Adoption And Sex

[Shieldmaiden93]

Hey guys! So I'm a new piggie owner and I wanted to get my boar, Ferdinand, a playmate. I know many people promote adoption over pet shops, which I totally love, but there are no adoption centers near me. So just stick with pet stores?

Also, I'm not sure about what sex to get. Another boar or a sow? Though, I don't really want babies, I don't know how Ferdinand will do with another boar in the same cage. Thoughts?

 

[GPcrazy]

Getting a sow will definitely result in babies which is not recommended at all as pregnancy and birth is highly risky (with a high mortality rate) in guinea pigs. they also breed continuously (for their whole lives) so a male /female pair would be bad.
If you particularly want a female friend, you need to get you male neutered, then wait a full 6 weeks post op before bonding him with a female.

 

[madguinealady]

Two males that are compartable have as much chance of getting on as any other couple.You have to introduce on neutral ground and clean the cage they are going back in thoroughly.They need at least a140 cage and two of everything

 

[Freela]

Putting a sow in with an intact boar will lead to babies, there is just no way around that. So that really wouldn't be recommended. Your two options, then, are to introduce another boar (compatible boars can get along fine) or to neuter your boar, wait six weeks, and then introduce a sow. I believe on the behavior page there are some pointers for introducing boars that you might want to look into in order to help you make your decision.