New addition to a single guinea?

[RobertDCrawford]

Hey everyone,

Just trying to seek a bit of advice regarding my current guinea pig. I currently have the pleasure of being the ‘parent’ to a 4 year old male Peruvian guinea named Jax who has been alone since we lost Paris, another male guinea, just over 3 years ago. Jax is a character of his own and holds a slightly tilted head from when he got a nasty ear infection around a year ago. Since then he’s recovered swiftly and is currently thriving, but I do feel he is slightly lonely and could do with a friend to keep him active throughout the day / night.

I’m just wondering, with Jax being alone for such a long time, how would he take it? And would it be worth rehoming a younger male guinea pig so Jax can establish the dominance between them? I then also tell myself that Jax could almost ‘bully’ the new addition?

I guess it really does come down to fate and how slowly their introduced, but I just want to seek some advice on how to introduce / bond the guineas before going ahead with finding him a friend...

Really appreciate the help,

Rob x

 

[Bill & Ted]

Boar dating at a local rescue would be the best thing if you can find one near you. he can then choose his own friend, someone he actually likes. Jax is very handsome x

 

[DMS260820]

I agree with the above.

In my opinion you can think it through and through and you wouldnt be able too 100% strategically be able to find a definite match. Do the above and find a definite character match. Which I am being a hypocrite to because I risked it and went and got my second pig from a petshop adoption, it did work out but its just too risky

 

[Merab]

What a handsome boy.
@Bill & Ted ’s advice is the best.
If you are U.K. based there is a list of recommended rescues on the forum links.

If boar dating doesn’t work, or isn’t a possibility then having Jax neutered and getting him a wife would be another option.

 

[Wiebke]

Hey everyone,

Just trying to seek a bit of advice regarding my current guinea pig. I currently have the pleasure of being the ‘parent’ to a 4 year old male Peruvian guinea named Jax who has been alone since we lost Paris, another male guinea, just over 3 years ago. Jax is a character of his own and holds a slightly tilted head from when he got a nasty ear infection around a year ago. Since then he’s recovered swiftly and is currently thriving, but I do feel he is slightly lonely and could do with a friend to keep him active throughout the day / night.

I’m just wondering, with Jax being alone for such a long time, how would he take it? And would it be worth rehoming a younger male guinea pig so Jax can establish the dominance between them? I then also tell myself that Jax could almost ‘bully’ the new addition?

I guess it really does come down to fate and how slowly their introduced, but I just want to seek some advice on how to introduce / bond the guineas before going ahead with finding him a friend...

Really appreciate the help,

Rob x

Hi and welcome

Which country are you in?

Rescue dating is the best way forward, so Jax can choose whether and who he wants to be friends with.
The oldest life-long single boar I know of that found a new friend that way was 6 years old when he moved hands in old age.

Here is our advice for single piggies (including companionship and lists of recommended good standard rescues in several countries with mandatory quarantine/vet care/proper sexing and very often dating for single piggies): Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Our comprehensive boar guide: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[RobertDCrawford]

Boar dating at a local rescue would be the best thing if you can find one near you. he can then choose his own friend, someone he actually likes. Jax is very handsome x

This sounds a fab idea, I’m going to get in contact with some local rescues and see if they’d be willing to let us find him a new friend!
Thank you so much for the suggestion and I’m sure Jax would be flattered with your lovely comment!
All the best,
Rob x

 

[Wiebke]

This sounds a fab idea, I’m going to get in contact with some local rescues and see if they’d be willing to let us find him a new friend!
Thank you so much for the suggestion and I’m sure Jax would be flattered with your lovely comment!
All the best,
Rob x

Here is our list of recommended rescues: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues (includes a link to recommended good standard rescues in some other countries)

Please be aware that anybody in the English speaking world can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without licensing or supervision and that the results can be accordingly and any mix in between. We can only guarantee that you and Jax are in safe and experienced hands with the carefully vetted rescues listed there.
For any other place the risk is in your side and the advice in this guide here applies: New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

 

[RobertDCrawford]

Hi and welcome

Which country are you in?

Rescue dating is the best way forward, so Jax can choose whether and who he wants to be friends with.
The oldest life-long single boar I know of that found a new friend that way was 6 years old when he moved hands in old age.

Here is our advice for single piggies (including companionship and lists of recommended good standard rescues in several countries with mandatory quarantine/vet care/proper sexing and very often dating for single piggies): Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Our comprehensive boar guide: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Apologies I didn’t reply to this!
I’m based in the U.K. / Northwest & can drive. Thank you so much for the help!

 

[Wiebke]

Apologies I didn’t reply to this!
I’m based in the U.K. / Northwest & can drive. Thank you so much for the help!

We have just added a new rescue in Manchester to our rescue locator, but the Potteries in Kidsgrove with fosterers in the South Manchester area is also an option.

I don't know whether Milhaven in Keighley West Yorkshire is rehoming to the Northwest now that they have reopened again and offer residential dating (i.e. Jax is going on a holiday to the rescue and will meet up to three potential candidates with the bulk of the bonding happening at the rescue and you coming home with a firmly bonded pair). You would have to ask Jo.

Ideally you contact any rescue that you can get to; don't just go by the website as they often have more piggies in the pipeline, especially for dating.