Introducing Male Guinea Pigs

Graceeiram

Graceeiram

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I bought a guinea pig in about July, and was just given a second today (November). They’re both males (as far as I know). I’m very new to guinea pigs so I still have trouble understanding their behavior. Upon meeting they immediately started sniffing each other and making low rumbling or cooing noises. The bigger (and older) of the two keeps getting on top of the little one too. I separated their cage with a metallic divider but they keep trying to take it down and act a little desperate around each other. The little one keeps pointing his bum at the bigger one too. I’ve read some of this is normal when guinea pigs first meet but I’m a little worried the man who sold the little one to us (and my family) might have misunderstood the sex of the guinea pig and they’re trying to mate? Their parts look the same but I don’t know if this behavior is natural or normal
 
Hello and welcome to the forum, don't separate them then reintroduce them, it can be very stressful for them, mounting is totally normal, my boars do it all the time, if you show some pictures of their bits somebody can sex them...
 
Mounting between Male guinea pigs is perfectly normal dominance behaviour.
However, if you only got the new one today, then ideally you quarantine the new one for two weeks to be assured that he doesn’t have any illnesses which can be passed to your original piggy. Also, you need to be sure that they are both Male before you let them go anywhere near each other.
It is also very important that you read the bonding guides on this site as it helps greatly with how to do a proper bonding - in a neutral space and several hours in that neutral space, a clean scent free cage for when they are ready to be put in together as well as the information on what behaviour is normal (mounting, bum wiggling and purring (called rumblestrutting) is all normal).
A key factor though, is once you put two guinea pigs together, you should not keep separating them unless there is a full on fight. Constant introduction and separation is stressful on them and causes the process to be interrupted and then it has to start all over again.
You also need to ensure that, with males in particular, that your cage is big enough. With boys you need to go up a size from the recommended size - so that would mean ideally a 180cm x 60cm cage. You might get away with a 150cm cage but bigger is always better - for my own two boars a 150cm cage was too small). You also need two bowls, bottles and ensure that all hideys are open ended so that no one piggy can get cornered.
 
The low rumbling sound you were talking about is called rumblestrutting, it is used to woo the ladies and to sort out dominance.
 
Hello, welcome to the forum. First off get the piggies sexed by a vet or take some photos of their bits and we'll try and take a look for you.

Secondly even if they are the same sex that sounds normal, piggies are herd animals so crave the company of their own kind

When you have established the sex then look at doing an introduction, we have a binding guide here Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

All piggies regardless of sex will rumble at each other, and when they are bonding you will seeing lots of dominance behaviour as they sort who is 'top' pig
 
Totally agree with above, :agr:.
Unless you are completely sure about their sex, don't put them together. You might end up with babies you may or may not want.
Welcome by the way.

I have Finn and Lara living in separate cages and they are close enough so they can see and hear each other. It works for us.
 
Thank you all so much for your quick and insightful replies! I’m attaching photos of both their parts to see if anyone can sex them (I apologize for one of them looking messy, I just bathed him and he dirtied himself up again in the process of trying to meet the little one)
 

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Just so you know, you should not bathe your piggies unless for medical reasons or if they are extremely dirty, somebody else will help with the sexing, although I do believe there is a guide somewhere you could have a nosy at :D:lol::woot::fog::tu:
 
Ok! Your older boar is probably in his teenage months, so will be a bit difficult, mine are the same at roughly 6 months (Smokey) and 7 months (Bacon)
 
Sophie Blane said:
Just so you know, you should not bathe your piggies unless for medical reasons or if they are extremely dirty, somebody else will help with the sexing, although I do believe there is a guide somewhere you could have a nosy at :D:lol::woot::fog::tu:
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I’ve heard! I bathed him because he stepped in a ton of his own poop while I was cleaning his cage and it stuck to his fur. I worried it might not be good for him :(
 
As long as you don't do it too often and the water is low and not too hot/cold he'll be fine :D:D:D
 
Sophie Blane said:
Some general pigtures would also be nice! :woot::woot::woot:
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Here they are! The orangey one is Guimis (he’s about ten months) and the small browner one is Guimitri :) we’re not sure how old he is but he’s very tiny compared to Guimis (half his size!)
 
Graceeiram said:
Here they are! The orangey one is Guimis (he’s about ten months) and the small browner one is Guimitri :) we’re not sure how old he is but he’s very tiny compared to Guimis (half his size!)
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It is very important that you don’t just put the younger one in the older pigs cage. It must be thoroughly cleaned and made as neutral as possible (as well as the separate neutral bonding space). If you put the new one in the older one’s cage, then your older one may see the new one as a threat and that will cause problems.
Your older, at 10 months, is right in one of the most difficult hormone spikes but as your younger is younger, then that does, in theory, make it a little easier as they won’t be going through the hormone spikes at the same time. However, there is no guarantee that they will get on and I am afraid that is the risk with you going out and buying a new companion for him - you have no idea whether they will be character compatible.
Do read the bonding guides to help get the best possible outcome. Also the cage size guide - two boars need a bigger cage space.
 
Graceeiram said:
I bought a guinea pig in about July, and was just given a second today (November). They’re both males (as far as I know). I’m very new to guinea pigs so I still have trouble understanding their behavior. Upon meeting they immediately started sniffing each other and making low rumbling or cooing noises. The bigger (and older) of the two keeps getting on top of the little one too. I separated their cage with a metallic divider but they keep trying to take it down and act a little desperate around each other. The little one keeps pointing his bum at the bigger one too. I’ve read some of this is normal when guinea pigs first meet but I’m a little worried the man who sold the little one to us (and my family) might have misunderstood the sex of the guinea pig and they’re trying to mate? Their parts look the same but I don’t know if this behavior is natural or normal
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Now the little one keeps running away from the big one when he tries to mount him. Is that normal too?
 
Yes, this is what Smokey does when Bacon tries to mount him, he usually squeaks and sometimes chatters his teeth too
 
I’m glad! I just really want them to get along because I don’t know what’s good or bad or when to interviene
 
Graceeiram said:
I bought a guinea pig in about July, and was just given a second today (November). They’re both males (as far as I know). I’m very new to guinea pigs so I still have trouble understanding their behavior. Upon meeting they immediately started sniffing each other and making low rumbling or cooing noises. The bigger (and older) of the two keeps getting on top of the little one too. I separated their cage with a metallic divider but they keep trying to take it down and act a little desperate around each other. The little one keeps pointing his bum at the bigger one too. I’ve read some of this is normal when guinea pigs first meet but I’m a little worried the man who sold the little one to us (and my family) might have misunderstood the sex of the guinea pig and they’re trying to mate? Their parts look the same but I don’t know if this behavior is natural or normal
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

Good that you have sexed them before starting the bonding!

The behaviour (rumblestrutting/measuring up to each other) and mounting is how boars bond; that is very normal and there has been nothing that is ringing alarm bells. Please be aware that boars always have to start back in square one after any separation; you have to sit it out once you have committed and not interfere unless they get into a serious fight (not just a minor tussle) or one boar is getting mounted literally nonstop and can't eat, drink or sleep in peace (bullying) - that is the hard bit, especially if you have never bonded before. It is always a nerve-wracking affair!

This guide here shows you various social interactive behaviours with pictures, explains the various stages of the bonding process, tells you specifics for various combinations (like boar bonding) and also contains some videos which you may hopefully find it helpful.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

Good that you have sexed them before starting the bonding!

The behaviour (rumblestrutting/measuring up to each other) and mounting is how boars bond; that is very normal and there has been nothing that is ringing alarm bells. Please be aware that boars always have to start back in square one after any separation; you have to sit it out once you have committed and not interfere unless they get into a serious fight (not just a minor tussle) or one boar is getting mounted literally nonstop and can't eat, drink or sleep in peace (bullying) - that is the hard bit, especially if you have never bonded before. It is always a nerve-wracking affair!

This guide here shows you various social interactive behaviours with pictures, explains the various stages of the bonding process, tells you specifics for various combinations (like boar bonding) and also contains some videos which you may hopefully find it helpful.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
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Thank you so much, this is very helpful!
 
When I bonded my lot there was much mounting, submission squealing (sounds like someone is being murdered!), wee spraying, teeth chattering and running away from each other but in the end everything settled down and they all live as one very happy herd now. Just stick with it unless blood is drawn. It is not for the faint hearted! Remember they know what they are doing and some of it may look a bit brutal to us but it isn't for them.
 
Betsy said:
When I bonded my lot there was much mounting, submission squealing (sounds like someone is being murdered!), wee spraying, teeth chattering and running away from each other but in the end everything settled down and they all live as one very happy herd now. Just stick with it unless blood is drawn. It is not for the faint hearted! Remember they know what they are doing and some of it may look a bit brutal to us but it isn't for them.
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They’ve seemed to settle down since last night and actively look for each other now! I’m guessing it was just a dominance thing
 
Welcome to the forum

I have sows so can’t add to the discussion.
However I can highly recommend the bonding guides on the forum. They saved my sanity when I bonded 2 pairs of sows.

Hope all goes well and look forward to pictures
 
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