What is your favourite guinea pig age or stage of life. And Why?
- Thread starter WWDrew
- Start date
About 10 years ago I had 7 year old boars and they were so calm and laid back. They didn’t mind being picked up. They loved to lick me loads. They were really lovely. RIP Biscuit and Blackie. 
Betsy
Paw Holder
I love boars particularly as they get older and they get more laid back. At least that was my experience with my two Rainbow Piggy brothers Silver Fox Christian and Cutey Pie Dennis. Here they are when they were younger and they were still friends.
Seven7
Forum Donator 2026/27
My Finn is 7 this year and I love him the most. It could be that I had him the longest too. He is my avatar, the red haired boy.
PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
I love a mixed age grouping, seeing how they all interact! We currently have a herd of 6 ladies: Queen Blodwen age 5 and a half, Lavender age 3, Hatty age about 2, then the rescued crew from The Potteries school rescue who are the 2 recent mums Hilda and Gladys who must be about a year or so old, and little Frida the new year baby not quite 5 months.
Plus the lovely boar pair Grandad Theo age 5 and a half, and his adopted grandson Dantyllew age 11 wheeks.
I do love how piggies develop into really distinct and chilled out characters as they age, and their trust becomes so unconditional- rainbow bridge Luna who left us aged almost-7 used to wheek like a diva to summon me to carry her from place to place once her rear end mobility got bad, she'd summon me at 3am to carry her from the hay to the waterbottle, then pop her back near the radiator- the way oldies trust us is amazing, but also a bit sad when their time is limited and we know we need to make tough decisions for them soon. Babies are so lively and bouncy and fast and wriggly and bitey, but their learning and exploring shennanigans are hilarious, and after losing oldies its nice to meet new healthy piglets knowing you have years ahead to learn their personalities and gain their trust.
Watching the oldies pass on their piggy habits to youngsters is really nice- baby Dantyllew has learned many of his adopted elderly Grandad Theo's exact vocalisations, behaviours, food and bed and hay preferences- this passing on of culture, where once Theo leaves us, his personality lives on in his young apprentice, is really reassuring
Plus the lovely boar pair Grandad Theo age 5 and a half, and his adopted grandson Dantyllew age 11 wheeks.
I do love how piggies develop into really distinct and chilled out characters as they age, and their trust becomes so unconditional- rainbow bridge Luna who left us aged almost-7 used to wheek like a diva to summon me to carry her from place to place once her rear end mobility got bad, she'd summon me at 3am to carry her from the hay to the waterbottle, then pop her back near the radiator- the way oldies trust us is amazing, but also a bit sad when their time is limited and we know we need to make tough decisions for them soon. Babies are so lively and bouncy and fast and wriggly and bitey, but their learning and exploring shennanigans are hilarious, and after losing oldies its nice to meet new healthy piglets knowing you have years ahead to learn their personalities and gain their trust.
Watching the oldies pass on their piggy habits to youngsters is really nice- baby Dantyllew has learned many of his adopted elderly Grandad Theo's exact vocalisations, behaviours, food and bed and hay preferences- this passing on of culture, where once Theo leaves us, his personality lives on in his young apprentice, is really reassuring
piggieminder
Paw Holder
I like them best at whatever age they are now! They are such endearing little animals, with their funny little quirks. They make me laugh watching them interact.
I love all the stages up until about age 4.5 to 5 or so. Babies are adorable and excitable... the prime of life years are great, watching their personalities develop, watching the relationship between them, watching them settle in and be part of the family.
I will admit that I really struggle with everything after 5 or so, once they start to look/act obviously older. Once I start seeing that, I start getting anticipatory anxiety/grief, even when realistically they could be aging great and are likely to have a long time left with us. Right now my older pig, Leela, is 6 years and 4 months, and while she is still living her best (extremely spoiled!) life, she is clearly elderly... much bonier and less muscle mass, sleeps deeper, less energy. It makes me sad and I'm already doing some anticipatory grieving for the time when she does pass and I have a lot of anxiety worrying about her. I honestly find having obviously aging pets that are slowly declining harder emotionally than when they actually do pass. I think I go through that whole stage with a lot of anxiety and anticipatory grief and I wish I knew how to just enjoy the time more, but it doesn't seem to be how I process things.
I will admit that I really struggle with everything after 5 or so, once they start to look/act obviously older. Once I start seeing that, I start getting anticipatory anxiety/grief, even when realistically they could be aging great and are likely to have a long time left with us. Right now my older pig, Leela, is 6 years and 4 months, and while she is still living her best (extremely spoiled!) life, she is clearly elderly... much bonier and less muscle mass, sleeps deeper, less energy. It makes me sad and I'm already doing some anticipatory grieving for the time when she does pass and I have a lot of anxiety worrying about her. I honestly find having obviously aging pets that are slowly declining harder emotionally than when they actually do pass. I think I go through that whole stage with a lot of anxiety and anticipatory grief and I wish I knew how to just enjoy the time more, but it doesn't seem to be how I process things.
Viennese Furbabies
Paw Holder
I think that every age has it's benefits.
Little ones are so full of energy and it's great to watch their zoomies and how to learn fast. They make me laugh every day.
Adults wirh their very unique personalities are probably my favourites.
And yes, as they get older, they are ever more trusting, more relaxed and the bond gets stronger. But oldies can also be heartbraking fragile and it takes a lot of energy to take of them.
Little ones are so full of energy and it's great to watch their zoomies and how to learn fast. They make me laugh every day.
Adults wirh their very unique personalities are probably my favourites.
And yes, as they get older, they are ever more trusting, more relaxed and the bond gets stronger. But oldies can also be heartbraking fragile and it takes a lot of energy to take of them.
I have four boars - two are 5 years and the other two are 8 months.
It’s lovely having the playfulness of youngsters around but equally enjoy the relaxed, loving nature of my older two - not a lot of dominance now, just companionship between them
It’s lovely having the playfulness of youngsters around but equally enjoy the relaxed, loving nature of my older two - not a lot of dominance now, just companionship between them
piggl
Forum Donator 2026/27
Definitely older piggies, they are more calm in themselves and easy going.
I currently have a 7 week old and I love him but he is very dramatic and energetic, but also causes trouble so it’s a love hate relationship (with his age).
I currently have a 7 week old and I love him but he is very dramatic and energetic, but also causes trouble so it’s a love hate relationship (with his age).
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
Impossible question!
Babies - so tiny, so energetic and you watch them learn and grow, developing their own character as they do. All that uncontrollable popcorning
Older boars - so laid back and chilled. Plus it's adorable when they meet a younger lady and have a mini popcorn
Older sows - so assertive and know exactly what they want. These have always been my strongest characters
Babies - so tiny, so energetic and you watch them learn and grow, developing their own character as they do. All that uncontrollable popcorning
Older boars - so laid back and chilled. Plus it's adorable when they meet a younger lady and have a mini popcorn
Older sows - so assertive and know exactly what they want. These have always been my strongest characters
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I just they’re lovely at any age.
My current 3 are all older ranging from just over 4 to just over 5.
I‘ve had Micah since he was very young and watched him grow from a lively thug to an older boar.
I hesitate to say mature as he isn’t!
He’s still a thug, still rambunctious, still popcorns happily and still pursues his ladies.
The 2 sows came to me as older girls but are still lively and very confident.
My current 3 are all older ranging from just over 4 to just over 5.
I‘ve had Micah since he was very young and watched him grow from a lively thug to an older boar.
I hesitate to say mature as he isn’t!
He’s still a thug, still rambunctious, still popcorns happily and still pursues his ladies.
The 2 sows came to me as older girls but are still lively and very confident.
VickiA
Forum Donator 2026/27
I love all the ages. I love seeing the tiny rescue born pups learning from their elders, bouncing around with such enthusiasm and energy. Every day is a school day for them. I love the middle aged piggies who know what they like and what they don’t, and who can still give us humans the runaround. And I love the elderly ones - chilled and lazy or crotchety and grumpy and who really don’t like change of any sort. I’m a fan of any age piggies, really.
Betsy
Paw Holder
You have described Dennis and Betsy perfectly there. Dennis was so laid back he was almost horizontal and Betsy was a crotchety grumpy old maid! They still loved each other dearly and did from the moment the set eyes on each other. That was a match made in piggy heaven if ever there was one! Now reunited at the Rainbow Bridge
Eriathwen
Senior Guinea Pig
I love piggies of any and all ages! Although I must admit I do have a soft spot for an elderly piggy, probably goes hand in hand with my preference for piggies with special needs.
I have several over 5s at the moment, 6 or 7 at this point I think. Tilly is my oldest and will be 8 in a few months!
I have several over 5s at the moment, 6 or 7 at this point I think. Tilly is my oldest and will be 8 in a few months!