Piggies2847
New Born Pup
Hi. It's never easy to talk about this, but I'll start. First, I'm not on UK, I'm Portuguese so my English might not be the best. Please don't judge me, I'm trying to give them all the care I can I just don't feel like I can do enough for them...
I had a lot of trouble lately with my guinea pigs. I didn't know things would go this bad... They are two boys, Piggie is 2/3 years old and Houdini is 1 year old. We got Piggie on 2022 and Houdini on 2023. They're the first guinea pigs I ever had. Houdini was just a few months old when I introduced him to Piggie. I watched lots of videos on how to get them to bond together and tried my best at it, but they ended up fighting in the first try and I got bitten in the process by Houdini. I didn't get mad at them, I was very worried for their health and that I made them both stress over trying to bond them together. I was too scared after to try again. At that time, they were living on a wooden "table" adapted house (size of a 2x4 C&C). I separated them with an acrylic on the middle. They would sometimes chew trying to get to one another.
After like 8 months, I decided that I was ready to try again. I bought them a real 2x4 C&C cage, with the bars. I tried to get them to bond once again, but it failed, they started fighting. Houdini would constantly bully Piggie as his personality is quite strong - he doesn't like to be picked up much, he's a sassy and kind of bossy pig. That was never a problem for me, I love them both a lot, but lately it's been hard to cope with the fact that they are never going to be okay together.
With the new cage, I can't put acrylic in the middle because of the fleece below (doesn't fit). I ended up having to put bars to separate them but Houdini started biting them really hard. Everytime Piggie would get closer, he would try to reach him and bite him - I was so afraid because one time Piggie was just looking with his eyes closer to the bars and Houdini was reaching.. At least nothing happened to them and I immediately put chloroplast on Houdini's side. He started to bite that too. He also takes fleece out of place and spills over his water (looks quite stressed). It's worse if I pick Piggie up, somehow, they look like they envy each other.
I can't stand the thought of being a bad guinea mom. I contacted a rescue here and explained what could I do to make it better for my boys and they said that the best would be giving more space for them, toys/plushie and a female for each. That's when the money part comes.. I have a job, but doesn't pay that much for me to be able to pay for 4 guinea pigs or buy a bigger house. I live on an apartment too and it's tight to extend space. I feel like I made a huge mistake thinking that two boys would go well together just because people on the internet said it was fine... I feel now very ashamed to contact the rescue too anymore, but if needed, I would. None of them are neutered and I would happily pay for Houdini to be, if that meant he could go to another home and live with girls. Still, I'm afraid of his personality. I don't know what to do really, please help the best way you can... I can't really give Piggie away (it's the second time he gets a partner and gets bullied by them). The first partner he had, had bitten him too on the ears and I had to get them rehomed asap. But now it's complex, it's been almost a year since I have Houdini and I feel like no one would want him...
I also feel so horrible that I am even thinking about getting "rid" of one to get a female for the other. I'm emotionally attached to both but can't stand like this thinking I'm not being the best. Watching Houdini bite things is making me so nervous each day I don't know what else to do (that I could) to improve his life... As piggie is calm, I'm more inclined to keep him and also because I spent more time with him.
I also have autism and ADHD, and I've been really anxious about what to do that could be the best for them that I can't think properly anymore and I need real guidance on what to do... I feel really sad and crying over the thought of having to re-home one of them... But at the same time, I just want the best. I feel like Houdini would be happier rehomed... Please help.
If I forgot any important details, please ask me about it and I'll happily answer.
I had a lot of trouble lately with my guinea pigs. I didn't know things would go this bad... They are two boys, Piggie is 2/3 years old and Houdini is 1 year old. We got Piggie on 2022 and Houdini on 2023. They're the first guinea pigs I ever had. Houdini was just a few months old when I introduced him to Piggie. I watched lots of videos on how to get them to bond together and tried my best at it, but they ended up fighting in the first try and I got bitten in the process by Houdini. I didn't get mad at them, I was very worried for their health and that I made them both stress over trying to bond them together. I was too scared after to try again. At that time, they were living on a wooden "table" adapted house (size of a 2x4 C&C). I separated them with an acrylic on the middle. They would sometimes chew trying to get to one another.
After like 8 months, I decided that I was ready to try again. I bought them a real 2x4 C&C cage, with the bars. I tried to get them to bond once again, but it failed, they started fighting. Houdini would constantly bully Piggie as his personality is quite strong - he doesn't like to be picked up much, he's a sassy and kind of bossy pig. That was never a problem for me, I love them both a lot, but lately it's been hard to cope with the fact that they are never going to be okay together.
With the new cage, I can't put acrylic in the middle because of the fleece below (doesn't fit). I ended up having to put bars to separate them but Houdini started biting them really hard. Everytime Piggie would get closer, he would try to reach him and bite him - I was so afraid because one time Piggie was just looking with his eyes closer to the bars and Houdini was reaching.. At least nothing happened to them and I immediately put chloroplast on Houdini's side. He started to bite that too. He also takes fleece out of place and spills over his water (looks quite stressed). It's worse if I pick Piggie up, somehow, they look like they envy each other.
I can't stand the thought of being a bad guinea mom. I contacted a rescue here and explained what could I do to make it better for my boys and they said that the best would be giving more space for them, toys/plushie and a female for each. That's when the money part comes.. I have a job, but doesn't pay that much for me to be able to pay for 4 guinea pigs or buy a bigger house. I live on an apartment too and it's tight to extend space. I feel like I made a huge mistake thinking that two boys would go well together just because people on the internet said it was fine... I feel now very ashamed to contact the rescue too anymore, but if needed, I would. None of them are neutered and I would happily pay for Houdini to be, if that meant he could go to another home and live with girls. Still, I'm afraid of his personality. I don't know what to do really, please help the best way you can... I can't really give Piggie away (it's the second time he gets a partner and gets bullied by them). The first partner he had, had bitten him too on the ears and I had to get them rehomed asap. But now it's complex, it's been almost a year since I have Houdini and I feel like no one would want him...
I also feel so horrible that I am even thinking about getting "rid" of one to get a female for the other. I'm emotionally attached to both but can't stand like this thinking I'm not being the best. Watching Houdini bite things is making me so nervous each day I don't know what else to do (that I could) to improve his life... As piggie is calm, I'm more inclined to keep him and also because I spent more time with him.
I also have autism and ADHD, and I've been really anxious about what to do that could be the best for them that I can't think properly anymore and I need real guidance on what to do... I feel really sad and crying over the thought of having to re-home one of them... But at the same time, I just want the best. I feel like Houdini would be happier rehomed... Please help.
If I forgot any important details, please ask me about it and I'll happily answer.
