Lone guinea pig - what to do?

[danuutka]

About 2 weeks ago, we picked up a lone little boy from a breeder. The breeder sold him alone because he was born in a litter of only girls, and all of the other baby guinea pigs from that breeder were also little girls. Very early on, the breeder isolated our little guy away from his mum and sisters, because he was trying to breed with them.

This means that ever since he was about 3 weeks old, he’s been in a cage alone inside of the breeders house whilst the rest of their piggies were outside. It seems like he has never known what it is like to be with other guinea pigs. We fell in love with him, which is why we were willing to get him alone. However, we are fully aware of the fact that guinea pigs SHOULD live in pairs.

Our little guys is now 8 weeks and is definitely warming up to all of us. He is such a sweet heart, and let’s us stroke him every now and then. He adores running around our rooms, and is a very good eater. We make sure ti spend plenty of time with him everyday. However I can’t help but think that he doesn’t have the best life he could because he is alone. BUT with him always being alone, I’m very scared he just wouldn’t get along with a new piggy if we were to introduce him to it.

Any words of advice?

 

[Wiebke]

About 2 weeks ago, we picked up a lone little boy from a breeder. The breeder sold him alone because he was born in a litter of only girls, and all of the other baby guinea pigs from that breeder were also little girls. Very early on, the breeder isolated our little guy away from his mum and sisters, because he was trying to breed with them.

This means that ever since he was about 3 weeks old, he’s been in a cage alone inside of the breeders house whilst the rest of their piggies were outside. It seems like he has never known what it is like to be with other guinea pigs. We fell in love with him, which is why we were willing to get him alone. However, we are fully aware of the fact that guinea pigs SHOULD live in pairs.

Our little guys is now 8 weeks and is definitely warming up to all of us. He is such a sweet heart, and let’s us stroke him every now and then. He adores running around our rooms, and is a very good eater. We make sure ti spend plenty of time with him everyday. However I can’t help but think that he doesn’t have the best life he could because he is alone. BUT with him always being alone, I’m very scared he just wouldn’t get along with a new piggy if we were to introduce him to it.

Any words of advice?

Hi and welcome!

Your baby boy definitely needs the guidance and company of an older piggy for socialisation and stimulation before he loses the ability to see himself as a guinea pig. Your options depend very much on where you are and your access to good rescues that offer dating/bonding at the rescue under expert supervision.

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

We can help you better with recommendations as how to best proceed once we know where you are.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
It would be lovely to see pics of your boy.
You are right that he really needs piggy companionship.
Depending on where you live there could be a Guinea Pig rescue that does boar dating. That ensures compatibility.
Another option is having him neutered and then after the 6 week safety period he can live with a sow.
I’m sure others with much more experience will have good advice to share

 

[danuutka]

Hi and welcome!

Your baby boy definitely needs the guidance and company of an older piggy for socialisation and stimulation before he loses the ability to see himself as a guinea pig. Your options depend very much on where you are and your access to good rescues that offer dating/bonding at the rescue under expert supervision.

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

We can help you better with recommendations as how to best proceed once we know where you are.

Thank you, I’ve never even heard of anything like “boat dating”! However, if this isn’t possible in my area, what would be another viable option?