Mis sexed?
- Thread starter Magpie
- Start date
I won’t confirm sexes of individual piggies, that will be left to Wiebke, but I suspect you are dealing with missexed piggies. Sexing is a hands on thing so I have added the sexing guide below so you can carry out the checks
Given the fight that occurred, I would encourage you to compare them all against each other and post pictures of all four of them
Illustrated Sexing Guide
Given the fight that occurred, I would encourage you to compare them all against each other and post pictures of all four of them
Illustrated Sexing Guide
Hi
This is a textbook boar with a button round penis sitting clearly above the straight slit. When you gently pry the genitalia apart, the slit should go straight down and the opening not covered with fleshy pads.
Please compare with the reference pictures in our Sexing Guide.
Illustrated Sexing Guide
We can only judge on the basis and quality of pictures which are often less crisp and with not quite ideal angles.
Please do so. We are here for second opinions as much as sexing babies since mis-sexing at all stages and even ages is sadly not at all uncommon.
Magpie
Junior Guinea Pig
You have four boys. How old are they exactly?
Magpie
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you ,5 months
That would explain the fighting; they are right in the thick of the teenage months. Around 4-6 months is when the testicles descend and the testosterone output is highest. It happens in huge spikes. That is also why it is the most difficult time to bond boars. With a quartet, you most commonly end up with a pair and two singles in my experience on this forum but you can end up with 4 singles. The vast majority of boar quartets don't make it.
Please don't try to rematch and leave the working pair in peace.
You may find these guides here very helpful:
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Magpie
Junior Guinea Pig
This is so sad.
Thank for your help and information.
I am not sure what to do. We have split the cage but now where it was big enough for four. It's not big enough for the pairs. We don't have the room to extend. Eurgh what a mess. Need to go away and think about this one.
Thank for your help and information.
I am not sure what to do. We have split the cage but now where it was big enough for four. It's not big enough for the pairs. We don't have the room to extend. Eurgh what a mess. Need to go away and think about this one.
Could you stack the cages and have them living on top of each other?
I am sure other members can help you with working out a solution if you start a thread in the Housing section. Please don't panic. Usually there is a way around the problem.
I’m so sorry this has happened. It certainly explains to fighting - a boar quartet is incredibly unstable
(Given you had four boars, the cage definitely was not big enough - you weren’t to know they were boars though, it isn’t your fault. It was fine for four sows but boars are a different scenario - The cage to attempt four boars would have needed to be an 11x3 c&c or larger.)
Definitely leave the two who get on as they are (you should never disrupt a bonded pair of boars as they may then refuse to go back together) and the two who fought will have to stay separate and side by side.
Stacking the cages means you won’t need to take up any more space than it currently takes:
Stack two 6x2’s on top of the other. Have the pair in one cage. With the other cage, add a divider down the middle of the other to make two 3x2 side by side cages for each single piggy. A 3x2 is minimum size for a single.
(Given you had four boars, the cage definitely was not big enough - you weren’t to know they were boars though, it isn’t your fault. It was fine for four sows but boars are a different scenario - The cage to attempt four boars would have needed to be an 11x3 c&c or larger.)
Definitely leave the two who get on as they are (you should never disrupt a bonded pair of boars as they may then refuse to go back together) and the two who fought will have to stay separate and side by side.
Stacking the cages means you won’t need to take up any more space than it currently takes:
Stack two 6x2’s on top of the other. Have the pair in one cage. With the other cage, add a divider down the middle of the other to make two 3x2 side by side cages for each single piggy. A 3x2 is minimum size for a single.
Truffolo
Forum Donator 2025/26
You could neuter some of them, that could make them easier to pair uonwith a group of females and improve their chances if finding a home if you cannot keep all of them. At this age, they should survive the op if it is done by a vet who has plenty of experience in neutering male guinea pigs. A specialised exotic vet with good reviews and reputation is advisable. I am sorry that you have been put in this predicament. Obviously you are fond of your piggies and it must be very upsetting 
Magpie
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you for the kind words and understanding.
I've had to put one on his own because he's was also fighting the other one
So I have three in one. One on the other side for safety.
As the space for them has drastically decreased we will re-home two of them but separately. It's devastating and the kids will be very upset, they absolutely dote on them.
I've had to put one on his own because he's was also fighting the other one
So I have three in one. One on the other side for safety. As the space for them has drastically decreased we will re-home two of them but separately. It's devastating and the kids will be very upset, they absolutely dote on them.
Thank you for the kind words and understanding.
I've had to put one on his own because he's was also fighting the other one
As the space for them has drastically decreased we will re-home two of them but separately. It's devastating and the kids will be very upset, they absolutely dote on them.
It’s so sad that this has happened.
Do be very careful with the three in the same cage together - boar trios also do not work and are prone to fighting and it’s exacerbated where there isn’t enough room.
We know you are in a very difficult situation and are having to deal with it as it happens but we don’t want you to end up with the two who do get on, having their relationship fail due to the interference of a third boar. We know a third cage is less than ideal but to protect the relationship of the pair who still get on, if at all possible, it’s best to remove the third piggy now and leave the two to establish as a well bonded pair.
I’m sorry to hear you have to rehome them, it’s a difficult decision to make.
It would be best if you could contact a rescue centre to take them - they will ensure they are matched to a suitable companion before rehoming
I’m so sorry you are having to make this difficult decision. Sending you and your children hugs.Thank you for the kind words and understanding.
I've had to put one on his own because he's was also fighting the other one
As the space for them has drastically decreased we will re-home two of them but separately. It's devastating and the kids will be very upset, they absolutely dote on them.
