Bonding / Behaviour

[HarukoJay]

Hi guy ,

I'm planning to get 1 more guinea pig to accompany my current one Male age 10mths.
He has an ‘Alpha’ character .

I’m unsure on if same sex can be bonded as i check on several website seems like not an easy task ...
I do not wish to separate them...

any suggestions ?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes you can bond two males together - I have a boar pair myself and there are plenty of others on here who do too.
But, character compatibility is vital to a successful bond and your boar is in his teens which can make bonding harder. If you buy a piggy from a pet shop, then you are risking a failed bonding as you will have no idea if the two are going to like each other. They may end up having to live separately.. If you can get to a rescue centre which offers dating then your boar can choose his own new friend which will result in a good bond and you are much less likely to have bond issues.
Two boars need a cage measuring 180cm x 60cm as they are more territorial and need plenty of space. Do ensure your cage is this size.

Your alternative is to have him neutered, have his six week post op wait to become infertile and then bond him with a sow. Some rescue centres will not bond teenage boars due to the risks so neutering may be your option. A successful bond with a sow still comes down to compatibility so via dating at a rescue is stillbthe safest way to find a sow friend for him, although a boar/sow bond tends to be more stable.

If you are to carry out a bonding yourself, then there is a specific procedure which needs to be followed. The guides below explains further

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

 

[Sophia_Oreo108]

Yes you can bond two males together - I have a boar pair myself and there are plenty of others on here who do too.
But, character compatibility is vital to a successful bond and your boar is in his teens which can make bonding harder. If you buy a piggy from a pet shop, then you are risking a failed bonding as you will have no idea if the two are going to like each other. They may end up having to live separately.. If you can get to a rescue centre which offers dating then your boar can choose his own new friend which will result in a good bond and you are much less likely to have bond issues.
Two boars need a cage measuring 180cm x 60cm as they are more territorial and need plenty of space. Do ensure your cage is this size.

Your alternative is to have him neutered, have his six week post op wait to become infertile and then bond him with a sow. Some rescue centres will not bond teenage boars due to the risks so neutering may be your option. A successful bond with a sow still comes down to compatibility so via dating at a rescue is stillbthe safest way to find a sow friend for him, although a boar/sow bond tends to be more stable.

If you are to carry out a bonding yourself, then there is a specific procedure which needs to be followed. The guides below explains further

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Personally I would try dating at a rescue first for another male. If he doesn't find someone he likes then you could consider getting him neutered and trying a girl.
Hope it all goes well!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guy ,

I'm planning to get 1 more guinea pig to accompany my current one Male age 10mths.
He has an ‘Alpha’ character .

I’m unsure on if same sex can be bonded as i check on several website seems like not an easy task ...
I do not wish to separate them...

any suggestions ?

Hi!

Which country are you in? We have members and enquiries from literally all over the world.

The safest way of finding a personality compatible mate is by dating at a good welfare standard rescue that offers this service so your boy can have a say in who he wants to live in and you come home with a new mate only if acceptance has happened.
Your boy is still in his teenage months, though; which is the most difficult age to bond a boar although he is out of the very worst of it in the weeks around 6 months. People sadly don't go to a pet shop and look for which two piggies are hanging out together most; they buy for looks and then cram two clashing personalities into a cage that is too small... So fireworks are sadly inevitable when the boars can't get away from each other as they would normally do.
Rescue Locator (recommended rescues for some other countries via the link below the UK map)

The other option with difficult to bond boars is neutering so they can live with a sow after the necessary 6 weeks post-op safety wait; cross gender bondings are the most stable combo of all once you have taken the initial crucial hurdle of acceptance, which goes for all piggy bondings. Prices for a neutering operation differ enormously from country to country, though.
Several of my own past and current 'husboars' (neutered boars living with sows) were 'unbondable' boars that are now living the dream.