My new Guinea pig

[Lauzlepop]

Hi, I just have a few questions regarding my New Guinea pig. My boyfriend has had guinea pigs in the past to help with his depression, however his parents have kept his previous two. So I surprised him with one a couple of days ago. We were going to get two but they only had males and they were all starting to show signs of dominance and aggression and we didn’t want a fighting pair, so they allowed us to take one. We’ve left him almost completely alone in a quiet room in his cage for a couple of days now to let him settle in, only it doesn’t look as though he’s been eating or drinking at all and he’s not left the corner of the cage in the past two days. I’m just wondering whether I should get him a companion and if that would help? He’s only 3 months old so if a companion would help I’m assuming it would be better to get one whilst he’s still young and new to his living space?

 

[Tangle]

Whereabouts are you? What kind of situation did your baby come from (shop, breeder...?)

I'm not an expert by any means, but my best guess would be that if your little boy has spent his life up to now running around with lots of other guinea pigs he's probably feeling very very lonely and very very scared to suddenly find himself all alone. I'd definitely be finding him a friend ASAP, and if he's really not eating at all (are you sure he's not sneaking out at night? any poos left behind?) that's an emergency problem that you need to get on top of.

Personally I'd start by looking at the list of rescues seeing if there's one near enough to you that offers boar dating - guinea pigs can have quite strong feelings on who they want to live with, so if you can organise this you've a much better chance of having a compatible, stable pair than if you get another 3-month old boy from the same place. By getting one older boar you'd also be giving your little one an "uncle" figure who can teach him guinea pig social skills, and also means you're likely only have one boar going through the teenage tantrums at a time (rather than having two doing it together, which is when you're most likely to have fights and fall outs) .

Whatever you do, though, you need to find away to get your piggy eating today - and finding him a friend (uncle or cousin/brother) may well be the key to that.

Good luck, and keep posting ( and if you could put an approximate location in your profile it would make it much easier for members to give you appropriate advice

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I just have a few questions regarding my New Guinea pig. My boyfriend has had guinea pigs in the past to help with his depression, however his parents have kept his previous two. So I surprised him with one a couple of days ago. We were going to get two but they only had males and they were all starting to show signs of dominance and aggression and we didn’t want a fighting pair, so they allowed us to take one. We’ve left him almost completely alone in a quiet room in his cage for a couple of days now to let him settle in, only it doesn’t look as though he’s been eating or drinking at all and he’s not left the corner of the cage in the past two days. I’m just wondering whether I should get him a companion and if that would help? He’s only 3 months old so if a companion would help I’m assuming it would be better to get one whilst he’s still young and new to his living space?

Hi!

PLEASE get him a companion - right now he is feeling totally lost having been carried off by large predators and dumped somewhere he doesn't where he is and has no chance to ever go back to his group. If the two boys do not get on in the longer term, then they can live as next door neighbours, ideally with full interaction through the bars - nose touching, full body sight and voice contact to allow full communication in all its complex aspects.

By the way, the safest place to get bonded guinea pigs from or to find a character compatible healthy companion is a good standard rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care, proper sexing, and careful pairing up that offers dating at the rescue under expert supervision for single/bereaved guinea pigs. A bit more of an effort for a LOT more service and peace of mind!
Recommended UK rescues: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Recommended rescues in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Please do not dump any new boy directly in the other's cage and introduce on neutral ground; or he will be treated as an invader. Brace for the inevitable bonding dominance behaviour, which you may have also witnessed at the shop as the boys were establishing a group of last piggies standing in their pen. Take the time to carefully read these guides in order to not mess things up unnecessarily and to make sure that they have got a chance as a pair:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.127295/(age 4-14 months)
Cage Size Guide

Here is our new owners guide collection, which also has a full section on how to settle in skittish guinea pigs, understand prey instincts, make friends with them in body language and how to pick up and handle them. We have further information on understanding behaviour, daily care (including boar care), diet (looking at all aspects and including an illustrated sample diet), housing (including safe and unsafe accessories and toys as well as climate care as well as welfare compatible size recommendations); learning what is normal or not and how to spot illness early on.

 

[Blooberry]

Your boy must be very scared and lonely as Weibke has already said. A companion is essential for your little boys general welfare. There is lots of information on here to guide you through. Boars need lots of cage space so if your current cage was purchased with one guinea pig in mind, you may need to consider your cage size when adopting another. Finding a companion is priority however. Please keep us posted.

 

[Lauzlepop]

Your boy must be very scared and lonely as Weibke has already said. A companion is essential for your little boys general welfare. There is lots of information on here to guide you through. Boars need lots of cage space so if your current cage was purchased with one guinea pig in mind, you may need to consider your cage size when adopting another. Finding a companion is priority however. Please keep us posted.

Hiya,

We’ve had the cage previously and it’s a fair size, it used to be home to a large bunny. There should be plenty of space. I’ve got him a few extra places to hide whilst I’m trying to contact a rescue.

 

[Lauzlepop]

Hi!

PLEASE get him a companion - right now he is feeling totally lost having been carried off by large predators and dumped somewhere he doesn't where he is and has no chance to ever go back to his group. If the two boys do not get on in the longer term, then they can live as next door neighbours, ideally with full interaction through the bars - nose touching, full body sight and voice contact to allow full communication in all its complex aspects.

By the way, the safest place to get bonded guinea pigs from or to find a character compatible healthy companion is a good standard rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care, proper sexing, and careful pairing up that offers dating at the rescue under expert supervision for single/bereaved guinea pigs. A bit more of an effort for a LOT more service and peace of mind!
Recommended UK rescues: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Recommended rescues in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Please do not dump any new boy directly in the other's cage and introduce on neutral ground; or he will be treated as an invader. Brace for the inevitable bonding dominance behaviour, which you may have also witnessed at the shop as the boys were establishing a group of last piggies standing in their pen. Take the time to carefully read these guides in order to not mess things up unnecessarily and to make sure that they have got a chance as a pair:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.127295/(age 4-14 months)
Cage Size Guide

Here is our new owners guide collection, which also has a full section on how to settle in skittish guinea pigs, understand prey instincts, make friends with them in body language and how to pick up and handle them. We have further information on understanding behaviour, daily care (including boar care), diet (looking at all aspects and including an illustrated sample diet), housing (including safe and unsafe accessories and toys as well as climate care as well as welfare compatible size recommendations); learning what is normal or not and how to spot illness early on.

Hello,

My local rescue has no single pigs at the minute, is this something that needs to be rectified immediately? I don’t want him to be at all scared or lonely.

 

[Lauzlepop]

Whereabouts are you? What kind of situation did your baby come from (shop, breeder...?)

I'm not an expert by any means, but my best guess would be that if your little boy has spent his life up to now running around with lots of other guinea pigs he's probably feeling very very lonely and very very scared to suddenly find himself all alone. I'd definitely be finding him a friend ASAP, and if he's really not eating at all (are you sure he's not sneaking out at night? any poos left behind?) that's an emergency problem that you need to get on top of.

Personally I'd start by looking at the list of rescues seeing if there's one near enough to you that offers boar dating - guinea pigs can have quite strong feelings on who they want to live with, so if you can organise this you've a much better chance of having a compatible, stable pair than if you get another 3-month old boy from the same place. By getting one older boar you'd also be giving your little one an "uncle" figure who can teach him guinea pig social skills, and also means you're likely only have one boar going through the teenage tantrums at a time (rather than having two doing it together, which is when you're most likely to have fights and fall outs) .

Whatever you do, though, you need to find away to get your piggy eating today - and finding him a friend (uncle or cousin/brother) may well be the key to that.

Good luck, and keep posting ( and if you could put an approximate location in your profile it would make it much easier for members to give you appropriate advice

Hiya,

I’m in Stoke and have contacted my closest rescue! They have no single piggies in currently!

He came from pets at home so he was placed with a fair few others.

As far as I can see there are no droppings but I suspect as he hasn’t moved, if there were any I wouldn’t be able to see them!

I’d love to be able to have him meet some other boars, not sure it’ll be possible with my location currently. Would looking on a site such as pets4u with people trying to rehome pets work? I’d be a little reluctant to keep picking him up and moving him around though as he’s had a stressful few days!

 

[Lauzlepop]

Hiya,

I’m in Stoke and have contacted my closest rescue! They have no single piggies in currently!

He came from pets at home so he was placed with a fair few others.

As far as I can see there are no droppings but I suspect as he hasn’t moved, if there were any I wouldn’t be able to see them!

I’d love to be able to have him meet some other boars, not sure it’ll be possible with my location currently. Would looking on a site such as pets4u with people trying to rehome pets work? I’d be a little reluctant to keep picking him up and moving him around though as he’s had a stressful few days!

** Pets4Homes sorry!

 

[Blooberry]

Hiya,

We’ve had the cage previously and it’s a fair size, it used to be home to a large bunny. There should be plenty of space. I’ve got him a few extra places to hide whilst I’m trying to contact a rescue.

Weibke has already shared the link to cage sizes. Please take a look and see how your cage measures up.

 

[Seven7]

Sorry to hear about your little one. Appears as though experts have already given you plenty of tips above.

My Finn and Lara live in seperate cages too but they can see and hear each other and it has worked for us. I always make sure they get plenty of veggies, herbs, and fruits along with endless Oxbow hay and some Oxbow pellets. I also spend a lot of time with them, I love them a lot.

I wish you best of luck.

 

[PiggyPoo]

Hope he settles soon and you can find him a friend. I’d keep his food and water really close by and undercover with one of these bridges so he feels a bit safer. Good luck with finding him a mate xx

 

[miowmix]

Could you keep your piggy in the lounge (or where you and your OH spend most time)? As long as it's not too loud... he may not feel so lonely then : ) And lots of cuddles with you, little and often is good, so he can bond with you until you're able to get him a companion. Did the rescue say they would contact you if any single boars came in? It would be good if you could get them to do the introduction for you. Good luck!

 

[PiggyPoo]

How is he this morning? Xx

 

[Lauzlepop]

Could you keep your piggy in the lounge (or where you and your OH spend most time)? As long as it's not too loud... he may not feel so lonely then : ) And lots of cuddles with you, little and often is good, so he can bond with you until you're able to get him a companion. Did the rescue say they would contact you if any single boars came in? It would be good if you could get them to do the introduction for you. Good luck!

Unfortunately we have two sometimes boisertous dogs that would probably bother him too much. We do tend to visit him quite a lot but we’re scared of frightening him. Now he’s starting to get used to his cage we’re going to try handling him and starting to get him used to us.

The rescue still hasn’t got back to us

 

[Lauzlepop]

How is he this morning? Xx

I bought him an new place to hide yesterday so he’s moved from the corner of the cage to there. I think he may have had a nibble on some grass I put in there and I think he may have had a couple of pellets. Still very shy and reluctant though. I’ve put a little bit of carrot and broccoli in there, hopefully they’ll be gone when I next go to see him! x