Matching Guinea pigs

Berry the pig

Berry the pig

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Hello everyone , I currently have a one year old unneutered male living on his own. His companion (another male) recently passed away and I know that Guinea pigs need a partner so I want to find him a friend. however, I am unsure of what would be the right match. Is it better to get another male or a spayed female? I would prefer a female but I don‘t know if it’s a good idea. So can a spayed female live with a un-neutered male? Or should I get him neutered instead? Please give me some advice. Thank you :)
 
Welcome to the forum and I am sorry for your loss.

It depends whether you can find a spayed sow - as it is a major operation, they are generally only spayed when the medical need arises (usually due to the sow having ovarian cysts). The chances of finding a spayed sow are lower and there probably won’t be many, if any, available in rescue centres.

If you would prefer him to be bonded with a sow, then It would be best and maximise his chances of finding a sow if you neuter him, have the six week post surgery wait for him to become infertile and then rescue date him to find a suitable sow. Rescue dating is safest to ensure character compatibility is achieved as it is essential to a successful bond.

You can of course bond him with another male, again via dating, to ensure character compatibility. Two boars together need a larger cage than a neutered boar/sow pair.
 
Excellent advice above.
I would personally start by working out where your closest rescue is and get in touch with them.
Before making any major decisions if you contact a rescue they may be able to help by offering to date your boy with other boars, or help you find a good vet to perform the operation so he can later be paired with a female or two.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Welcome to the forum and I am sorry for your loss.

It depends whether you can find a spayed sow - as it is a major operation, they are generally only spayed when the medical need arises (usually due to the sow having ovarian cysts). The chances of finding a spayed sow are lower and there probably won’t be many, if any, available in rescue centres.

If you would prefer him to be bonded with a sow, then It would be best and maximise his chances of finding a sow if you neuter him, have the six week post surgery wait for him to become infertile and then rescue date him to find a suitable sow. Rescue dating is safest to ensure character compatibility is achieved as it is essential to a successful bond.

You can of course bond him with another male, again via dating, to ensure character compatibility. Two boars together need a larger cage than a neutered boar/sow pair.
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Thank you very much for your advice. I will continue to look for a good rescue. But one question, would the female want to mate at all, if she is not spayed? Even if he is neutered, will she attempt to mate? Thanks again
 
Berry the pig said:
Thank you very much for your advice. I will continue to look for a good rescue. But one question, would the female want to mate at all, if she is not spayed? Even if he is neutered, will she attempt to mate? Thanks again
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He will mount her regardless of whether she is spayed or whether he is neutered. It is a dominance behaviour which will happen regularly
 
Berry the pig said:
Hello everyone , I currently have a one year old unneutered male living on his own. His companion (another male) recently passed away and I know that Guinea pigs need a partner so I want to find him a friend. however, I am unsure of what would be the right match. Is it better to get another male or a spayed female? I would prefer a female but I don‘t know if it’s a good idea. So can a spayed female live with a un-neutered male? Or should I get him neutered instead? Please give me some advice. Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss!

The best way of finding a personality match is rescue dating because it gives your boy the choice as to who he gets on with and wants to be friends with. As long as your boy can have a say who he wants to be with, there is no issue with a boar match as long as they can choose each other. Adults past their teenage hormones are actually pretty much as stable as a sow bond. (See more in-depth info links on pairs at the bottom of the post.)
What you will struggle to find in the UK are spayed sows. They are pretty much all privately owned and spayed for medical reason in middle age or older.

Please contact April Lodge Guinea Pig Rescue in Eastry near Sandwich as they are your closest rescue that offers this service. I can personally recommend them as by far the best place within your reach, having visited the rescue when I adopted my Breila and Cerian from there three years ago. They will only put up guinea pigs when they are fully quarantined, healthy and guaranteed not pregnant after a mandatory pregnancy watch. Their adoption wing and the quarantining wing are scrupulously separated.
Website: APRIL LODGE GUINEA PIG RESCUE
April Lodge Guinea Pig Rescue

You can find some information on rescue dating in this link here: Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Bonding behaviours and interaction behaviours in both boars and sows are exactly the same irrespected of whether they are de-sexed or not. Spayed sows do not come into season but that doesn't impact on the bond itself. What comes long before age, gender and which side in a cross gender match is de-sexed is mutual liking and a personality match. The big hurdle with boar bonds is not their gender but that they are usually chosen as babies for their looks and not who is hanging out most with who...
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
 
Berry the pig said:
Okay thanks. Will this cause an issue or would I just ignore it? Sorry for all the questions btw
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Please don’t be sorry for asking questions.

Mounting won’t cause problems in itself in a compatible relationship . It is a normal behaviour used to assert dominance as well as for mating. My two boys mount each other all the time.

A sow will allow the boar to mount her when she wants him to, otherwise, she will tell him off and he will have to learn to listen!
 
Hi, I need some advice on neutering my boy. He is a 11 months old, and currently living on his own, however I would like to pair him with a sow. I have heard that you should only neuter if you really have to, which in this case I don’t as I also have the choice of matching him with a boar instead. So as this is purely a personal preference, should I get him neutered or not? And if I do, what is the process afterwards? Thanks :)
 
Hi, I need some advice on neutering my boy. He is a 11 months old, and currently living on his own, however I would like to pair him with a sow. I have heard that you should only neuter if you really have to, which in this case I don’t as I also have the choice of matching him with a boar instead. So as this is purely a personal preference, should I get him neutered or not? And if I do, what is the process afterwards? Thanks
:)
 
Neutering a boar is a much more routine surgery and is much less of ‘only if you have to’. For example, some rescue centres will routinely neuter their boars before rehoming, even if they are being rehomed with another boar at that time.
Spaying a sow is a major surgery and that really is only if you absolutely have to for medical purposes.

The key is finding a vet with experiencing in neutering piggies.

Once he is neutered, he will still need to remain away from sows for six weeks after surgery. This is because semen remains in the tubes for around six weeks post surgery which will still make him fertile and still enable a pregnancy. After the six weeks is up, then he can be bonded with a compatible sow.

The guide below details neutering further

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

You may also find these guides useful -
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
 
Welcome to the forum.
Sorry for your loss.
Great advice already given.
I hope you find your boar a suitable companion soon
 
Thank you all for the great advice.
He is currently on the waiting list for castration. Where is the best place to find him a suitable partner and how long will it take to get them bonded?

As he has already been on his own for a few weeks and then will have to wait six weeks after being neutered, I don’t want him getting lonely.
So my main concern is how long can Guinea pigs be alone for and what are the best ways to avoid loneliness.
Thank you again for all your help and sorry for the many questions.
 
Berry the pig said:
Thank you all for the great advice.
He is currently on the waiting list for castration. Where is the best place to find him a suitable partner and how long will it take to get them bonded?

As he has already been on his own for a few weeks and then will have to wait six weeks after being neutered, I don’t want him getting lonely.
So my main concern is how long can Guinea pigs be alone for and what are the best ways to avoid loneliness.
Thank you again for all your help and sorry for the many questions.
Click to expand...

The best way to find a compatible friend is via dating at a rescue centre. Wiebke had linked in the website for your nearest rescue centre above.
Once your name is on the waiting list, then once he is neutered and safe, they can help you with the process.
He will be tried with a sow to see if they are compatible. It may be done via speed dating, they will try him with another piggy to see if they have initial acceptance and if they do then you can finish the process in neutral territory for a few hours at home before moving them to their cage to remain together.
If they are not compatible, then another can be tried. It may be another piggy can be tried at that same point or he may have to wait until another piggy befomes available.

This is our enrichment guide, it can help with some ideas for how you can keep him occupied during his wait
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
Piggies&buns said:
The best way to find a compatible friend is via dating at a rescue centre. Wiebke had linked in the website for your nearest rescue centre above.
Once your name is on the waiting list, then once he is neutered and safe, they can help you with the process.
He will be tried with a sow to see if they are compatible. It may be done via speed dating, they will try him with another piggy to see if they have initial acceptance and if they do then you can finish the process in neutral territory for a few hours at home before moving them to their cage to remain together.
If they are not compatible, then another can be tried. It may be another piggy can be tried at that same point or he may have to wait until another piggy befomes available.

This is our enrichment guide, it can help with some ideas for how you can keep him occupied during his wait
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
Click to expand...
Thank you! I will have a look!
 
Yes piggies may get lonely but on the whole as long as they are eating, drinking and pooping normally they are ok while waiting for a friend to come along. Obviously it would be ideal to get a friend sooner but we don't recommend this where you are having a boat neutered for the obvious reasons so it is much better to wait a few weeks before taking that step
 
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