Sudden loss

I think tangos behaviour has changed since losing salsa . She just wants to hide in her igloo or in amongst the hay. I try to get her out to give her attention but it’s like she dosent want to come out the hutch
 
A bit of a change is to be expected following her bereavement.
You have said she doesn’t like being handled, and her hutch is the place where the feels safe - so it is normal for her to not want to come out.

Piggies need plenty of mental stimulation anyway but particularly while alone - things like hiding food so she has to forage. The guide below has more ideas

Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
I’m getting frustrated as it’s so hard finding a friend for tango. Even the vet suggested I get her one when I mentioned she was hidding a lot
 
ruthie1982 said:
I’m getting frustrated as it’s so hard finding a friend for tango. Even the vet suggested I get her one when I mentioned she was hidding a lot
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HUGS

You can always try your best, but access to rescues and second-hand piggies can be very patchy and even then you totally rely on what is available for adoption at the time.

As much as it pains me to say, the next safest place to get one or two baby girls from for a piggy who is not dealing well at all with being on their own is a chain pet shop because you have to the best recourse in case something is not right. We offer a sexing service to help confirm the gender upon arrival.

In the end, our own piggies' immediate needs always have to come before ethical concerns. You have made the effort and have not been successful, so you have done your best to do the right thing. All we can ever do is give the ethical side a try but let common sense rule if that approach is not successful.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

If you have the space, getting two baby girls usually makes acceptance easier and the youngsters have each other to grow old together so you are not facing the same dilemma again in the near future. It may be worth a consideration.
 
My local pets at home are refusing to sell me a single guinea pig. I spoke to two different members of staff and they both said different things .
 
ruthie1982 said:
My local pets at home are refusing to sell me a single guinea pig. I spoke to two different members of staff and they both said different things .
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Have you considered getting two girls? The minimum space is 2x5 grids for 3 sows.
 
I agree with Wiebke - getting two baby sows is likely to be your best option and the only one that will avoid keeping tango alone for too much longer

As your piggies live outside, you need a 6ft (180x60) hutch
 
I’m just really frustrated and feeling down as doing my best to get tango a friend
 
You are doing all you can for her - hopefully a piggy will come available soon
 
It’s so frustrating I’ve tried the sspca gum tree and free ads all seem to be boars at the moment
 
Looking for new pigs is hard. It’s a lot of research, emails, calls, forms, possible travel.

I’m not certain or your pig’s arrangements (I think she’s outside) but I recommend spending as much time as possible with her, possibly indoors. Old sheets, table cloths, towels etc can protect the floor.

We lost a boar on 12/2/24 then it was just over 3 months before we had the surviving brother neutered and found him wives. In those 3 months we really bonded. I spent hundreds of hours with just him, and he went from being the grumpy one to laying on the floor by me.

Anyway, the point is that it’s a tough time for both of you – but some good can come of it. If you lean a bit on Tango then she’ll in-turn lean on you and you’ll both feel better and closer for it.
 
You don’t need to get her out if she doesn’t want to. just sit with her, talk to her, offer food from your hand, provide plenty of mental stimulation with tunnels and hidden food

Maybe if you can find a neutered boar then that could be another option
 
I’m not sure if my hutch would be big enough for tango and a netured male. It’s just big enough for 2 females x
 
ruthie1982 said:
I’m not sure if my hutch would be big enough for tango and a netured male. It’s just big enough for 2 females x
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The hutch size needed for a neutered boar/sow pair is exactly the same as what is needed for two sows - 5ft.

It’s only two boars together who need a bigger hutch size (they need 6ft)

You can try to get a neutered boar for her, but as with any bond, they still have to be compatible and she needs to be prepared to accept a boar (it’s not the boar accepting the sow, it’s the sow accepting the boar).

Cage Size Guide
 
When cleaning out the hutch I just empty out all soiled bedding and hay and then give the trays a spray with pet safe disinfectant and then add new bedding . I do this once a week is this ok
 
Yes disinfecting once a week is fine.
Wet hay and bedding needs to be removed every day (twice a day in summer due to the risk of fly strike in outdoor piggies)
 
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