Should I get my piggy a sibling?

[hrsrdr]

I have a male guinea pig that's five years old. I'd really like to get him a friend, but I'm not sure if a male or female is better. I'm not looking to breed, so I'm a little skeptical on a female. Any advice for getting him a sibling?

 

[Ritika]

U can get him a baby boar if u want to they ll match perfectly and there would be no clashes

 

[Piggies&buns]

I have a male guinea pig that's five years old. I'd really like to get him a friend, but I'm not sure if a male or female is better. I'm not looking to breed, so I'm a little skeptical on a female. Any advice for getting him a sibling?

Character compatibility comes before sex or age. The piggies have to be well matched and want to be together as that is the basis of a stable relationship.
You will not be able to put your piggy with a female until your boy is neutered and had the six week post neuter wait to ensue he is no longer fertile.
Whether the friend your get your piggy is older or younger is, as I say above, mostly irrelevant as it is character compatibility which counts most. The best way to get a new friend is to take your piggy boar dating at a local rescue centre. That way, your piggy chooses his own friend so you know they like each other and are more likely to get on well for the long term. If you go out and buy a piggy from a pet store, then you have no way of knowing what will happen down the line, particularly if you get a youngster who is not yet a teenager so will be an unknown quantity in that respect of terms of how dominant he will be as he matures.

 

[Lady Kelly]

U can get him a baby boar if u want to they ll match perfectly and there would be no clashes

Not strictly true. Whilst most older boar and baby boar pairings are accepted due to the baby being too young to challenge the older one and more willing to accept their position, it is not 100% guaranteed. Personality is the most important and a baby will still need to go through the teenage hormones which can cause tension. If you have a rescue near you they may offer boar dating for finding a good match.

I would be wary about considering neutering at 5 years as the operation is riskier as they get older.

 

[Wiebke]

Not strictly true. Whilst most older boar and baby boar pairings are accepted due to the baby being too young to challenge the older one and more willing to accept their position, it is not 100% guaranteed. Personality is the most important and a baby will still need to go through the teenage hormones which can cause tension. If you have a rescue near you they may offer boar dating for finding a good match.

I would be wary about considering neutering at 5 years as the operation is riskier as they get older.

Hi and welcome

it is great that you are considering companionship!

We have certainly seen members' boars reject one baby but be totally happy with another one, but have also seen boar pairings of any age. No piggy is ever too old to choose a friend, but it is ideally their own choice whether that is a similar aged boar or a youngster.
If you can get to one, please consider dating your boy at a good standard guinea pig rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care that offers a meet&greet or dating service under expert supervision. this means that your boy can have a say and you come home with a companion only if acceptance has happened.

If you choose a companion, then you have to plan ahead in case they do not vibe. Please do NOT get two babies - boar trios and quartets are the constellations that fail most often, the more so the more sub-adults are in the mix.
There are a few US rescues that have a sow spaying policy but there are none in the UK and Australia. With cross gender pairings one side needs to be de-sexed as guinea pigs never stop procreating; only the older they get with an increasingly high rate of miscarriages or death of babies and mothers.

You may find these two guides here helpful. The singles guide has a chapter on companionship, the particular challenges with singles and how best to go about it. The boar guide may also help you with making a decision as it takes a closer look at boar companionship.
Both guides also contain links to recommended and vetted good standard rescues in several countries:
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Here is our illustrated bonding guide which covers the whole process and also contains chapters on aspects that are particular to boar bonding and baby bonding:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics