which sex

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gazelle

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This may need moving, sorry if in the wrong box.
I have taken on a four month old male GP, I want to
team him up with a friend.
I am planning on having him castrated any time now.
My question is, once he is 'done' what sex should
his companion be?
Also should I get the new one now so as they know
each other, albeit kept apart,.
Thanks in advance
 
Having him castrated won't really change any dominant behaviour from him, unlike other animlas it doesn't change the guinea pigs behaviour.
Your best bet is to, before neutering him, taking him to a local rescue to be bonded with another loan boar (boy).
This may take a while, and alot of testing but it will be worth it in the end.
Castration is expensive and un necessary, as well as dangerous in such a small animal, that the best and safest route is to try same sex bonding first.
 
It really depends on what you want to do in the future. If you want to have more than 2 pigs then a neutered boar and sows would make a nice group, its harder to have a group of males and tend to lead to trouble.

However anaesthetics in guinea pigs carry a high risk so if this is the route you plan to take make sure you find a guinea pig savy vet. You would also have to wait after he is neutered before introducing him to a female as they still have sperm in the ducts that can survive up to 6 weeks post castration. Some sites will say 2-4 but I always go with 6 to be on the safe side.

There will be strong views on castration but my own is that is it has to be judged on what you plan in the future, if you want a herd of pigs or just 2.

Castration will not change his behaviour and he won't be more accepting of males because of it, territorial behaviour tends to be down to personality, space and food supply.

Use a rescue to help you locate another pig for your own, if its a boar they may offer a boar dating service, then if you do have problems you have someone to go back to. There are lots of pigs in rescue looking for homes.
 
As mentioned previously, you should only neuter if you are planning on putting him with females. Two boars can make good pairs, but, as has also been mentioned, if you are looking to get a group than getting him neutered and rescuing some sows would be the way to go.
 
Well if you want to neuter him put him with a female as it would of been a waste of money neutering him and then putting him with a male.

Please think before though, neutering can be dangerous and I find it highly un neccessary to neuter a guinea pig unless for health reasons. They may not survive the procedure OR there could be complications post-op such as hernias, abcesses etc.

Do some boar dating at a rescue :)
 
Thanks for your answers.
I have always kept GPs in 2s over the years but after
losing my last two earlier in the year I had planned to
wait a while and consider my options. This little lad came
along and I took him on and in hindsight I should have maybe
teamed him up straight away with another baby boar.
I can always get another and house them next to each other
and put in separate garden runs, it just makes life easier
if they could be together.
If I do that then I guess it will have to be a boar, would not
be fair on Chips otherwise.
 
If you give us an idea of your location, we can reccomend a good local rescue that could help Chip find the perfect friend or you can do it yourself through this link.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?m...&ll=51.508742,-1.922607&spn=3.473931,9.876709

it shows all the forums "piggy bank" recommended rescue.
this link will help you know a bit more about boar pairings and how to house them.

http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/optionsmenu.htm

and then there are other threads within the "behaviour" section of the forum, that will help you when you get your knew boar no more about keeping them happy together and knowing more about the different behaviours and meanings behind them.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=76162

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

Please keep us updated with your progress in finding Chip a new friend we'd love to hear more and maybe you could share a picture of him ?
this link will help you learn more about posting pictures on here.

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88068
 
Now I've had a neutered boar and sow group, I don't think I would ever have anything else! I find both boars and sows have differing personality traits and I'd always want a mixed group from now on :))

Marley, my boar, was neutered at the rescue before I got him - if you do decide to go down the neuter route as you want a herd then I would recommend finding a very good exotics vet.
 
He can be with either sex. Castration wont change hormonal behaviour so he can live with 1 other male perfectly fine if they are matched up right, without neutering.

If you are going ahead with castration might aswell get him a female. Naturally there would be one male and lots of females in a guinea pig herd so he can have multiple ladies ;)
 
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