Lone male, what to do?

[blade100]

Ok so I've had "wiggy" a couple of weeks now. He was off a well know free ad site.
He was free to good home, apparently 6 months old. Def a boy
Anyway I have him in a 100cm cage, that's all I can fit in in the space I have as my rats cages take up quite a bit of room!
Anyhow I feel a bit sad for him being alone. But I'm also terrified of doing intros as I'm not clued up on pigs and behaviour, I'm more of a rattie enthusiast. Wiggy is my hubby's pet.

He seems ok in himself, he weighs 1.2kg! He eats a good varied diet of meadow and redigrass hay, along with fresh greens etc. and excel pellets.
His cage sits in the bay window as it's the only but of lounge that's free.

What would you do?
He comes out everyday 2-3 times for cuddles and a run around in the dining room.

Here's some pics of wiggy
Taken at night so the flash came on

I is in my Halloween bunker go away

 

[blade100]

And some more

These last two pics were taken the day after I got him, his nails have since bend trimmed and he had a bath last week.

 

[ASTRID]

He looks happy I had three mails and they fought to the point where Harry had no fur left and a giant gash on his side he was taken to the vet and had daily injections to get his body to recover I had to separate him and his brother from another male (bubbles) bubbles was a lovely pig on his own and harry and scruff were fine harry recovered (vet said he was unlikely) they have all passed away now but we regret buying males due to the fights so my advice is don't mix males that have no relations to each other x
Astrid x

 

[Jerrybelly]

Many guinea pig rescues offer 'boar-dating' which will allow your boy to pick a male friend of his own. This will be done in carefully controlled conditions, with the full support of the rescue. You will only bring home his new friend, if they are certain that the bonding has been successful.

The 'rescue locator' at the top of the page can help you locate a nearby guinea pig rescue.

Boar pairings DO work, provided that the personalities are well-matched. Piggies are sociable animals and will be happiest with the company of another piggy. You would, however, need to extend your cage size slightly as the minimum requirements for 2 piggies is 120cm.

 

[gizmo01]

further to what Jerry said boars need at least 2x4 feet 60x120cm pairing work. i have bonded many pairs the best thing to do is expand the enclosure than take him boar dating and let him choose. If you prefer he could be neutered in order to live with a sow

 

[PottyForPiggies]

I have successfully had a number of boar pairings - we adopted a male from the P@H adoption centre as he was all alone, and returned for being a breeding male that they didn't want to breed from him any more. He lived on his own for a while, but when I got a new housemate and she had a single male, we tried pairing them together through introducing in small doses on neutral turf, and it works! They lived together happily until Arnold (my boy) sadly passed away.
I've also had a boy pairing and, when one had a stroke and passed, took Junior to a rescue and he picked his own friend, a little 4 month old who had lost his own friend It is doable, it is possible and it is the best experience to watch them play They are such lovely creatures and so sociable! You'll notice the difference instantly!

 

[Goth Mummy]

He is absolutely gorgeous and I love his set-up! That hallowee cube is fabulous - where is it from? He will be much happier with a friend. But you did a good thing taking him x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Good on you for giving Wiggy a loving home and caring so much for his wellbeing.

Unlike rats, guinea pigs are ground roaming herd animals that don't climb. The minimal space recommendation for 2 guinea pigs from the RSPCA is 2x4 ft (120x60cm). I have solved my space problem by using cheap Ikea tables in order to go vertical. Would that be an option for you, too? If you want to go rescue, you will need to comply with these recommendations; we can help you find the best current deal on larger cages in our housing section.

The safest way to bond boars is to go "boar dating" at a good rescue that offers this service. The bonding will be conducted under expert supervision at the rescue, and you come home with a new friend only if there has been success. The key to a boar bond is character compatibility; single or bereaved boars of all ages can find a new friend in that way. You will also have the rescue to fall back during the whole life of one of their piggies, so you are never in any danger of ending up with two single boys to provide for.
I can most warmly recommend Cavy Corner in Doncaster. Not quite sure whether Honeybunnies by Leicester do boar bonding, as they have a boar neutering policy, but you may want to enquire via their facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/cavycorner?fref=ts or http://www.cavycorner.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/HONEYBUNNIES-RABBIT-GUINEA-PIG-RESCUE/167230579241?fref=ts or http://honeybunniesleicesterrabbitandguineapigrescue.webs.com/

You also might find our boar guide informative: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?76162-Boars-A-guide-to-successful-companionship

If you can get as far south as Northampton, you could also consider neutering and bonding with a sow as an alternative option. Cross gender bondings are the most stable of piggy pairings, once initial acceptance has happened, and can be very loving indeed - again dating at a rescue will make sure that Wiggle can find the lady of his dreams and you don't have to worry about the bonding.

Simon Maddock is one of the best and safest guinea pig vets in the whole country for that, with lots of experience and an outstanding track record. That way, you can avoid the sadly still not uncommon risk of post op complications.
You will however also have to take into consideration that boars need to undergo a full 6 weeks post op wait until they are safe to join a lady. I have a now 2 year old surprise baby courtesy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine) to prove that particular point!
http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/html/contact_us.html

Wiggle is an ideal weight for a boar and looks generally in fine fettle (as well as very handsome) from his pictures!

Here are tips on how to keep Wiggle busy while you take the time to explore your options and decide which is the best way for you! Company of their own kind is very important, but getting it all right is even more important for long term happiness! Until then, you are doing the right thing. Wiggle will surely blossom under your loving care!
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?43520-Guinea-Pig-Toys

 

[MerryPip]

Wiebke and Jerrybelly have both said exactly what I would have!

I have boar dated 3 or 4 times now with great success and it makes for a good, happy stable relationship when your piggy chooses their own buddy. Like rats, piggies are very social creatures and thrive with company of their own kind. They have a complex language of noises that you won't hear even half of until he has someone who talks the same language Dating at a recommended, reputable rescue gives you peace of mind that you have support from then on and that the bonding has been supervised by someone experienced.

Wiggy is a beautiful boy and I am sure he will love a new friend. Paws crossed for you both.

 

[gus+walter]

Awwww he's so cute!
I have 2 boars (who have always lived together), but I also have 2 rats. I put their cages next to each other to see if they would take an interest in each other.
The rats couldn't get enough of the pigs which was extremely adorable, the pigs took a little longer to warm up to them. They have had one proper run around with each other, but the rats were a bit too playful with them and wanted to see if their little ears were edible (as they do with everything).
They don't play together any more, nor do I have heir cages together as all the rats jumping around seemed to make the pigs a bit uneasy.
....just in case you wondered if they could be friends lol