Guinea pig age

[Lanniellama]

Hi I don’t know if this is the right place for this but I recently got my first ever guinea pig Percy and we were told he was a year old, when we got him he was very small and underweight any way he seems to have grown in size as well as putting on weight so I was wondering if he could be younger than we were told, just wondering if there is a way to tell? Another thing that I was wondering about is that when he arrived we couldn’t really tell if he was male if you know what I mean however in the past couple of days he looks suddenly very male so I was also wondering if he’s ok?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I don’t know if this is the right place for this but I recently got my first ever guinea pig Percy and we were told he was a year old, when we got him he was very small and underweight any way he seems to have grown in size as well as putting on weight so I was wondering if he could be younger than we were told, just wondering if there is a way to tell? Another thing that I was wondering about is that when he arrived we couldn’t really tell if he was male if you know what I mean however in the past couple of days he looks suddenly very male so I was also wondering if he’s ok?

Hi and welcome!

Can you please post a picture of what you mean with 'very male'? The testicles descend between around 3/4-6 months of age.
If your boy is an ex-breeder piggy, then you have to be aware that they often tell you the wrong age to put you off breeding their piggies.
My little Nye was supposed to be a year old when in fact his testicles were only starting to descend and he was most decidedly just a baby on the verge of teenagehood...
Here is our sexing guide, which contains pictures of baby boars, boars with descending and boars with fully descended testicles and adult neutered boars: Sexing Guide

PS: Please consider giving your boy a companion; ideally one that he can choose for himself at a rescue under expert supervision for a stable bond. guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to live as singles. Sadly Switzerland is still the only country where it is illegal to own or sell any group species as singles since 2004 - including explicitly guinea pigs. If you keep single piggies, then the whole responsibility for round the clock companionship and stimulation rests fully for you for every day of the 5-7 years of an average healthy life span. Your piggy's needs never change, whether you are busy or not; and they don't simply go away when it is inconvenient for you.
Companionship
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (including information on the various ages, pairing up and specific boar needs)
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

 

[Lanniellama]

Hi and welcome!

Can you please post a picture of what you mean with 'very male'? The testicles descend between around 3/4-6 months of age.
If your boy is an ex-breeder piggy, then you have to be aware that they often tell you the wrong age to put you off breeding their piggies.
My little Nye was supposed to be a year old when in fact his testicles were only starting to descend and he was most decidedly just a baby on the verge of teenagehood...
Here is our sexing guide, which contains pictures of baby boars, boars with descending and boars with fully descended testicles and adult neutered boars: Sexing Guide

PS: Please consider giving your boy a companion; ideally one that he can choose for himself at a rescue under expert supervision for a stable bond. guinea pigs are group animals and not wired to live as singles. Sadly Switzerland is still the only country where it is illegal to own or sell any group species as singles since 2004 - including explicitly guinea pigs. If you keep single piggies, then the whole responsibility for round the clock companionship and stimulation rests fully for you for every day of the 5-7 years of an average healthy life span. Your piggy's needs never change, whether you are busy or not; and they don't simply go away when it is inconvenient for you.
Companionship
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (including information on the various ages, pairing up and specific boar needs)
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

Hi I will try and post a picture, and we are trying to find the right companion, I normally would never have considered just having one on his own but he was being badly neglected so we agreed to take him

 

[Lanniellama]

Hi I will try and post a picture, and we are trying to find the right companion, I normally would never have considered just having one on his own but he was being badly neglected so we agreed to take him

 

[KathT]

I would say yes, that’s definitely a boar! Obviously not as old as you were told when you got him. Are you planning to get him a male companion?

 

[Lanniellama]

I would say yes, that’s definitely a boar! Obviously not as old as you were told when you got him. Are you planning to get him a male companion?

I think we are probably going to get another boat as i don’t want to end up with lots of baby guinea pigs accidentally! So hopefully we will be able to find him the right friend soon

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum and well done on rescuing the piggy.
As you are in the UK have a look at the top of the forum - there’s a drop down menu on the left.
There you will find a list of recommended rescues.
There may be one near you which does boar dating.

If another boar is not available then an alternative option is to have him neutered so he can live with sows (after the 6 week wait)

Keep us posted

 

[Lanniellama]

Welcome to the forum and well done on rescuing the piggy.
As you are in the UK have a look at the top of the forum - there’s a drop down menu on the left.
There you will find a list of recommended rescues.
There may be one near you which does boar dating.

If another boar is not available then an alternative option is to have him neutered so he can live with sows (after the 6 week wait)

Keep us posted

Thanks that’s really helpful I’ll definitely have a look at the rescues

 

[Merab]

Just seen your introduction post.
Percy is so gorgeous- we definitely need more pictures

 

[Lanniellama]

Just seen your introduction post.
Percy is so gorgeous- we definitely need more pictures

Thanks I’ll post some soon