Introducing Guinea Pigs

[edgarallanpaw]

Hello,
I’ve had a guinea pig for about two years now on his own, and a little over a year ago i posted a thread regarding finding him a piggy friend. Finally, I have managed to get the space and finances to find my pig some friends. Recently, I got two more boars and have since been keeping this pair in a separate cage to my original boar. They have not yet met, but have seen and smelled each other through the bars. I don’t want to move things too quickly but they seem very eager to meet. I have onlt had the pair a few days and was told that they have been semi-quarantined in the shop that I purchased them from. Any advice on the next steps into introducing my pigs?
Thanks so much

 

[edgarallanpaw]

to clarify, I was initially told that my first pig had been separated from other bus should not be mixed. Since then, I have been advised that this isn’t the case, and Guinea 1 would benefit from friends.

 

[Piggies&buns]

While it is correct that all piggies need a friend, I'm afraid you are going to run into trouble if you try to keep three boars together. Three boars together does not work and almost always ends up in failed bonds and fights. Boars only really work in pairs.

You would be better off to keep the pair as they are in a totally separate cage but next to your single boar. They can only interact through the bars. This will give your single piggy companionship.

If you try to introduce the three of them then you will need a cage measuring at least 3 metres by 1 metre along with a back up plan for when it fails - this could mean ending up with three single piggies in three separate cages as attempting a trio can break the bond between the current pair.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[edgarallanpaw]

While it is correct that all piggies need a friend, I'm afraid you are going to run into trouble if you try to keep three boars together. Three boars together does not work and almost always ends up in failed bonds and fights. Boars only really work in pairs.

You would be better off to keep the pair as they are in a totally separate cage but next to your single boar. They can only interact through the bars. This will give your single piggy companionship.

If you try to introduce the three of them then you will need a cage measuring at least 3 metres by 1 metre along with a back up plan for when it fails - this could mean ending up with three single piggies in three separate cages as attempting a trio can break the bond between the current pair.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

thanks for this. I enquired at the local pet store who said this was fine but I imagine wasnt totally sure. I will see how things progress with the cages away from each other for a few weeks and keep a close eye.

 

[Piggies&buns]

thanks for this. I enquired at the local pet store who said this was fine but I imagine wasnt totally sure. I will see how things progress with the cages away from each other for a few weeks and keep a close eye.

The pet shop has given you incorrect advice - I'm afraid we see it a lot and have many many posts helping people fix the problems caused by attempting to keep three boars together in the same cage

Their cages can stay next to each other as this will mean your single boy will have interaction through the bars (which will stop any loneliness) but you really are best to never introduce them to each other physically. You will have to have two separate cages side by side permanently now. Ensure the cage for the pair of new boys is a minimum of 150x60cm but 180x60cm is best for a boar pair. The single boar needs a cage a minimum of 120x60cm

 

[edgarallanpaw]

The pet shop has given you incorrect advice - I'm afraid we see it a lot and have many many posts helping people fix the problems caused by attempting to keep three boars together in the same cage

Their cages can stay next to each other as this will mean your single boy will have interaction through the bars (which will stop any loneliness) but you really are best to never introduce them to each other physically. You will have to have two separate cages side by side permanently now. Ensure the cage for the pair of new boys is a minimum of 150x60cm but 180x60cm is best for a boar pair. The single boar needs a cage a minimum of 120x60cm

thank you so much for your help