New Guinea pig owner, unsure how to proceed.

D

DK86

New Born Pup
Joined
Mar 24, 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
6
Points
70
Location
Scotland
Hello, looking for some advice, I took ownership of my neighbours guinea pig 2 months ago, long story short, drug addict & not looking after properly (not being given hay and not cleaning cage etc) she’s a lone guinea pig and estimated to be 2 - 3 years old, Iv read up quite a bit on them and their skittish nature but even the vet says she was nervous for a guinea pig, she’s improved a lot, not amazing but she sits on my lap for treats and runs around the flat in the evenings but any other kind of touching is an absolute no no, she seems a lot happier but I do think she’s lonely, even though I suspect she’s been alone most of her life, Iv been doing reading about how guinea pigs can’t be on their own and need a friend, but her being on her own for so long means she might not accept a friend ? Unsure what to do or how to precede, my gut is telling me to get a friend but how do I go about it ? If they don’t get along I’d then have to piggies who are alone 🤔
 
That’s a great question, and it’s amazing that you took in this guinea pig and are giving her a better life! Since she has been alone for most of her life, introducing a new friend needs to be done carefully, but it is possible—and it’s usually worth trying.

Should You Get a Friend?
Yes! Guinea pigs are social animals, and even if she seems used to being alone, she would likely benefit from companionship. Some guinea pigs take longer to adjust, but many do better with a friend in the long run.

How to Introduce a New Guinea Pig
  1. Find the Right Match
    • Look for a guinea pig of a similar age and temperament.
    • A neutered male or another calm female would likely work best.
    • If possible, adopt from a rescue that allows “meet and greets” before finalizing the adoption.
  2. Quarantine the New Piggy (for health reasons)
    • Keep the new guinea pig separate for at least 2 weeks to make sure they’re healthy.
  3. Neutral Territory Introductions
    • Introduce them somewhere neither pig has claimed (like a playpen with lots of space).
    • Provide hideouts with 2 exits, piles of hay, and distractions (like veggies).
    • Expect some rumble-strutting, chasing, and light nipping—that’s normal.
  4. Watch for Signs of Bonding vs. Aggression
    • Positive signs: Popcorning, sharing space, grooming each other.
    • Worrying signs: Constant lunging, biting that draws blood, or serious fights.
  5. If It Doesn’t Work
    • Worst case scenario: You could do a “side-by-side” setup, where they live separately but can still see and hear each other. This still gives some social benefits.
Final Thoughts
Your instincts are right—getting a friend is a good idea, and she may surprise you by bonding well. Since she’s already running around and taking treats, that’s a great sign she’s becoming more confident. The key is taking introductions slow and having a backup plan in case they don’t get along.
 
Welcome to the forum
Well done for taking her in and It’s great you are open for her having a friend.
If she had always been alone then it can make it a touch harder for them to accept sharing territory but If you have a rescue centre nearby that you can contact then they can assist you finding a character compatible friend.

Any bond comes down to compatibility but if two piggies don’t get on then they can live happily side by side in separate cages. This provides enough interaction and companionship without having to share territory.

You do not need to quarantine any piggy which comes from a reliable rescue centre.

If you cannot access a rescue, and you instead need to purchase a new piggy from a shop then any piggy under four months of age cannot be quarantined due to their urgent need for companionship; and must be bonded straight away.
You would need to carry out the bonding yourself which is a specific process.
To correct the information on the above reply - when bonding in neutral territory you must not use any hides in the bonding pen as these creates territories and can cause issues during bonding.

I’ve added some of our guides below to help you further

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection
 
Hi how lovely of you to take on this guinea pig and wonderful that you are considering her best interests without a doubt a guinea needs a guinea friend. Do you have any rescues close by who could and bond your girl I will try to attach the rescues for Scotland for you. As regards being skittish they are a prey animals and it is in the DNA to avoid capture but lovely that she will sit with you 💗
 
Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of guinea pigs. Thank you for rescuing her. If she's already sitting with you for treats that's amazing progress.
The worst case scenario of two separate piggies isn't so bad and still better for her than being alone. Many of us have very content neighbour pigs. C&C cages are perfect for this possibility as well as being much cheaper than any shop bought cages.
 
Hello and welcome 🥰
It’s a wonderful thing you have done taking on that guinea pig
You’ve had great advice and I can only add …..do get her a friend 🥰
We’d love to see a photo or two of her and let us know how you get on
 
Just have a backup cage if the bonding fails. My boys are in two separate cages but are happy.
 
Ramia said:
Just have a backup cage if the bonding fails. My boys are in two separate cages but are happy.
Click to expand...
How does that work when you let them out for a wander ? Do they need to take turns or do they keep their distance from each other when out ?
 
Two piggies who cannot share a cage, can’t have any physical time together at all - everything has to be kept separate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top