New guinea pig

mls18

mls18

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi! I currently have a 6 year old male guinea pig whos been alone for 4 years. He didn't get along with his past guinea pig companion (Probably because they were kept in those awful pet store cages before I knew they were bad) would it be ok if I get a younger male to be his cage mate. I only want to get one becouse he seems very lonley and doesent do much and I'm thinking getting a new guinea pig will liven him up. Would it be to much stress on him?
 
Any bond comes down to character compatibility so yes while you absolutely should get him a same sex friend, whether a bond will be successful is down to the piggies
If you have the option, the best way to find him a new friend is via dating at a rescue centre. That way he can choose his own friend as this will result in a good bond. This would also be a good idea given your piggy has been alone for along time and he may need time to adjust to being with another piggy again
 
Ok thanks! The rescue I want to adopt from requires a meet up in the rescue, is that what I should do? I heard that slowly introducing guinea pigs is better.
 
mls18 said:
Ok thanks! The rescue I want to adopt from requires a meet up in the rescue, is that what I should do? I heard that slowly introducing guinea pigs is better.
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Yes go for the option in the rescue

Bonding piggies, particularly boars, is a one time event - they don’t do short introduction meetings. If you put two piggies together and then separate them again repeatedly, you interrupt everything and they have to start back at the beginning each and every time. This means they never get to form their bond and it causes stress and can actually damage their ability to bond. You put them together in a neutral territory bonding pen and see if they get on. If they don’t then separate and try another piggy. If they do get on then they remain together from then on.
The only time bonding can be done slowly is in fear aggressive piggies who need time to adjust to being around another piggy. This may the situation with your boy if he has been without piggy companionship for four years but you won’t know until you try

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
 
Piggies&buns said:
Yes go for the option in the rescue

Bonding piggies, particularly boars, is a one time event - they don’t do short introduction meetings. If you put two piggies together and then separate them again repeatedly, you interrupt everything and they have to start back at the beginning each and every time. This means they never get to form their bond and it causes stress and can actually damage their ability to bond. You put them together in a neutral territory bonding pen and see if they get on. If they don’t then separate and try another piggy. If they do get on then they remain together from then on.
The only time bonding can be done slowly is in fear aggressive piggies who need time to adjust to being around another piggy. This may the situation with your boy if he has been without piggy companionship for four years but you won’t know until you try

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
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Ok thanks so much! Ill try introducing at the shelter :)
 
mls18 said:
Ok thanks so much! Ill try introducing at the shelter :)
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Its certainly the safest way to ensure a good bond, and you can be assured you won’t be left with piggies who don’t like each other and have to live separately.

Do keep us posted on his things go!
 
mls18 said:
Ok thanks! The rescue I want to adopt from requires a meet up in the rescue, is that what I should do? I heard that slowly introducing guinea pigs is better.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Rescue dating is best because they have the experience and often several boars for your boy to meet to find a personality match. There are a couple of different dating services offered, depending on the rescue. Rescue people will spot very quickly whether a match is promising or not.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

'Slow bonding' is basically a series of aborted bonding meetings they never get to process far, which is highly frustrating for the piggies and rather counterproductive from their point of view because boars need to start right back in square one with the bonding process every time they meet, so if you shut them down at the first sign of dominance behaviour, they can never really work through their own instinctive bonding manual - THEY know what they are doing, but not you.
In the end, it comes down to whether they are character compatible or not, just the same as in a quick one-off bonding process. That is why the success rate with slow bonding is not any higher because you cannot change the personalities and the outlook of a guinea pigs. They either vibe or they don't. There is sadly no magic wand trick that make all piggies get on, the same as with any arranged human marriage.

If you want to bring home a piggy and bond them yourself, then you ALWAYS have to have a plan B at the ready in case the bonding doesn't work out because the personality match is not there.
When rescue dating, your boy has full say about who they get on with and will only come home with a new mate if there is a match; so you do not end up with yet another single boar. You will also have the rescue at your back if there are problems with the bond. If you have access to a dating good welfare standard rescue (especially one that offers residential dating), then please go for it because all the risks are on the side of the rescue and not yours.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter companionship)

All the best!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Rescue dating is best because they have the experience and often several boars for your boy to meet to find a personality match. There are a couple of different dating services offered, depending on the rescue. Rescue people will spot very quickly whether a match is promising or not.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

'Slow bonding' is basically a series of aborted bonding meetings they never get to process far, which is highly frustrating for the piggies and rather counterproductive from their point of view because boars need to start right back in square one with the bonding process every time they meet, so if you shut them down at the first sign of dominance behaviour, they can never really work through their own instinctive bonding manual - THEY know what they are doing, but not you.
In the end, it comes down to whether they are character compatible or not, just the same as in a quick one-off bonding process. That is why the success rate with slow bonding is not any higher because you cannot change the personalities and the outlook of a guinea pigs. They either vibe or they don't. There is sadly no magic wand trick that make all piggies get on, the same as with any arranged human marriage.

If you want to bring home a piggy and bond them yourself, then you ALWAYS have to have a plan B at the ready in case the bonding doesn't work out because the personality match is not there.
When rescue dating, your boy has full say about who they get on with and will only come home with a new mate if there is a match; so you do not end up with yet another single boar. You will also have the rescue at your back if there are problems with the bond. If you have access to a dating good welfare standard rescue (especially one that offers residential dating), then please go for it because all the risks are on the side of the rescue and not yours.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter companionship)

All the best!
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Thank you so much this was VERY helpfull!
 
I'm bonding them right now and the younger guinea pig keeps on trying to mount him from his face and back and then my okder guinea pig keeps on running awya is that normal? I keep on seperating them with my hand a bit becouse I'm scared their gonna hurt eachpther
 
Sorry about all the typos. Theres alot of teeth shattering and squeeking, my older guinea pig is running away from him, their eating hay now but the smaller one keeps on trying to domintae over him and he really doesent like it
 
Bonding is very stressful for humans.
They know what they’re doing and unless you get a full on, all out fight leave them be.
They are working out their relationship in the herd.
It can look brutal to us but you have to let them work things out.

When Priscilla and Jemimah were working out where they stood there were nips and fur pulling, chin offs and chattering for about 2 weeks before they decided they were best friends.

Keep the bonding guides handy - I found them very helpful the day I bonded piggies.
Hope it works out well.
 
Merab's Slave said:
Bonding is very stressful for humans.
They know what they’re doing and unless you get a full on, all out fight leave them be.
They are working out their relationship in the herd.
It can look brutal to us but you have to let them work things out.

When Priscilla and Jemimah were working out where they stood there were nips and fur pulling, chin offs and chattering for about 2 weeks before they decided they were best friends.

Keep the bonding guides handy - I found them very helpful the day I bonded piggies.
Hope it works out well.
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Ok thanks this calmed me down a little, should i be afraid of eye injuries? The little one keeps on climbing on his face and his nails are pretty sharp(i cut the tips off but wasent able to cut alot)
 
For now just watch.
It’s unlikely the baby will be able to cause eye injury- nipping is more likely.

They will sort themselves out.
They can make a squealing sound which sounds as if some horrible torture is happening but that is normal.
It’s piggy for ‘ OK - you’re the boss’
 
Merab's Slave said:
For now just watch.
It’s unlikely the baby will be able to cause eye injury- nipping is more likely.

They will sort themselves out.
They can make a squealing sound which sounds as if some horrible torture is happening but that is normal.
It’s piggy for ‘ OK - you’re the boss’
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Ok! Thanks so much, i was getting really scared. Theyve calmed down a bit now.
 
I perfectly understand how you feel.
It was the guides and forum support that saved my sanity when I bonded my girls.
Hang on in there
 
Dominance is entirely normal. Please don’t step in or interrupt them unless the bonding clearly fails (a full on fight is unmistakable). Boars need to go through the dominance behaviours - it’s how they meet, size each other up, form a relationship.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Dominance is entirely normal. Please don’t step in or interrupt them unless the bonding clearly fails (a full on fight is unmistakable). Boars need to go through the dominance behaviours - it’s how they meet, size each other up, form a relationship.
Click to expand...
Ok thank you! How would i know if their fighting? I cant tell if their biting eachother or not, i dont think they are but how would i know?
 
mls18 said:
Ok thank you! How would i know if their fighting? I cant tell if their biting eachother or not, i dont think they are but how would i know?
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Have you read the bonding guides and watched the videos?
These explain the whole process far more clearly than we can in a simple written post.
 
Swissgreys said:
Have you read the bonding guides and watched the videos?
These explain the whole process far more clearly than we can in a simple written post.
Click to expand...
Yes I read it all a few days ago but i only skimmed through it today, ill go reread it now that I'm done setting up their cage. Should i wait a bit to put them in there even though its been more then two hours? They still seem to be figuring out whos the boss.
 
The little one wont leave my older one alone and keeps on following him, he keeps on going into every house he goes into. My older guinea pig is getting really annoyed what should i do?
 

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A fight is unmistakable - it’s rolling around in a furball, locked onto each other etc. If you saw it happen, you would know!

You should leave them in the bonding pen for as long as possible so they can sort out the early stages of setting up their relationship. The longer they are in the bonding pen the better really as a change in territory (ie going to the cage) is a new environment and can cause further dominance.

If they are still in the bonding pen, then there should not be any hides or houses in there.

If they are now in the cage, then it’s fine to put two exit houses in there and the younger ones following the older ones is entirely normal. What do you mean he is getting annoyed - what is he doing that makes you think that?
It will take them two weeks to sort out their relationship and you are going to see a lot of behaviours during this time
 
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