Need Help Socializing Male And Female Pig

[Trishpointoh]

I originally had one Guinea pig, whom I thought was a female, and read online that Guinea pigs need companionship to stay healthy. I made the ultimate decision to buy another female Guinea pig. Come to find out my first baby is in fact a male. I also bought a very large cage that can transform into two pieces and I am wondering if having them side by side would still count as socializing? I don't want my piggies to be lonely but I also don't want babies running around. Any suggestions on what I should do? I'm planning on only socializing them under strict supervision.

 

[Wiebke]

I originally had one Guinea pig, whom I thought was a female, and read online that Guinea pigs need companionship to stay healthy. I made the ultimate decision to buy another female Guinea pig. Come to find out my first baby is in fact a male. I also bought a very large cage that can transform into two pieces and I am wondering if having them side by side would still count as socializing? I don't want my piggies to be lonely but I also don't want babies running around. Any suggestions on what I should do? I'm planning on only socializing them under strict supervision.

Hi and welcome!

Yes, you can keep a single male and a female side by side with interactions through the bars. You will have to make very sure that your boy can't get out or jump the fence, as boars can be amazingly acrobatic and determined when a sow is in season.

Depending on where you are in the world, a neutering operation for your boar may be an option for you for the long term, so your two piggies could live together safely. The cost can vary enormously from country to country, though, and you also want access to a good small animal specialist or a general vet with lots of practice with guinea pig neutering. However, cross gender bonds are the most stable of them all once a boar is 100% to safe to go with sows after a six week post op wait.

In order to help you better with more specific advice, it would be great if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details since we have members from all over the globe. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thanks!