What should I do?

[DM070720]

Hi! I am the owner of two male guinea pigs and am hoping to get two female. Due to the fact my habitat for them is to small for four, I am trying to decided if I should keep my old one and get a new one just like it so that I can have two in one and two in the other. OR if I should get an XL-large C&C kennel for all of them. I just thought it would take so much longer to clean out both of the kennels, but I also wouldn't know what to do with my old kennel.
Does that make sense?
Thanks!
Gracie Skaley

 

[Eva121]

Are you trying to house all four together? Two male guinea pigs cannot be in the same cage as two females as they will start fighting for them both and fall out. Or, do you want to bond one male with one female in one cage, and the other pair in another? If so, make sure the male is neutered and you have waited the 6 weeks after the operation. If you want to house the males together, and the females together, both pairs in different cages, make sure the cages are in separate rooms or that the males are set on top of the females cage (so they cant smell them). If the males smell the girls, even if they cant see them, they will mostly likely fight and fall out. Here is a cage size guide so you can get appropriate sized cages: Cage Size Guide
I also dont know to much about the kennels, so maybe someone else will come with more advice!

Here are some other threads that may help with bonding: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[Eva121]

Thanks! I know for sure that the boars have been neutered. But they don't seem to really like each other. They do not fight, but they more so just stay on opposite sides of the cage. I have also read that I should NOT have four males where as they would start to fight even more. What should I do about that?

Yes, male trios/ four boars (I dont know what its called ), rarely work out. Since the two boys are already neutered and you have the confirmation of such, I would add one boar with one sow, and in a separate cage add the other boar and sow together. This is a good thread to look over regarding the bonding of the piggies: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
And the Cage Size Guide should help with finding good cages for your possible couples!
Also, here is another thread that may help you figure out if your boars actually need to be separated or not: Bonds In Trouble

 

[Seven7]

My boy Finn lives alone in 2X4, and Lara in a separate cage 2X3.
I don’t believe dividing 2X5 in half for 4 piggies will be enough I am afraid.

 

[Eva121]

Thank you so much! I think that is what I will do, one more question, would a C&C XL (2X5 Grids) cage work? Could I just add a separator? And which Guinea Pig should I add with the other?

I agree with Seven7 a 2X5 would be too small for four piggies. The Cage Size Guide recommends a 2X4 as the minimum for two piggies. So I would do a 2X5 cage for each pair, rather than for all of the guinea pigs. However, I don't know if a separator would be ok, I would assume so, but I would wait for someone else to answer that part. Choose whichever boar's personality seems to fit best with the other sow, a submissive boar with a dominant female, etc. I think the threads I linked above (in the green) elaborate more on that.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If they are not fighting, then there isn’t an immediate problem. Guinea pigs aren’t always cuddly and want to sit with each other but it doesn’t mean they don’t like each other. My two boys don’t sleep in the same bed, aren’t affectionate with each other but they get on absolutely fine.
If there is bullying going on and one piggy is not letting the other eat and the bullied piggy is constantly being mounted each, losing weight and is unhappy, then that is a different matter and they will need to be separated. You would want to establish the state of their relationship first.

You are also need to bear in mind that if two boys are kept in too small of a cage, then that in itself can cause problems within their relationship. What size is the cage the boys are kept in? They need to have a large cage of at least 150cm x 60cm. Anything less than that can add to tensions within a pair of boys relationship.

If you do feel you want to separate and have them both in with s sow each, then a 2x5 split in half will not be big enough. You will want to give each pair at least a 2x4 cage each. I would recommend a 2x5 each.

You need any sow to accept the boar, so just going out and buying two sows, then you have absolutely no idea if that is going to work out. The best thing is to get a rescue centre to help you to find a compatible sow for each boar. Character compatibility and mutual liking is the key to any successful bond.