I adopted a single guinea pig yesterday as it had been separated from the others due to fighting. I’m concerned he needs a friend but I don’t want to get another if they will fight and I’ll end up with two single guinea pigs. Any suggestions or tips?
Lonely Guinea Pig
- Thread starter h.xox
- Start date
Darcey15
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hello there & welcome.
Could you please add your location to your profile so that members can assist you better? How old is your pig and does he have a name?
You are correct in thinking he needs a friend as piggies are not solitary animals and need company of their own kind. If you have a rescue near to where you live you can enquire about bonding services where your piggie can choose his own friend.
It is all down to personality in the end so getting assistance is the easiest option but if not, you can follow the forum bonding guides on what combinations work best and how to prepare. There is no guarantee the piggie you choose will get along with yours so you should always be prepared for that if you do it yourself. Just read up as much as you can on the guides here and research possible bonding services- this will give you the best chance of success. All the best!
Hi and welcome
Your practical options depend very much on what is available within your reach, so it would help us massively if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to location in your account details (access via clicking on your username on the top bar). This makes it appear with every post you make anywhere on the forum at any time and allows us to instantly tailor any recommendations and advice to what is relevant, available and possible for you with just a quick glance to the left. We have members and enquiries from literally all over the world and from very different conditions.
The two best options are either boar dating at a good standard rescue with a mandatory quarantine/vet care, pregnancy watch that offers either meet&greet or full bonding under their own expert supervision, so you come home with a new properly sexed and healthy companion only if acceptance has happened and you have the rescue to fall back on if things don't work out for some reason.
This list contains the vetted and passed good standard rescues in several countries that we can couch for. Any other rescues you are on your own as anybody in the English speaking countries can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without licensing or control.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Alternatively, neutering is a valid option to allow your boy to live with a sow after the obligatory 6 weeks post-op safety wait. This option however depends on your access to a general vet with experience with either guinea pig neutering or an exotics with experience in small rodent operations. Depending on the country and on the vet, operation cost can vary enormously.
Here is our comprehensive neutering information: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
This guide here contains tips and information on looking after single piggies in various situations and the different specific challenges that they pose. If at all possible, companionship in some form (even if it is just through the bars in adjoining cages) should be provided. Guinea pigs are group animals and are not wired to live on their own.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
You can access our very useful New Owners guide collection with lots of practical tips and information on a wide range of issues that we get the most questions and concerns about via this link here. It is well worth bookmarking and using as a resource: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides