I was looking for some advise; we have two male guinea pigs both brought at the same time from the same store; so presuming they are brothers, around a year ago now. When we first got them we got a pet shop cage but soon after realised this wasn't big enough for them so I made a C&C cage; 2x4 on the bottom and 2x2 on the top. They always seemed to get on fine in their old cage and when we moved them to their new cage around April this year (6 months previous) they started asserting their dominance. This was never an issue as one of them would always back down. Around the end of August they have an extremely bad fight where we have to split them up; Bruce had part of his ear bitten off by Dave and had to be taken to the vets to get it cut. Once this had happened we decided to have them both neutered which was around 6 weeks ago now, but they still cant be in the same cage together. I am looking for some advise for ways to get them playing on the floor together again and then eventually move them back into one cage (if that ever happens). Recently they had their dinner together sat on the sofa but once they clocked each other they started teeth chattering and bum wiggling so we split them up right away to prevent another fight; I am aware they will have to assert their dominance again but was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and how they got around introducing them back to each other.
re-intoducing male guinea pigs
- Thread starter lbarks
- Start date
Hi and welcome!
Store bought teenage boars that have not been character matched have a fair risk of not making it, irrespective of whether they are brothers or not; that is a persistent, but long since debunked breeder myth! Two dominant brothers will fight just the same as two unrelated dominant boars.
Most pet shop chains are supplied by a commercial mass breeder so there are always a certain number of babies ready for a regular delivery to the various branches.
Unfortunately, there is no magic trick in the world that can make piggies that do not get on turn into best of friends, the same way that you will never become bosom buddies with all your workmates you share an office with. Guinea pigs are very similar to humans - they are social animals that rely on company, but in the end it all comes down to character compatibility. However you conduct a re-introduction, in the end it always comes down to whether they get on and want to be together or not.
Since it frankly doesn't sound promising for your boys, I would rather recommend to treat them as a 'can't live together but can't live apart' bonded pair that lives in adjoining pens with round the clock interaction and stimulation through the bars but where each has their own territory. We have got a number of forum members who have ended up with their own boar pair not getting on in the same space once they developed their adult identity through the teenage months.
Please take the time to read this guide here. It is talking you in detail through all your options with their various pros and cons, so you can make as informed a decision which is the best way forward for you.
It is always a gutting realisation when your piggies do not live up to your dreams of a happy cuddle pair of fuzzies, but guinea pigs are very much a species with their own rules and dynamics, and we ignore that at our own peril. Concentrate rather on working out a solution that fits your boys and is compatible with your space and financial possibilities and enjoy your boys as the real personalities that they are and not an idealised picture from misleading cute online videos.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
Seven7
Forum Donator 2026/27
Sorry this happened.
When my Finn came with me, I wanted to get him a cagemate so another boy. Soon I was appointed Lara's pet parent by a friend who didn't want her. Finn and Lara live in separate cages.
Now I am wondering whether it was the best thing that happened that I was given Lara instead of getting another boy, a cagemate for Finn.
When my Finn came with me, I wanted to get him a cagemate so another boy. Soon I was appointed Lara's pet parent by a friend who didn't want her. Finn and Lara live in separate cages.
Now I am wondering whether it was the best thing that happened that I was given Lara instead of getting another boy, a cagemate for Finn.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Your story is not unfamiliar to us.
It is most unlikely that the boys will ever be able to go back together and live in harmony. I see that you have had them both neutered. Neutering will sadly not affect their behaviour at all - it will only render them sterile so that they are "safe" against pregnancy with sows.
As the boys are 6 weeks post neuter they are each safe to go with a sow. Would you consider keeping them in 2 separate enclosures side by side with a sow wife each? That would probably be the best outcome.
It is most unlikely that the boys will ever be able to go back together and live in harmony. I see that you have had them both neutered. Neutering will sadly not affect their behaviour at all - it will only render them sterile so that they are "safe" against pregnancy with sows.
As the boys are 6 weeks post neuter they are each safe to go with a sow. Would you consider keeping them in 2 separate enclosures side by side with a sow wife each? That would probably be the best outcome.
A neutered boar/sow pair in an Indoor cage needs a 120cm minimum cage or 4 x 2 c and c (5 x 2 is preferable, though).
They need a minimum of 2x4 ft (2x3 C&C grid cage) although a 2x4 C&C grid cage is generally recommended.
Have you considered that you can keep two cages on top of each other if you have two pairs that do not need to interact?
Here is a picture of my own set-up, just to give you an idea. The 75x150 cm (30 x 60 in) table top fits a cable tied 2x4 C&C grid cage and fits into the footprint of the bottom cage. When cleaning the bottom, I lift the table legs with my shoulder just enough for any cleaning but without having to move it.
PS: I you would like to pair up each boy with a sow, I would recommend to rescue date at a good rescue, so you come home only with a companion of your boys' choice and where you have got the rescue as a fallback during the lifetime of a rescue piggy if you can no longer keep them or there is a problem with the relationship. that means that you are not going to run the risk of ever ending up with more piggies that do not get on.
You also can be guaranteed that any piggies put up for adoption are healthy (fully quaranteed and vet treated/signed off), guaranteed not mis-sexed or pregnant.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts
G&C
Junior Guinea Pig
That’s a great set up you’ve got there.
G&C
Junior Guinea Pig
It seems it all went wrong when you put them together in the new cage which doesn’t sound big enough... could you try one last time in neutral territory to bond them, after having read the guides and advice given?
Then try get a larger hutch/cage if possible that has been cleaned inside and out so no smells exist?
HI! Please keep in mind that boars won't go back together after a serious bite - and half an ear bitten off definitely counts as a serious injury!
Would you want to go back to live with somebody who has assaulted you and is likely to do so again? Putting two boars back in their cleaned cage is anyway a recipe for disaster and NOT how you re-introduce borderline fallen-out boars.
Unfortunately, you can't go back and make what has happened undone, but you can work toward safe future by trying to think out of the box and see what you can do with the space available.
2x3 C&C grids is the space equivalent of a 2x4 ft traditional cage and the recommended minimal welfare space.
If the two 2x3 grid cages are currently side by side, then there is enough space for two 2x4 C&C grid cages one above the other to house a new bonded pair on each level.
HI! Please keep in mind that boars won't go back together after a serious bite - and half an ear bitten off definitely counts as a serious injury!
Would you want to go back to live with somebody who has assaulted you and is likely to do so again? Putting two boars back in their cleaned cage is anyway a recipe for disaster and NOT how you re-introduce borderline fallen-out boars.
Unfortunately, you can't go back and make what has happened undone, but you can work toward safe future by trying to think out of the box and see what you can do with the space available.
2x3 C&C grids is the space equivalent of a 2x4 ft traditional cage and the recommended minimal welfare space.
If the two 2x3 grid cages are currently side by side, then there is enough space for two 2x4 C&C grid cages one above the other to house a new bonded pair on each level.
Completely - about the ear injury being the kiss of death to these boys’ relationship and also to the set up proposal
Seven7
Forum Donator 2026/27
This sounds right. I mean biting off half of a ear sound pretty serious. I don't see how they will be ok with being introduced again after such a seroius fight like this.HI! Please keep in mind that boars won't go back together after a serious bite - and half an ear bitten off definitely counts as a serious injury!
Would you want to go back to live with somebody who has assaulted you and is likely to do so again? Putting two boars back in their cleaned cage is anyway a recipe for disaster and NOT how you re-introduce borderline fallen-out boars.
Unfortunately, you can't go back and make what has happened undone, but you can work toward safe future by trying to think out of the box and see what you can do with the space available.
2x3 C&C grids is the space equivalent of a 2x4 ft traditional cage and the recommended minimal welfare space.
If the two 2x3 grid cages are currently side by side, then there is enough space for two 2x4 C&C grid cages one above the other to house a new bonded pair on each level.