Please help!

[fallenangelbaby]

Hello so I just got a male guinea pig he is still just a baby I haven't had a guinea pig since I was a kid and have done a lot of research I know a lot of their diet and what each noise they make means I also have already gotten him a bunch of toys and a wood hidey hole the hay and the pellets I have everything I will say I used a starter kit because of how small he is so far with all of my research I have not gotten a direct answer on how big his cage should be where he's happy he makes happy noises while in the cage as well as hunger noises he always gets fed but I would like some recommendations please be kind so far I've seen a lot of hate from me asking simple things and the other question is does putting a blanket on top of the cage help with warmth he also has a bunch of chew sticks.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

The single most important thing for him right now is that he lives with another guinea pig.
Guinea pigs, particularly a baby piggy, must never be kept by themselves. They are social animals and need to always be kept in pairs. A piggy by themselves will get lonely and depressed and no amount of human interaction will ever be enough.
Please do get him a friend asap.

The cage for two male piggies needs to be 180x60cm, that is 70x24 inches.

Yes putting a blanket over his cage will help him settle in and not be so frightened. It can also help if your house is cold to keep heat in the cage.

I’ve added a guide below which details everything you need to know as a new owner

Thread 'New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection'

Apr 10, 2022

Contents Overview
1 What This Collection Is About
2 Guinea Pigs as Pets
- Family and Classroom Pets
- Sourcing Your Guinea Pigs, Common Pitfalls and Your Customer Rights
- Human Pet Anxiety: Practical Tips for Sufferers and Supporters
- Naming and Finding Out the Breed
- Guinea Pig Facts: An Overview
3 Living Environment
- Housing (with sourcing tips)
- Bedding (with...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 8
• Forum: New and Wannabe Owners Corner

• 

 

[Piggies&buns]

To add, I’m not sure what you mean by a starter kit, but his cage should not be any smaller simply because he is a baby. He still needs the same amount of room in his cage as an adult.
Changing the cage at a later date means it’s a whole new territory and will cause him disruption, so it is best to get him into the right size cage, (with a friend) asap.

When bonding him with another guinea pig, it is essential it is done the right way. Piggies must be character compatible to be able to form a functioning hierarchy. You must introduce them on neutral territory and never in what is already his cage as it will be seen as a territory invasion.

This is the bonding guide

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics'

Jan 23, 2019

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

I have also added further guides below for information on why they must always be kept in pairs

Thread 'Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities'

Jun 6, 2019

Introduction
1 When is a 'single' really a single?
- Bought singles
- Fallen-out and aggressive piggies
- Bereaved guinea pigs
- No interest in other guinea pigs
- Disabled and special needs guinea pigs
2 Companionship options (with pros and cons)
- Dating
- De-sexing (neutering or spaying)
- Living alongside
- Buying a baby companion
3 Caring for single guinea...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

T

Thread 'Companionship'

Sep 14, 2009

- Guinea pigs live in groups and herds
- Human third wheel
- Dominant pig
- Speaking pig
- Learning pig
- Myths on companionship
- Where to I best find a suitable companion?


When researching guinea pigs, one of the first thing many newbie owners of single pigs will come across is their need for companionship.


Guinea Pigs Live in Groups and Herds
The wild relations of our domestic piggies are herd animals who live in small groups of a boar paired with a few females. As prey animals they find safety in...

• teadragon
• Replies: 2
• Forum: New and Wannabe Owners Corner

•