Should I get my pig a companion?

[EmStr8]

To preface, I have owned all types of pets my entire life. Including guinea pigs before!
However, I recently took in my boyfriends sisters guinea pig because she was unable to care for it anymore. He has lived alone his entire life (3 years).
I know he should have a friend, but I’m worried about how to go about that given he’s been alone for so long? He’s about 3 years old and he’s a male.
He’s lived in one of those standard pet store cages his whole life with very little enrichment. I have since upgraded him to a bigger cage with lots of room and enrichment. I have the means and proper knowledge to get another to be his friend, I just don’t know if it’s a good idea being that he’s been solitary his whole life?

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for giving this poor solitary piggy a good home!

At the very least, you could get him a companion in a cage next to him where they can at least smell and hear each other. There are people on the forum with broken bonds who do that. But before you do that, I'm sure somebody will respond to your post with more knowledge than I have about finding your piggy a live-in companion, which would be even better.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Yes it would be in his best interests to have a friend but it’s going to come down to whether they are character compatible and whether he has the social skills to allow them to live in the same cage.

It may be that you had to have two separate cages and they live side by side for interaction that way but without the pressure of forming a hierarchy and sharing territory.

Cage size:
For two boys to live together, their cage needs to be 180x60cm (70x24 inches).
For them to live side by side then they can cage needs to be a minimum of 120x60cm (48x24 inches).

Bonding is a specific process and it would be best if you can find a nearby rescue centre to help you find him a compatible friend. With him never having had a companion, it can make bonding harder so their help could be very valuable.

I’ve added various guides below to help with all aspects - including the specific bonding process you have to follow if you have to do a bonding yourself

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

 

[Roselina]

To preface, I have owned all types of pets my entire life. Including guinea pigs before!
However, I recently took in my boyfriends sisters guinea pig because she was unable to care for it anymore. He has lived alone his entire life (3 years).
I know he should have a friend, but I’m worried about how to go about that given he’s been alone for so long? He’s about 3 years old and he’s a male.
He’s lived in one of those standard pet store cages his whole life with very little enrichment. I have since upgraded him to a bigger cage with lots of room and enrichment. I have the means and proper knowledge to get another to be his friend, I just don’t know if it’s a good idea being that he’s been solitary his whole life?

Hello
How lovely you’ve taken this piggy and have already improved his environment
Youve had great advice and hopefully you can sort something out for him
I bonded my bereaved boar thru a rescue and it was very successful
good luck

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
It sounds as if this piggy has landed on his paws with you and will now have a fulfilling life of love and care