Should I get a second guinea pig?

[Alecwinter]

I got a new guinea pig a few weeks ago all the research I've done tells me they need companions so I've been thinking about getting a companion for my new piggy. But there is a few concerns I have the previous owner who i got him from said that he did not get along well with his cage mates and would fight them I have no idea what genders the other pigs were or to what extent he would fight with them so i dont know how serious or for what reason he didn't get along with them. I dont have the space for another large cage if they don't get along so the new piggy would need to live in my backup small cage I got with my current pig. I dont want my current piggy to be lonely but I also dont know if its worth the risk of getting a second one any advice?

 

[RescueBoyMum]

Hi there. Boys should only be kept in pairs so perhaps they were kept in a larger group where you got him from, and perhaps not in a large enough space, causing fighting. If you have a rescue near you, they can help you find a friend for your pig meaning hopefully you can find a good match.

 

[Roselina]

Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides

This guide gives you an idea
As Rescueboymum says it could have been the conditions he was living in , teenage boars etc
You best try is a rescue who would take the new piggy back if it didn’t work out
A baby might be an option …
Good luck and I’m sure other forum members will come along with more advice

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

I agree with the others - if his previous owners were trying to keep him with multiple other male piggies then that can explain the fighting.
A baby boy may be an option as he won’t challenge your piggy for dominance.

He absolutely does need a friend for his wellbeing. Even if two piggies don’t get on and can’t share territory, then keeping them side by side in separate cages is better than being kept totally alone - they can interact and have companionship between the bars
Definitely try to find a new friend with the help of a rescue centre if possible, so if the bonding does fail they can take him back and you can try another.

Do note that two boys in the same cage need a cage measuring 180x60cm (which is 70x24 inches) as anything less than that will not be enough space for them and can cause the to fight due to lack of room.
You need to make sure you have two of everything in the cage and that all hides have two exits (any hide with a single exit can be a flash point for one being trapped by the other - even in a successful bond they don’t want to feel cornered)

If they don’t get on and if you can’t return the second piggy, they will have to live in separate but side by side cages. Although you say a ‘back up small cage’, the measurements of it are essential - In the case of side by side living you must make sure both cages measure at least 120x60cm (48x24 inches minimum), as anything less than that contravenes cage size and welfare requirements and cannot be used at all, not even for a single piggy.

Bonding is a specific process done on neutral territory. You can’t just put a new pig in the cage of your current piggy as it will be seen as a territory invasion and will cause a fight.
The bonding guide below explains the exact process. Do remember that successful bonding comes down to the two pigs being character compatible

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. That’s brilliant that you want to get your boy a friend. I would also recommend trying a rescue so if it didn’t work out they would take him back. How old is he?

If there are no rescues nearby then a baby boy would be a good idea. I’ve bonded babies with older piggies three times and they have all been accepted.

Follow the bonding guides above. You can’t just put another piggy in the cage.

Also once you get him a friend then as said above always have two of everything in the cage eg. bottles, beds. Scatter feed the food so they don’t have to eat really close to each other and hides must have two doors so they can’t trap each other in them. When you clean them out only clean half the cage at a time so it always smells of them both. Good luck.

 

[Merab]

I rescued a boar who had been labelled as unable to live with other guinea pigs.
I had him neutered and he lived a very happy life with my sows.
This may be an option for you.
Welcome to the forum