Please help me to introduce a new pig to an old one!

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yoonjin

Hello,

This is the first time that I am writing on this forum. Thank you so much for the great information.

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!
 
Hello and welcome! Do you know for sure that both pigs are girls?
 
I found some websites about sexing guinea pigs and according to the information and the pictures, I think they are both females.

Should I separate the cage? Or one more try with a fresh bath?

No blood has been seen so far...but that poor little baby is not eating at all!
 
How old is your little baby? New piggies take time to settle in - don't forget everything is new to her at the moment and she'll need a few days to adjust to her new surroundings and her new cagemate.

The mounting sounds like very normal dominance behavior and should settle down after a few days - it's all part of them asserting who's top 'piggie'. If you are concerned at all them maybe weigh your little one every few days - you'll soon tell if she's eating as she'll be putting on weight.

There is a thread about sow behavior, might be a good idea to have a read.

Good luck with your girls :)
 
if youre ure there both females it may be a domminace issue, i would suggest perhaps introducing them slowly have cages next to each other so they can see each other and become acustommed to one and other and then under supervison let them get use to each other outside cage when its exercise time perhaps on bed or on room floor etc.

Also your youngest one will be scared just now anyway as everythigns new to her so she will need time to settle in :)


i hope this helps, i do this with my piggies as i find slowly introducing seems to work best, Though my oldest fpiggie is still miss bossy boots:)
 
Thank you so much to all!

To the question from Sodapop, I think the new one is just over 10 weeks. She is very very very tiny and delicate.

Regarding the cage separation, they still can see and smell each other. The separation is made with the cube panels which are surrounding the cage right now. Oreo cannot stop putting her nose through the little hole and trying to go over to the neighbor while the new one is hiding at the far corner.

I will keep on eye on the weight...at least she is eating from my hand so hopefully she comes out to eat when I am not there!

One more question! Should I give them a bath together now? I would like to give a bath to the new one, so it might be worth to give them a bath at the same time? Thanks!
 
Your little one is still quite small to have a bath unless there's a medical reason. It's not usually recommended until 12 weeks old. I would wait a while if you can, then bath them both together. It might help with the bonding. Make sure to give the cage a good clean and a change round at the same time. :)
 
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