Gender surprise! What to do?! Separate brother and sister?

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emeraldislets

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Hi, would love the thoughts of experienced guinea-owners! We got what we were told were two sisters a couple of weeks ago (they were apparently 6 weeks old so would be 9 weeks old now) but we noticed that one was completely different to the other and a proper rumble-strutter and decided to double check to be sure - and lo, it turns out that Willow is more Willy or Bob..and we actually have a brother and sister!

We aren't keen on having babies but have no idea if she could be pregnant already - have seen no suspicious behaviour but have read that boars can be ready to mate at a young age and should be separated from females early on.. So today we decided to build them new separate C&C cages and put them in their own cage and see whether they could live happily side by side instead.. Buttercup was mostly fine (probably enjoyed her rumble-strutting free space!) - Willow/Bob was really upset, trying to dig out/biting bars/squealing for her/getting himself in a real state. Hating to see him so distressed, we eventually reunited them and decided to work on a Plan B (or at least let them get used their new cage before trying again - they were in an indoor hutch before today).

Has anyone else had experience of separating a bonded pair? Would getting each a new cage buddy (female for Buttercup, male for WillowBob) be a good idea.. or would they fight and then we'd be left with another two guinea pigs who couldn't live together?!

Or would neutering be a better plan? But he's still small - and I guess she could get pregnant in the time we wait for him to be ready for neutering.. Or just retry the separation until there is less distress?!

Would love any advice, thanks in advance!
 
Please separate. The initial distress will die down in a couple of days. If you leave them together you will guarantee that she will be pregnant but it's entirely possible she could be already. Please make sure the c&c is escape proof as boars can be very determined when faced with a sow in season next door.

He can be neutered but most vets will want his testicles to have descended fully before they do the operation.

Personally, if you are in a position to keep any babies she may have I would wait and see whether she's pregnant. Keep them side by side so he can still bond with babies and hopefully if you have a boar they would be able to live together with mum living with any sows she may have.
 
Sorry you have been another victim of mis sexing.
You must separate them immediately. He will be upset by it, but there is no choice in the matter. She must also be put on 10 week pregnancy watch.

I absolutely agree with lady kelly. I would wait and see if she is pregnant first before thinking about bonding in any new Guinea pigs and then make decisions based on the sex of the babies.
 
Thank you so much both for your replies. Well, we've re-separated and all seems a little bit calmer this time round! He is still having some crazy bar-biting sessions in between being distracted by all the yummies our fridge had to offer but he isn't so noisy - she is positively unbothered by his absence! He's retreated, tired to his bed for now so hopefully we'll all have a calm-ish night! We'll wait and see whether she's pregnant before deciding on new roomies for them, as we do have space to keep any babies. Do you know what the earliest point we may know if she's pregnant is? Thanks again.
 
emeraldislets said:
Hi, would love the thoughts of experienced guinea-owners! We got what we were told were two sisters a couple of weeks ago (they were apparently 6 weeks old so would be 9 weeks old now) but we noticed that one was completely different to the other and a proper rumble-strutter and decided to double check to be sure - and lo, it turns out that Willow is more Willy or Bob..and we actually have a brother and sister!

We aren't keen on having babies but have no idea if she could be pregnant already - have seen no suspicious behaviour but have read that boars can be ready to mate at a young age and should be separated from females early on.. So today we decided to build them new separate C&C cages and put them in their own cage and see whether they could live happily side by side instead.. Buttercup was mostly fine (probably enjoyed her rumble-strutting free space!) - Willow/Bob was really upset, trying to dig out/biting bars/squealing for her/getting himself in a real state. Hating to see him so distressed, we eventually reunited them and decided to work on a Plan B (or at least let them get used their new cage before trying again - they were in an indoor hutch before today).

Has anyone else had experience of separating a bonded pair? Would getting each a new cage buddy (female for Buttercup, male for WillowBob) be a good idea.. or would they fight and then we'd be left with another two guinea pigs who couldn't live together?!

Or would neutering be a better plan? But he's still small - and I guess she could get pregnant in the time we wait for him to be ready for neutering.. Or just retry the separation until there is less distress?!

Would love any advice, thanks in advance!
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Hi and welcome

I am very sorry that you have become another victim of mis-sexing.
Unfortunately boars start having live sperm between 3-5 weeks and sows come into season for the first time between 4-6 weeks.
Please separate ASAP and keep your sibling pair in adjoining cages for company and mutual stimulation. You will have to put your girl on a 10 week pregnancy watch starting with the last day she was with her brother.

You are welcome to open an ongoing support thread in our specially monitored pregnancy section that will accompany you for as long as it takes. Please accept that there are no reliable outward signs for the first two thirds of a pregnancy and that we can't confirm pregnancies just from a picture, so it is quite a long wait for you, unfortunately.
Please take the time to read the advice in this link here, especially the diet advice at the top, as that is the area you can really make a difference: Pregnancy & Baby Care Guide's
 
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