New Guinea Pig?

[Elias]

I have an eight year old male guinea pig. I have had him since he was nine months old, and he has always lived alone. He has a ver large cage, and I have been considering adopting another guinea pig. I'm concerned that another pig will bother my old guinea pig though, because he has never really been around other guinea pigs for a very long time. I don't want him to become unnecessarily stressed.

Will it be safe to try and introduce him to another guinea pig?

 

[Wiebke]

I have an eight year old male guinea pig. I have had him since he was nine months old, and he has always lived alone. He has a ver large cage, and I have been considering adopting another guinea pig. I'm concerned that another pig will bother my old guinea pig though, because he has never really been around other guinea pigs for a very long time. I don't want him to become unnecessarily stressed.

Will it be safe to try and introduce him to another guinea pig?

Hi!

Unfortunately your timing is out as rescues have pretty much stopped adopting, including rescue dating where you can bring your piggy so they can have a say as to whether they want to be with another piggy or not and you do not end up with two piggies that are not getting on.

Please keep in mind that the average life span is about 5-7 (4-8) years, so your boy is actually a very old man now and you can be proud that he has made to an age that only a small minority of piggies ever lives to.
Another companion, especially a baby boy may be too much for him even though they may perk him up in the short term; it very much depends on his health and whether he is interested in other guinea pigs or not.
You could consider a neighbour (or two) through the bars but perhaps you may rather want to wait and adopt an already bonded pair from a good standard rescue instead once your boy has gone?

Adopting from a good standard non-kill and good welfare practice rescue means that you get stably bonded, properly sexed and fully quarantined/vet cared piggies and can neatly avoid all the pitfalls that await the unwary.
If you get a piggy from the free-ads or from any other shelter/rescue than the recommended, you would have to conduct your own quarantine and have a plan B at the ready in case things don't go to plan.

Recommended and vetted Californian guinea pig rescues: Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations
Importance Of Quarantine

 

[Elias]

Hi!

Unfortunately your timing is out as rescues have pretty much stopped adopting, including rescue dating where you can bring your piggy so they can have a say as to whether they want to be with another piggy or not and you do not end up with two piggies that are not getting on.

Please keep in mind that the average life span is about 5-7 (4-8) years, so your boy is actually a very old man now and you can be proud that he has made to an age that only a small minority of piggies ever lives to.
Another companion, especially a baby boy may be too much for him even though they may perk him up in the short term; it very much depends on his health and whether he is interested in other guinea pigs or not.
You could consider a neighbour (or two) through the bars but perhaps you may rather want to wait and adopt an already bonded pair from a good standard rescue instead once your boy has gone?

Adopting from a good standard non-kill and good welfare practice rescue means that you get stably bonded, properly sexed and fully quarantined/vet cared piggies and can neatly avoid all the pitfalls that await the unwary.
If you get a piggy from the free-ads or from any other shelter/rescue than the recommended, you would have to conduct your own quarantine and have a plan B at the ready in case things don't go to plan.

Recommended and vetted Californian guinea pig rescues: Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations
Importance Of Quarantine

Thank you very much for your reply! It was very helpful!