Hi all, we lost one our bonded pair of girls, Lexie about 5 weeks ago. I have had terrible trouble finding a single female to introduce to my remaining girl Roxy. Roxy is 1.5yrs and seems to be a happy go lucky girl, great with humans and just a normal curious fun loving guinea. We finally found a guinea pig rescue - seems to be the only one in Scotland! - and they had a single girl to be re homed, Dixie, we think around the same age as Roxy. However she had we think a troubled background, she was very shy and scared and not really acting like a happy guinea. She has been with us just over two weeks and she and Roxy have been in separate cages and have shared an outdoor run with a divider during the day when it's been nice weather. Today we introduced them as we had lots of time to spare. We moved the outdoor pen to a new area and put two bowls of carrots in and two hiding areas. Everything was fine for about half an hour, then the dominance behaviour started - to be expected. This ended up in fighting - as in going for each other and physically engaging, but then backing off. After a couple of bouts I wasn't sure if this was too much to deal with so removed Dixie to give them both some space. After an hour or so we tried again and let them go on for longer but the fighting still continued on and off. Roxy ended up with a bite. They both seemed to be showing the same amount of dominance to start with but Roxy did seem to be top boss by the end, she went off to the sunny corner and lay down. I suppose my question is, because I can't put them together and watch them all day (to make sure they are safe) do I carry on in stages or am I just back at square one each day we try? Do you think the full on fighting (but separating themselves) means there is no chance they will get on? I do feel Roxy could benefit from a having a friend for the (hopefully) many years she has left but it may be that Dixie will never be able to live with another guinea as we don't know what treatment she has had before. Thanks for any advice anyone has, after losing Lexie in a very stressful way, I was hoping this next stage would be less worrying!
Bonding Queries
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Tiamolly123
Senior Guinea Pig
Tiamolly123
Senior Guinea Pig
What about getting a male & having him neutered, they would have to be away from each other for 7 weeks after but it may be worth it. I also find babies bond quickly, you might find Roxy enjoys being mum to a baby
Hi thanks for the reply, I did think about getting a neutered male...maybe I should have done that, but everything I had read or heard seemed to suggest that girls were not too difficult to bond! I would be worried about space, I only have the room for the two cages I have so unless I know it would work I'd be stuck having to get another cage with no where to put it! I could take Dixie back to the rescue but that would mean another upheaval for her and she seems to be settling eg acting more like a normal guinea, she comes out for feeding and makes all the right noises now and even likes eating the grass! Don't know what to do!
Hi and welcome!
I am very sorry for your loss and your troubles of finding a new friend.
it is generally the end of the road once a serious bite in a fight has happened. You can give it one more try, but if tension is still high, I would give it up - once sows have decided that they don't likel each other, it is the end of the road. To be honest, I would have personally called it off after the first serious tussle.
You may find this guide here helpful in judging the situation.
Could you keep Dixie as a next door neighbour to Roxy and try and find Roxy a more submissive, younger girl or neutered boar? Until then, the girls will provide the necessary stimulation and interaction for each other through the bars.
Where in Scotland are you? Sadly, there are very few rescues with guinea pigs and no piggy savvy ones that offer dating at the rescue. It can be that Dixie will be able to find a friend herself eventually, once she has settled down and is more confident in herself - but that is most likely some time off.
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
Hi there, thanks for your reply. Yes it could be that it's not going to work out....the chance we took I suppose. We are in Edinburgh, the SSPCA had no guineas at all available and the rescue I found only had the one single girl coming in. I guess they might get another but my problem then is that I have no more space if it didn't work out with Roxy. I'd have to let Dixie go back - do you think that would be the right thing to do? It's a good rescue, they love the guineas but I don't want to create more upheaval for her and more work for them! Do you find success with older females and baby females, I suppose the 'easy' route may be to get a new baby, but then I feel I am not helping out on the rehoming front (although it looks like I have tried that and it's not worked out for anyone...!)
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