Should I adopt 2 four year old guinea pigs?

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EmilyD

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I am thinking about adopting from my local shelter who currently has 2 male guinea pigs. The only problem is that they are 4 years old and they are male (and I heard they are a little more agressive then females)These would be my first guinea pig so my question is Should I adopt them or should I just get a baby and which would be the best option for a beginner.
 
If they are already four years old, they went through the hormonal stage years ago so the risk of them falling out now is very minor. Yes, they are older piggies but they still have plenty of life in them yet and it will be very rewarding for you to give them a loving home :) Older piggies deserve a nice forever home too
 
Welcome to the forum.
I have two males. Its fine to keep two males. They aren’t aggressive, it’s just dominance but you get that with females as well. There can also be issues with females being a bit moody and difficult when they come into season. So my point is that neither sex is easier than the other.
Personally I would say to adopt these older piggies as they deserve a loving home. Having babies is all well and good but they don’t stay babies for long. With youngsters you get the hormonal teenage phase (3-14 months of age) which can be incredibly difficult and runs the risk of them falling out with each other.
 
Boars aren't generally aggressive. If they've gotten along so far the likelihood of you having an aggression problem now is slim. Boars tend to have hormonal problems in their young years, but I think sows tend to have hormonal issues later in life?
Honestly I've never had problems with boars and aggression. Mostly they've just been hilarious twits. If you think you can take care of them, feed them, house them appropriately, and prepare for vet fees, I'd go for it. They'll not be any less of a pet than if they were 4 months old.
 
Claire W said:
If they are already four years old, they went through the hormonal stage years ago so the risk of them falling out now is very minor. Yes, they are older piggies but they still have plenty of life in them yet and it will be very rewarding for you to give them a loving home :) Older piggies deserve a nice forever home too
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Thank you for answering my question but would you mind answering one more? I was wondering if the babys would be more friendly with me than the older ones.
 
Not necessarily. Adults who are used to being handled will much friendlier than babies. It can take weeks/months and in some cases years to tame babies.
My two are young - one is 8 months and one is 9 months. I have had them for five months. One of them is friendlier in that he will come out when I go to feed them and he stays out and about while I am doing things around their hutch but he won’t let me pick him up and only occasionally lets me stroke him. the other one still runs off as soon as I go near and has never let me stroke him voluntarily.
 
EmilyD said:
Thank you for answering my question but would you mind answering one more? I was wondering if the babys would be more friendly with me than the older ones.
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It would really depend on the characters of the piggies as to how much they like interacting with humans. I would say on the whole the older ones will be more relaxed. I have a pair of 4 year old boars they are lovely comical little characters who love each other, boars definately mellow with age.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Not necessarily. Adults who are used to being handled will much friendlier than babies. It can take weeks/months and in some cases years to tame babies.
My two are young - one is 8 months and one is 9 months. I have had them for five months. One of them is friendlier in that he will come out when I go to feed them and he stays out and about while I am doing things around their hutch but he won’t let me pick him up and only occasionally lets me stroke him. the other one still runs off as soon as I go near and has never let me stroke him voluntarily.
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Thanks for the help I am really leaning towards adopting them now!
 
EmilyD said:
Thank you for answering my question but would you mind answering one more? I was wondering if the babys would be more friendly with me than the older ones.
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As others have said, it’s really a myth that babies are friendlier. I’ve had piggies from babies before and they haven’t been any friendlier than those I adopted at an older age. It all comes down to the personality of each piggy
 
EmilyD said:
I am thinking about adopting from my local shelter who currently has 2 male guinea pigs. The only problem is that they are 4 years old and they are male (and I heard they are a little more agressive then females)These would be my first guinea pig so my question is Should I adopt them or should I just get a baby and which would be the best option for a beginner.
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Hi!

Go for the old boys! :tu:

Their testosterone has mostly run out and they will appreciate a good place to live when they see one! Boars are at their most difficult as teenagers with their testosterone at an all time high at 6 months old. After that the output gradually decreases until it pretty much fizzles out at 4-5 years and boars become much more mellow.
Sows go the other way. Because their hormone production never slows down, they often become crankier as they age.
Older piggies know who they are; they are generally a lot easier to handle and to introduce you into the world of piggydom. Give me an old boy any day! (In fact, I have adopted several oldies and never rued any of them!) ;)
Boars, sows or mixed pairs; babies or adults?

So much easier than two wiggly, nervous babies with their teenage months still before them. PLease be aware that guinea pigs are group animals that should not be kept alone. Sadly Switzerland is still the only country where keeping group animals as singles is against the law, and this expressly includes guinea pigs!
Companionship

You may find these two guide collections here very helpful and interesting in getting started and getting going:
Are Guinea Pigs For Me? - A Guide
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

You are however always welcome to ask any questions along the way in our various Care sections or access our extensive guide collection on a wide range of topics via the shortcut on the top bar.

In order to help you best, please add your country, state/province or UK county to your account details (via your username on the top bar). We have members and enquiries from all over the world and from very different climates, backgrounds and vet/rescue access. Our default advice is UK based. If we can see with every post which neck of the world you are, you allow us to tailor any recommendations to what is available and relevant for you straight away. Thank you!
 
When I made the leap of guinea pigs after a 19 year break, I wanted a pair of older pigs who were already used to handling etc as I was a it worried about doing all of that myself. As it happened I was matched with a trio of 4 month olds! It was quite stressful for me as handling was scary for them ! Took me a long time to get them ‘tame’ but that might partly be because I didn’t do too much handling as I didn’t want to stress them out! They’re all fine now and even ask to be picked up when they’re going from floor-time back to their cage
 
EmilyD said:
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They look very pretty!

If you adopt from a shelter without any quarantine/medical care, you need to do the same as when buying pet shop or breeder piggies and save up for a vet check. But by giving a loving home to two piggies that will otherwise mostly overlooked because of their age is doing something really good - and you are going to reap the rewards! ;)
 
They are lovely! You need to save some money each month into a vet fund so when your piggies are ill you have the money there and you don't have to worry about it (or some money depending on how much the vet's bill is!)
 
Betsy said:
They are lovely! You need to save some money each month into a vet fund so when your piggies are ill you have the money there and you don't have to worry about it (or some money depending on how much the vet's bill is!)
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I already have 200 dollars for the vet fund is that enough or should I keep saving?
 
EmilyD said:
I already have 200 dollars for the vet fund is that enough or should I keep saving?
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Keep saving! It needs to be a regular saving amount ie put a fixed amount each month into a savings account. Unfortunately if something were to come up 200 dollars would not get you far.
 
EmilyD said:
I already have 200 dollars for the vet fund is that enough or should I keep saving?
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Please keep on saving on a weekly/monthly basis. Serious illness or an operation can easily cost up $1000, which in the USA is required upfront. Far too many owners are not aware on how much vet care can cost. :(
 
What gorgeous boys.

I agree - $200 will not go far.
I've recently had to spend over £300 and that was with a generous discount from my vet
 
A pair of bonded older boars is often a very loving and companionable pairing. And the older boars are usually more confident and used to being handled. I’m an old hand with piggies and I’d always rather have an older more mature piggy over a skittish baby any day.
Go for the middle aged fellows. They will appreciate you more!
 
I have four piggies, two we adopted when adult and two as babies. So far it's one of the babies who has been the biggest contributor to our vets retirement fund and by far the most friendly piggy is our boar, Norman, who will come over for a chin rub when I call him, so I'd say yes, definitely go for the boys!
 
I have a pair of boys and adore them! As long as they have plenty of room and two of everything they should be fine! My boys have the most personality out of all of my 6 piggies. I also have two separate pairs of females. Love my boys! Go for it!
 
I love boars, older ones especially! Like already mentioned younger piggies can be a bit more skittish etc. Older guys should be a bit more used to things like nail trims which is always good :)
 
They can easily live to 7 years old so you'll still have plenty of time with them. I had two older ones from rescue and they lived until about seven years old. I've currently got two 18 month olds and they're practically feral. I get to stroke their noses as they race past me at a million guinea pig miles an hour, if I'm lucky.

Also don't let the naysayers put you off, there's plenty of liklehood that you'll never need your vet fund. My old boys never needed vet visits, and were happy and healthy.
 
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