Troubles with Male Bonding

[Stephanietheresa]

I admit: I purchased two guinea pigs from a pet store. I'm very new to this forum still, but I'm sure that many will frown upon that. I got a job at this particular store during Covid and, during a trip to our sister store, I saw a lonely young boar kept all by himself in what was little more than a 20 gallon sized tank.

I had been planning on getting guinea pigs for months prior to this, hoping to get a bonded pair through one of the many rescues I contacted. But this little guy was so sad and depressed looking that I couldnt leave him. I took little Brioche home that day.

Fast forward a month and I'm nursing a sick boar at work. We nursed him for almost two months as he had ringworm and a severe respiratory infection. He was with us so long that I was allowed to adopt him by my managers when he was healthy. I named him Rye and I intentioned to bond him with Brioche as I figured my first pig needed a friend.

But it didn't go well. I tried numerous times to introduce them on neutral ground (in the bathroom) with piles of greens and hay each time. Rye seemed wary but tolerant while Brioche went crazy with constant dominance displays like humping and teeth chattering. This happens every intro, without fail, and now Rye is no longer tolerating it and is starting to be aggressive back.

Currently, I have to keep them separated in the same cage. All I have to use is a cardboard barrier-- Brioche tries incessantly to chew through it to get to Rye's side so he can harass him with dominance displays. I'm at a stalemate here with two dominant pigs and no peace in sight.

I live in a small one bedroom apartment, so two cages side by side or a massive jumbo cage with a wire grid divider isn't an option because of lack of space. I could do a stacked cage, but then that wouldn't allow them visual interaction.

I'm completely at my wits' end and I'm so distraught on what to do. I love them both so much but in afraid that my only options are to have them live a lonely life separated or to re-home one and maybe try "dating" at a rescue to give the one I keep a companion once Covid is over. What is the right thing to do? I just want them to be happy and I know that this current situation is nothing but stressful for all of us.

 

[Siikibam]

Well done for taking them in. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that piggies gotten on spec will like each other. Humping is normal dominance behaviour and teeth chattering can also be...to an extent. How was Rye acting the first time you introduced them? Was he letting himself be humped? Was he squeaking at all? It is hard but sometimes you have to be careful not to intervene too quickly.

Having said that, it may be that they just don’t get on. If Rye seems oblivious and doesn’t care that they’re separated then that tells you all you need to know. I would try and see if you can surrender one to a rescue and date your other one. That’s the best way to find them a friend they actually like - especially if they pick them out themselves.

Singles need a 120x60cm cage each. So if you’ve split a cage and it’s less than that then unfortunately it doesn’t meet their space requirements. Boar pairs also need a lot more space than sows. At minimum 150x60cm but we now recommend 180x60cm. So bear that in mind when you’re getting a friend.

How old are they?