supplying each of them with their own house, food dish, litter box, etc. on opposited sides of the cage (cage size 70 cm x 140 cm) and giving them a common area filled with hay in the centre they live most of the time in peace. They are 9 months old now and they still have their moments, but in general get along more often than not. I was also very concerned at first, but once I understood guinea pig behaviour, I realized their behaviour was normal and not as serious as it first appeared.
 
How upsetting that you have had to go through this, in an ideal world you wouldn't be able to or need to return a piggie, the shop would be able to give you the kind of advice we're giving here mallethead

As mentioned, all of this behaviour is normal and will occur within any pair, particularly boars. Two of everything helps, mainly food bowls, beds and hideys, all my boar pairs have two bowls, a chew tube, cardboard box and cuddle bed and a corner hammock house, you could have any combination of those items, as long as they all have their own place to hide, sleep and generally have their own space that will be fine.

Anything from chasing to rumble strutting, to nipping to jumping to mounting is normal, as mentioned, they need to work out who is boss. When introducing them do so on neutral territory and ensure everything in the cage is clean and doesn't have the others scent. Either way, once you have commited to the set up you do need to remain commited to it and see it through. This was the best advice i was given when two of mine fell out. Only seperate if there is blood shed. It can look worrying for us but remember they're animals and this is THEIR natural behaviour so don't be afraid to let them work it out, unless blood gets shed the situation normally rights itself in the end, in some cases it just takes longer than others to work out who is boss if you have two stubborn characters but their does have to be a heirachy they need to establish between themselves.
Hope this helps and it works out for you :)
 
Hello and a big warm welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having a stressful time with your boys, as with all boars the hormones kick in and the displays of domiance start, sometimes they last days, sometimes for the rest of their lives or sometimes just for the hormonal period between six weeks and 14 months. This can be a stressful time for both you and the boys, but you are doing a good job by seeking advice.

The displays may calm down once both boars have settled into their new home, I find with my three boars displays usually flare up when I've cleaned the cage as they try and settle whose bowl is whose etc.

With boars I'd suggest that you obtain a larger cage (as much space as you can provide), purchase two of everything- bowls, bottles, toys, hideys etc. Scatter their daily veggies across the cage floor so one pig can't hog all one pile. If you do purchase two hideys (or use a cardboard box) make sure it has two exits so the underpig wont be bullied into a corner.

Oh and another brilliant tip is....HAY! Hay is a fantastic diversion, try to keep them both occupied so stuff loo rolls with hay, tie the loo rolls onto string and hang it across the cage, place hay into hay racks into scrunched up newspaper, have large piles of hay. If you can try to get a range of different hays for them to try such as herbage, timothy, meadow etc.

I made this useful guide if you would like to read through it, or reference any time:

http://theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=76162

If you need any more advice or info just post

love

Laura
(slave to: Harvey, Artie, Percy-Roo and Tabby)
 
When i got my sow's i was on this forum i was so worried one was getting picked on too much, obviously it was easier with sows to keep all three of mine and perservere but with more space I'm sure your boars will come round, i have heard many times that boars are more loving than sow's so something to look forward tox)

As well as possibly having two of everything i think only hideys with two entrances/exits so one can't get cornered, also as your cage is small could you temporarily make their living space bigger, like mine have free range in the bathroom you could put towels and fleece downjust until you got a new cage



Have you considered making a C&C cage? they are adaptable to fit anyspace can be built on and are cheaper than store bought ones

this is a forum members (louise)
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this is my sisters
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salt n peppers


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i got grids for £10 and correx in blue for £14 and that will make a 4ft 8 x 2ft 4 sized cage
 
You might want to check their sex too if they are from a pet shop! rolleyes

Really hope you get this sorted it xx
 
Hello. My recent male Harvey and Former crested Darwin Bo did exactly the same but afterwards grew very loving towards each other so much so that when Darwin Bo past Harvey was left ever so lonely.
He's very compassionate and ADORES his new baby brother Loci very much.
But I must say the cage may need to be bigger....
I also recommend furplast 120 as it is more comfortable easily accessible and they can live happier alongside each other.
Also you shouldn't of taken the first male back... He seams sweet.
Also it's hard for pets at home to rehome there animals.
Look for rehoming centres near you.
I was shocked when I found one only The road oposite my house...

Best of luck
x
 
Hi, just wondering what have you decided in the end?
Did you consider getting the other one back, which you said you adored and it was slightly less dominant than the other one?

I have two boys myself, and they are CONSTANTLY chasing each other, half the time i cant sleep due to the noise. But they aren't hostile to each other if it makes sense, its their nature to establish who is the boss.

I was advise to have two of everything but I dont and they are ok so far, they still share with a bit of 'moaning' at each other.

I am very annoyed at Pets at Home, because they convinced me that two boys will get on better than two girls. Once i got them and started reading up, turns out thats a lie! but i refuse to take them back, they are just to cute.

I think you need more space, this means they have space to be away from each other. Did you say you have two cages? if they are same size, theres a way to make them a two tire cage :)

but don't worry, even if you had two girls there's no guarantee they wouldn't fight either.
 
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