Mikatelyn
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi all!
This is Bandit.
He is 3.5 years old and recently bereaved of his brother, Bolt, who we unfortunately had to put to sleep last week because of rapidly growing tumors. Bandit was eating and drinking ok, but acting more needy than usual. I didn't want him to get depressed come Monday when hubby and I both had to go to work all day, so the same weekend I found a piggy in need of adoption and brought him home.
This is Bunker!
Age unknown as the family I adopted him from found him and 2 other piggies dumped at a local park 2 months ago during one of the hottest days in the summer (in Phoenix, AZ the heat is no joke). They said he was smaller then, but not sure if that was because he was skinnier or younger. I think he might be an older piggy because he sleeps a lot, his nails look a little yellow, he's very chill (super tame) and his butt feels kind of bony (I've been watching Saskia's you tube video about how to guess a piggie's age). He was with 2 other males in the box, but the family that found them said they were starting to fight (so not sure if that means they were younger and that's why they were getting along and then falling out?)
In any case, Bunker and Bandit have been living side by side for a week now.
The first 10 minutes both of them were trying to get to each other, running back and forth along the divider, but since then they both seem pretty content. I've read all the files on here on bonding, and watched Saskia's you tube videos in addition.
My questions
1) they seem happy. Should I even attempt to put them together and risk that they hate each other and hurt each other?
2) if I try to bond them, is a week side by side enough or should I wait longer? Should I switch their hides or switch their pens so they get used to each other's scents more? Or will that just make them angry?
3) does this count as a bonding pen and I can just remove the divider for their bonding attempt? Or should I create a whole other space for their meet and greet?
Thanks in advance!
This is Bandit.
He is 3.5 years old and recently bereaved of his brother, Bolt, who we unfortunately had to put to sleep last week because of rapidly growing tumors. Bandit was eating and drinking ok, but acting more needy than usual. I didn't want him to get depressed come Monday when hubby and I both had to go to work all day, so the same weekend I found a piggy in need of adoption and brought him home.
This is Bunker!
Age unknown as the family I adopted him from found him and 2 other piggies dumped at a local park 2 months ago during one of the hottest days in the summer (in Phoenix, AZ the heat is no joke). They said he was smaller then, but not sure if that was because he was skinnier or younger. I think he might be an older piggy because he sleeps a lot, his nails look a little yellow, he's very chill (super tame) and his butt feels kind of bony (I've been watching Saskia's you tube video about how to guess a piggie's age). He was with 2 other males in the box, but the family that found them said they were starting to fight (so not sure if that means they were younger and that's why they were getting along and then falling out?)
In any case, Bunker and Bandit have been living side by side for a week now.
The first 10 minutes both of them were trying to get to each other, running back and forth along the divider, but since then they both seem pretty content. I've read all the files on here on bonding, and watched Saskia's you tube videos in addition.
My questions
1) they seem happy. Should I even attempt to put them together and risk that they hate each other and hurt each other?
2) if I try to bond them, is a week side by side enough or should I wait longer? Should I switch their hides or switch their pens so they get used to each other's scents more? Or will that just make them angry?
3) does this count as a bonding pen and I can just remove the divider for their bonding attempt? Or should I create a whole other space for their meet and greet?
Thanks in advance!