I have been a guinea pig owner for over 5 years and I know guinea pigs need to be kept in groups. The problem is that a certain boar that is very aggressive to any other pig it comes in contact with. The guinea pig Cinnamon has been carefully introduced to 3 other male guinea pigs all one baby on the same age and one senior. Cinnamon has drawn blood on all of them wither that be biting or scratching. When Cinnamon is even in the room with any other guinea pigs mine or those I encounter at work (I will work as a vet assistant so I will take him to work some times for vet visits or nail trims) he freaks and ends up trying to escape and attack the other guinea pigs. Cinnamon is the least stressed when she is keep alone. I have been trying over and over again to introduce him to a guinea pig that he will get along with. I got Cinnamon as a baby off of craigslist and he was in a bad situation he has injuries that he will have for the rest of his life. He was with his brother and they were being feed seeds and there water was brown. I was only able to take Cinnamon because even then it was obvious that Cinnamon and his brother did not get along. I asked that the man turn the other g pig to the local shelter or guinea pig shelter. Cinnamon was then raised by one of my male guinea pig who is amazing with orphaned g pigs. A few months later Cinnamon started attack the other guinea even drawing blood. Every time I tried to introduce Cinnamon a guinea pig she attacks them drawing blood and is noticeably terrified. Cinnamon seems to be much more happy to be with people. She loves any person that comes around and will cuddle with me. It seems like Cinnamon may not ever get along with other pigs. I feel very bad that I can find him another guinea pig to bond with but I'm not sure that bonding him is the right thing. He lives in my room and get a ton of attention even though I know that I cant give him what another guinea pig could. Dose anyone have any opinions or ideas I really just want him to be happy.
Lone guinea pig
- Thread starter Sammoo101
- Start date
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Please can you clarify how old Cinnamon is. And is it a boar or sow?
Does he behave the same if the other guinea pig is kept in a separate cage but next door to him?
Depending on his age, you could consider neutering him and trying him with a sow. I’ll tag @Wiebke @PigglePuggle &buns
Does he behave the same if the other guinea pig is kept in a separate cage but next door to him?
Depending on his age, you could consider neutering him and trying him with a sow. I’ll tag @Wiebke @PigglePuggle &buns
could that not be because he wants company, not because of aggression?
if you’ve been trying to bond him with others previously the part of the reason he’s struggled could be because he is a teenager and attempting to bond while one is a teenager can be hard due to the hormones.
could you neuter him, have his six week wait and bond him with a sow instead? He may do better with a female than with another boar. However if you have any other boar pairs, then they cannot be in the presence of a sow as smelling a sow could ruin their bond, any boar/sow pairs needs to be kept away from any other boar/boar pairs
I live in an appt I probably could not keep the smells away from the other boar pairs. I also work at an exotic vet with a behavior specialist so I see a lot of g pig with behavior issues and while I am not a vet I truly think that his behavior is aggressive. Also from a lot of the things I have read online g pigs behavior dose not change much after neutering. Also g pig neuters and be dangerous form what I know because every g pig/ rabbit put under can develop illius
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Can you confirm what other piggies you have? Is it Cinnamon and then another boar pair? You could stack the cages if push came to shove and you can’t house him and a (potential) sow in another room.
How many have you introduced him to, and what was his behaviour - apart from going for them and biting/drawing blood? We’re all introductions done o ground?
As said if he’s just a year then he’s still in his teenage months. That time can be fraught even for the well bonded boars.
You’re right that neutering doesn’t change behaviour. But it means you could bond him to a sow, which may be more of an ‘attractive’ bond for him.
Neuters can be dangerous, as with all operations. But if the vet is experienced then hopefully he would recover well. I wouldn’t discount it entirely.
The other option is to keep him as a neighbour to another piggy. Put up a solid divider such as cardboard or similar and just give him some time to get used to the new company. Then you could try removing it and see how he behaves.
How many have you introduced him to, and what was his behaviour - apart from going for them and biting/drawing blood? We’re all introductions done o ground?
As said if he’s just a year then he’s still in his teenage months. That time can be fraught even for the well bonded boars.
You’re right that neutering doesn’t change behaviour. But it means you could bond him to a sow, which may be more of an ‘attractive’ bond for him.
Neuters can be dangerous, as with all operations. But if the vet is experienced then hopefully he would recover well. I wouldn’t discount it entirely.
The other option is to keep him as a neighbour to another piggy. Put up a solid divider such as cardboard or similar and just give him some time to get used to the new company. Then you could try removing it and see how he behaves.
Hi!
Occasionally there are piggies with real hang-ups/traumas where companionship is not an option.
You may hopefully find our singles guide here helpful in working out whether your boy is one of them. The guide also contains some useful information in spotting whether his social needs are covered OK or not as a single.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Occasionally there are piggies with real hang-ups/traumas where companionship is not an option.
You may hopefully find our singles guide here helpful in working out whether your boy is one of them. The guide also contains some useful information in spotting whether his social needs are covered OK or not as a single.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics