Lonely guinea pig needs a friend

[Pigwig2021]

Hiya everyone
I’ve had a look through some pages and blogs about binding guinea pigs but would really value some personal experience or suggestions.
I have recently just lost a boar leaving another boar on his own. I obviously want to get a little friend for him so he’s not lonely but I’m seeing lots of different information on many websites and sometime contradicting.

My existing pair were inseparable, different breeds and one almost double the size of the other that passed away (1585g and my poorly pig was around 800g). They were brought up from babies and never neutered but also have never had a fight apart from a little nudge every now and again with some boar glue thrown in every few months (If you know you know).
I know It’s advised to have two of everything but I never did and it was never a problem and I would actually go further to say that they always would prefer to share and sleep curled up together. They both are/were 3 1/2 years and extremely friendly.

I am now searching for a little friend and exploring all options including rescue. I’m not looking for more than one/ two maximum due to space and I would prefer a younger pig as I plan to keep guineas long term.

obviously I would need to have my pig neutered if we take on a female but then I’ve read these need to be taken in pairs? If I get a little boar, is it essential he is neutered?
I understand introducing then slowly and getting two of things is important and not a problem.
Sorry if the questions seem obvious but I need to make the right decision as I’m a little inexperienced at this .
Thanks

 

[Pigwig2021]

Hiya everyone
I’ve had a look through some pages and blogs about binding guinea pigs but would really value some personal experience or suggestions.
I have recently just lost a boar leaving another boar on his own. I obviously want to get a little friend for him so he’s not lonely but I’m seeing lots of different information on many websites and sometime contradicting.

My existing pair were inseparable, different breeds and one almost double the size of the other that passed away (1585g and my poorly pig was around 800g). They were brought up from babies and never neutered but also have never had a fight apart from a little nudge every now and again with some boar glue thrown in every few months (If you know you know).
I know It’s advised to have two of everything but I never did and it was never a problem and I would actually go further to say that they always would prefer to share and sleep curled up together. They both are/were 3 1/2 years and extremely friendly.

I am now searching for a little friend and exploring all options including rescue. I’m not looking for more than one/ two maximum due to space and I would prefer a younger pig as I plan to keep guineas long term.

obviously I would need to have my pig neutered if we take on a female but then I’ve read these need to be taken in pairs? If I get a little boar, is it essential he is neutered?
I understand introducing then slowly and getting two of things is important and not a problem.
Sorry if the questions seem obvious but I need to make the right decision as I’m a little inexperienced at this .
Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome and I'm sorry for your loss.

Character compatibility, not size or age etc, is important when it comes to finding a suitable friend for a piggy. If you can take him rescue dating then he can choose his own friend and you can be more assured of a compatible bond. If you pick a piggy for him, then there is a risk of failure.

Its great he got on so well with your other boar, but do be aware that if you do take on another boar, then you do need two of every item etc and a large cage (180x60cm is recommended for a boar pair) particularly if the new piggy is younger and is a teenager (or coming into his teens) as that is the most tense time and not having enough space or being forced to share an item will cause problems.
If you do find him a boar friend, then you must only get one - three boars together does not work.
Neither boy needs to be neutered. Neutering does not change behaviour.

If you do want a sow for him, then it is absolutely fine to just get one sow - rescues may have single sows looking to be bonded with a neutered boar so do get in contact with them as rescues dont usually advertise single piggies available for adoption.
Of course, you boy must be neutered to be with a sow(s). He will then need to be kept away from sows (so would not be able to go dating during this time) for six weeks as they remain fertile during the first six weeks post neuter.

Bonding is not done slowly. Its an all or nothing, one time event. They are put in a bonding pen and left for several hours to see if they like each other and can form a relationship. If they cant it will fail there and then and they will need to be separated. If they have another piggy available then they may be able to try but it may be that it takes a while and several meetings to find a compatible friend. If they do like each other and acceptance occurs, then they should be left together from then on and can be moved into the cage they are to live in. It will then take them a further two weeks of permanently living together to fully sort out the fine details of their relationship.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[Free Ranger]

Hello @Pigwig2021 and I'm sorry to hear of your loss. It is very hard when a piggy is left behind especially when the bond has been so close. I have kept piggies for 10 years and have had to tackle this problem a few times. There are certainly ways to make introductions smoother but looking back I don't think any of my 'failed' bonds would have worked if i had done things differently. I vote for rescue dating as the way to meet new friends and choose one. In your position I've looked at my lonely pig and thought they must feel like there are no other guinea pigs in the world... one of my girls started to sit on a high spot looking out when she was on her own. She was looking out to try and find another guinea pig.

We neutered a remaining boar a few years back to home him with sows. His first partner wasn't that keen on him and probably would have preferred the company of another girl too, although his second partner was a proper love match and they were always together. With this in mind I got a pair of girls for my current boy, George, in lockdown last year because we couldn't go dating at the rescue and I learnt a hard lesson. The submissive girl really liked George but the dominant one hated his guts and fought him so they had to live next door to each other! Girls have a pecking order and the male just has to go along with it.

Some people go for a baby boar and initially this can look great but this is no guarantee that when he reaches his teenage phase (just when you've relaxed about things!) it won't break up. Neighbours living separately but having contact through the bars is not a disaster but of course it's nicer for them to have a friend they'd like to live with! There is no advantage to neutering except to stop breeding - it won't change behaviour one jot so there is no need to neuter if you are going to keep boys. Sometimes people post about their 'boar trio' and seem surprised that the forum doesn't recommend this set up but apart from exceptionally rare cases it is too high stress for the boys. Sometimes people can think that piggies fighting and one hiding away all the time is 'normal' for boys but it isn't a pleasant life and the poor piggies are just trying to make the best of a bad situation.

So good luck in your quest and even if you end up with bar-neighbours (assuming you have the space) it's better than being a lone pig x

 

[Bill & Ted]

to the forum, so sorry you lost one of your boys
Boar dating at a rescue is the way to go. Don’t worry if you don’t see any single piggies up on their websites, they only tend to put up pairs of bonded piggies. They will have singles who are looking to be matched up. If you explain you have a bereaved boar then they will help.
First thing to do is send them an email explaining your situation, good luck x