Please help me to introduce a new one to an old one..please!

[yoonjin]

Hello,

I am very worried about this situation with my new pig and I really need your help to get through this!

I have a 6 month-old guinea pig, Oreo. She is very cranky and active. I decided to bring a new one to her so that she has a playmate/cagemate. 2 days ago, I got a new one from Petsmart. She is much smaller (1/3 size of Oreo) and she is extremely shy.

The problem is that Oreo started mounting, nipping and so on and the new one is so scared to come out. The new one doesn't eat, drink or roam around because she is so scared. I hand-fed her little bit, but she is hiding at the coner and never come out by herself to eat. Oreo is threatening the new one and constantly blocking the new one from eating or resting. Periodically, Oreo goes to the new one and mount and the young one is helplessly sad and scared.

When I brought the new one, I made a new CC cage, so I don't think this is a problem of a lack of space. The cage has exactly double things, house, eat, drink everything.

I decided to put a panel between the house so that Oreo is isolated from the new one. Still the new one doesn't want to come out to eat.

Please what should I do? Should I give a bath to both of them? Reintroduce them on the bed or somewhere and put them in the cage again? How can I make them bonded? Please any idea and thoughs are welcome!

Thank you so much and have a great day!

 

[Lisajazz]

Personally I would leave them as they are for a few days and let the little one come out of her shell. It may be that they just aren't compatible. I haven't had a problem introducing sows before but I have heard of it happening.

Leave them as they are and let the little one settle in and relax a little bit. Pet her food right by the entrance to wherever she is hiding poor thing.

After a few days do an introduction in a VERY neutral place - the sow may feel like the little one is on her territory and that's why she's being so mean. She's used to having the place to herself. So introduce neutral territory with plenty of grass / fresh food and hidey holes with 2 entrances so that the big one can't corner the little one anywhere. But DO have hideys for them. Boxes with 2 doors cut out are good.

I hope this helps. It's always hard to see a big one not being great with a little one but it could work yet.

Good luck!

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