Hi,
I recently acquired a single guinea pig from my friend as she had to separate them due to fighting - I'm talking bites, scabs, abscesses, and bleeding. They are 10-week old boars who are believed to be brothers (she got them from a pet shop). My question now is, should I try and introduce him to a different GP or is he destined to be single? The piggie I got was the main bully so I am a bit nervous about getting him a friend and it not working out, so should I keep him on his own, or try and get him a friend?
Any advice much appreciated! x
Hi and welcome!
Please don't keep him single for life (what has happened is NOT his fault!), but also be aware that he may be traumatised. So it is not quite a matter of racing out and getting another boy. It won't likely work out.
Are you within reach of Auckland? If yes, please contact Auckland Cavy Care to date your boy with a spayed sow. The rescue has a 100%
neutering and spaying policy and is the only dedicated guinea pig rescue in the country although the RSPCA branches may also have guinea pigs. Auckland Cavy Care may also be the best place to enquire about your best local options. If you wish to, you can tell them that I have sent you to contact them; they know me!
Facebook:
Auckland Cavy Care or website:
AucklandCavyCare
If you would like to consider neutering so your boy can live with a sow after his bad experience being forced to live in a likely far too small cage with another boar he is not getting on and without any chance to get away from each other, as boars would normally do, then you may find the comprehensive information in this guide here helpful. It is not a quick fix but it more likely the better option for a stable and happy relationship in the long term.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Here is what you can do for your boy while he is on his own and has to wait until he is old enough for a neuter and then another 6 weeks until he can be introduced to any unspayed sow:
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
My Hywel was a boar who was handed into rescue by his owner because he was bullying every boar he was introduced to but was not happy in a hutch on his own; a pattern he continued at the rescue, which is why he was neutered. He spent a VERY fulfilled 5 1/2 years leading a group of up to 13 sows and passed away just days before his 7th birthday. Hywel is not my only fallen out and then neutered boar, who has found a happy new life as a 'husboar' living with one or several sows.
Here is the link to our New Owners guide collection of which many of links you have been given are part of. Unlike a book, we can constantly update or add to our helpful and practical collection, which specifically addresses all the areas that new owners have the most questions and concerns about and really answers the sticky points that most literature just glosses about. It will hopefully make a good resource to refer back to at need for you, especially in view of the time difference and when you need a quick answer! Although you are of course always welcome to ask any questions that you may have.
With 
