New boar pair

[naguya]

Hello everyone, So... I'm getting two more guinea pigs, two boars. I would not risk a trio or a quartet with Momo and Bijou, they will be separated.

I have a few questions, does the new pair need to be introduced to the pair that already lives here or it doesn't matter? They will be in separate cages, Momo and Bijou in one, and the new pair in another cage.

Also, during floor time, can I leave them together or do I keep one pair at a time?

We don't have rescue centers for guinea pigs here, so unfortunately I will need to buy them, and perhaps, they come sick. So I think it would be better for them not to have any contact with the other boars, right?

Each cage is 160x120cm

Momo and Bijou:



Here they are in the shop, in deplorable conditions... I'm thinking of getting the white and black, also, the full white. Shop owner told me if they fight at home, I can choose other boar till they match together. They are about 4-5 months old.

 

[Ramia]

You would keep each pair separate at floor time.

Congratulations!

 

[fluffysal]

Poor little guys, thank goodness you're rescuing them. I understand why you want to take as many as you can cope with and afford.
Yes, separate floor times. You don't need to introduce them to your boys. Others will know better about whether yours will react to smelling the new boys.
I'm already looking forward to seeing the before and after pictures because they will thrive in your care.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Beautiful piggies. They’re so lucky to have been rescued.

I agree with the others.
They must remain separate at all times and as they have to be in a separate cage, there is nothing you need to do - you simply put the new piggies into their own cage.
They can be beside your original pair though. All four will talk through the bars but they must never be physically together without bars between them.

So yes each pair must have their own separate floor time. You must never allow all four of them to physically meet without bars between them.
(If you were to allow all four together for floor time, you could cause fights and mean that Momo and bijou refuse to live together anymore; and it could mean the new pair also refuse to live together)

 

[naguya]

Poor little guys, thank goodness you're rescuing them. I understand why you want to take as many as you can cope with and afford.
Yes, separate floor times. You don't need to introduce them to your boys. Others will know better about whether yours will react to smelling the new boys.
I'm already looking forward to seeing the before and after pictures because they will thrive in your care.

I would take more piggies if I could! I have felt in love with guinea pigs since Momo

I just got them both, they are pretty afraid and hiding together, I made sure to put two of each thing in the cage. I'm going to leave them alone for a few days without any disturbances, till they settle down a little bit.

Their poop are mostly white, probably too much calcium in their diet, right?

Momo didn't mind the new members of the room, but Bijou was scared, he went to check where the "wheek, wheek!" was coming from.
I hope the new pair get along and become very happy together!

Soon I hope, to post a video here of the two popcorning and zooming

 

[Piggies&buns]

Oh my, the one with the black face has beautiful markings!

If the poop is fresh and coming out white then it may be calcium on it.
You’ll mostly be able to tell if they’ve got too much calcium by observing patches of dried urine.

You will obviously adjust their diet but do note that changes to the diet will take weeks to have an effect on their body.

 

[Ramia]

What are their names?

 

[naguya]

Beautiful piggies. They’re so lucky to have been rescued.

I agree with the others.
They must remain separate at all times and as they have to be in a separate cage, there is nothing you need to do - you simply put the new piggies into their own cage.
They can be beside your original pair though. All four will talk through the bars but they must never be physically together without bars between them.

So yes each pair must have their own separate floor time. You must never allow all four of them to physically meet without bars between them.
(If you were to allow all four together for floor time, you could cause fights and mean that Momo and bijou refuse to live together anymore; and it could mean the new pair also refuse to live together)

Thank you! I will keep them apart at all times!

I really hope the new pair gets along and bond, It would hurt me to have to return one and try a new pair.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you! I will keep them apart at all times!

I really hope the new pair gets along and bond, It would hurt me to have to return one and try a new pair.

Do you know if they’ve always been together?
If they have always been together then they are already bonded; they will have two weeks of reestablishing that bond in a new environment though

 

[naguya]

Do you know if they’ve always been together?
If they have always been together then they are already bonded; they will have two weeks of reestablishing that bond in a new environment though

They were together in a cage with 5 other boars, I think they've been always together

 

[naguya]

What are their names?

I still don't know yet! I'm accepting suggestions!

 

[Piggies&buns]

They were together in a cage with 5 other boars, I think they've been always together

Ah I see.
So the case would be that they do have to bond as a pair. Hopefully they are ok together

 

[Ramia]

Pops
Wilbert
Claude
Moonbeam
Jaques
Yves
Pierre
Roger
Jorge

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Considering how fortunate they are to have been found by you, you could call them Lucky and Benedict.

 

[naguya]

I am thinking about two names that rhyme, what could they be?

 

[naguya]

On the white boar I found these small, slightly healed wounds, what could it be?
Can it be mange mite? It seems like a V shape... He's not scratching himself and there are no other wounds like that anywhere on his body.

 

[fluffysal]

How about
Texugo ( badger)
Nuvem (cloud)
Apologies if the translation is bad, blame Google!

 

[AidaB]

Congratulations on your new arrivals, I hope they settle in quickly & enjoy being spoilt.

 

[naguya]

How about
Texugo ( badger)
Nuvem (cloud)
Apologies if the translation is bad, blame Google!

"Nuvem" would be a funny name for a guinea pig in Portuguese haha. I thought about "Xuxu" for the black one, I am thinking about a name that rhymes or sounds good with it for the white

 

[fluffysal]

The names will come as you get to know them.

 

[Merab]

What lucky boys being rescued by you.
They are gorgeous

 

[fluffysal]

Are they settling OK?

 

[naguya]

I have some news! With the final exams at college, it has been a bit complicated to come here and update. Lately, it has been REALLY complicated to take care of the new pair!

The two have been "disagreeing", I don't think the disagreements are enough to separate them, since there has been no blood or a real fight yet. But, they have been quite constant with the white one screaming out loud non stop 24hrs for his life. I have the serious impression that the all-white one doesn't like the all-black one. But only the future will tell.

Now for the bad news. The all-black one managed to climb the sides of the enclosure (~20cm high - I fenced the sides but not up to the height of the grid), chased Momo, and when Momo tried to run, Momo bit his own mouth. There was a lot of blood, I managed to stop the bleeding and washed it with saline solution and gave him pain medication. Today he is recovered! Poor Momo! After that, I completely fenced off the sides of the cage and the all-black one didn't come out anymore.

The all-white one also started climbing the sides of the cage (30 cm high), and only wanted to be next to Momo. I've caught him several times inside Momo and Bijou's cage, following Momo around. I've tried putting cloths around the cage, wires, screens, cardboard, anything you can imagine, he climbs, even a second set of grids, 60cm high! That said, after completely surrounding the entire cage, it didn't work for long. To my surprise, he jumps! He jumps over the grid of the enclosure to be next to Momo! For two days now I've woken up in the morning with him sleeping next to Momo. My only alternative now is to put up a wire ceiling it to prevent him from getting through since I don't have space to put them in another room. Luckily, there have been no disagreements between Bijou and Momo because of the white one.

Things have been really crazy around here

I also gave the black one a cut, his hair was so long that he was getting wet and poop was accumulating in his fur, not to mention that it's really hot!

 

[natalie.darts]

I have some news! With the final exams at college, it has been a bit complicated to come here and update. Lately, it has been REALLY complicated to take care of the new pair!

The two have been "disagreeing", I don't think the disagreements are enough to separate them, since there has been no blood or a real fight yet. But, they have been quite constant with the white one screaming out loud non stop 24hrs for his life. I have the serious impression that the all-white one doesn't like the all-black one. But only the future will tell.

Now for the bad news. The all-black one managed to climb the sides of the enclosure (~20cm high - I fenced the sides but not up to the height of the grid), chased Momo, and when Momo tried to run, Momo bit his own mouth. There was a lot of blood, I managed to stop the bleeding and washed it with saline solution and gave him pain medication. Today he is recovered! Poor Momo! After that, I completely fenced off the sides of the cage and the all-black one didn't come out anymore.

The all-white one also started climbing the sides of the cage (30 cm high), and only wanted to be next to Momo. I've caught him several times inside Momo and Bijou's cage, following Momo around. I've tried putting cloths around the cage, wires, screens, cardboard, anything you can imagine, he climbs, even a second set of grids, 60cm high! That said, after completely surrounding the entire cage, it didn't work for long. To my surprise, he jumps! He jumps over the grid of the enclosure to be next to Momo! For two days now I've woken up in the morning with him sleeping next to Momo. My only alternative now is to put up a wire ceiling it to prevent him from getting through since I don't have space to put them in another room. Luckily, there have been no disagreements between Bijou and Momo because of the white one.

Things have been really crazy around here

I also gave the black one a cut, his hair was so long that he was getting wet and poop was accumulating in his fur, not to mention that it's really hot!

You need to put lids on your cages and use a lot of zip ties.

 

[naguya]

Yes! I just recently ordered from internet. I'm waiting for them to arrive, so finally he won't escape!

Here are the new boys in supervised floor time. I have a fenced area for my tortoises where there is no danger of them escaping. There is lots of grass and a large area to run. The dogs don't go in there. They had a great time! Next time I'll record a video of them running.
The black one popcorned for the first time in his cage yesterday! It was so beautiful to see! He seemed so happy!



Before the haircut: