The excitement is killing me!

[nismosmama]

Ok so Momo got his last shot of Ivermectin last week. The conclusion has been made is that he is not ill, whatever sneezing he keeps having is not due to any illness. He has stopped scratching regularly and his hair is about 75% grown back on the scabby areas . I am thinking of starting introductions perhaps on Sunday. But the wait is killing me! I want to introduce them NOW, hehe. I have planned to put a blanket on the living room floor, put out the play pen, have my husband on one side and me on the other, and put each one of them on opposite ends and then let them discover each other slowly. From what I understand from Cavy Spirit, the only way I should separate them is if they start fighting and draw blood, otherwise I should let them be. Any other advice for someone who is a first timer at introductions? How long do I put them on floor time to get acquainted? After I clean the CC cage fully of all smells, if they get along during their first introductions can I go ahead and put them in the cage together right after? Am I missing a step anywhere?

[aqh88]

Make sure you have a towel or something to seperate them should they fight. Reaching into a guinea pig fight with bare hands will at minimum draw a little blood for a few minutes but possibly result in stitches or at least a doctor trip. If they look like they might fight tossing in veggies or hay can distract them from whatever they thought was wrong with each other. After they are introduced and getting along absolutely do not seperate them or you'll have to do it all over again. Put them in a clean cage with plenty of hay to keep them busy and watch them to make sure they are still getting along.

[Ly&Pigs]

What day last week did Momo get is last shot of ivermectin? You could probably go ahead and introduce them now if he's not scratching excessively and his hair is growing back. I would leave them down for floortime for at least an hour together, supervised. If no fighting occurs then they can go into a thoroughly cleaned cage together.

[nismosmama]

He got his last shot on Friday of last week. right now I"m excited but also so nervous, my biggest fear at this point is that they will fight and not get along at all I've been trying to guess how they will react to each other. My husband thinks Momo will be the dominant one because he's bigger than Nismo. But Nismo is a lot more hyper I think, so even though he's smaller I'm guessing he will dominate more. ALSO Nismo has been in a CC cage for weeks now and even after I move things around he knows how to get around and up and down the ramp now, Momo has only known store cages up until now so I think he might be more timid.....we'll see how it goes

[JennG]

Well, when I introduced my two new girls to my three older girls, I was totally wrong on the dominant sow. It turned out Angel is the queen piggie. I'm sure there will be some rumbling but just watch them carefully. It may take a little while for them to work things out. I had a oven mitt and a small dust pan to separate them when things got a little heated. Good luck.

[Ly&Pigs]

Size doesn't really matter when it comes to dominance. What matters is personality. Don't be so scared, dive right in, the results could amaze you.

[fourbwabbys]

Thanks for posting this thread, it answered a lot of my introductions questions, too. I am also very excited for introducing Eddie to the boys, but I have to wait until after christmas. The suspense is killing me! Good luck with Momo and Nismo (I love those names ) I hope everything turns out well.

[nismosmama]

Ok Introductions have begun! So Momo and Nismo have been in the playpen for about 40 minutes now. Not sure what to make of this. Like I predicted, Nismo is the dominant one, seems like poor Momo is scared out of his mind, haha! At first the ran towards each other and bumped each other, no chattering nothing. Then Nismo tried to mount Momo, Momo ran. The did another dance around then I heard the chattering, then again Nismo tries to mount Momo, but all these times hes mounting him on Momo's head and like climbs back towards Momo's back, Momo runs. Momo is just hiding in the box i put in there for them. Nismo is running around, eating pellets and just chilling, Momo is hiding. Nismo has tried several times to go up to Momo and 'play' but Momo is not having it. I am cleaning the cage right now also geting all the smells off. I have to run out for about an hour here in about 15 minutes, and was going to put them in the cage. Besides Nismo giving Momo a really quick little nip in the ear, not much else has happened. Momo let Nismo kind of lick his eye and his ear, and Nismo was just sort of sniffing his face and gave his ear a little nip, it was kind of funny. Now Nismo is getting near Momo, but momo just 'prrrr's' evertime Nismo tries to get near him, so Nismo backs off. Will it be safe to put them in the cage together now?

[nismosmama]

Ay Nismo is humping Momo's head!

[nismosmama]

My poor Nismo is very happy, but very confused, he's popcorning but keeps humping Mom's h ead, poor momo is just standing there now

[nismosmama]

Ok, the union is complete, they are now both in the new clean cage. They seem to get along fine, except for the fact that anytime Nismo comes near Momo he tries to hump his head! I don't think Momo likes Nismo very much, they grumble everytime they come near each otehr. They haven't fought, the thing I'm afraid of is if Nismo doesnt leave Momo alone with the humping that Momo might get irritated and maybe bite him. They have to be home alone all day tomorrow until I get home from work. You all think they will be ok? Also what do you do about them sharing food? Momo keeps trying to steal food away from Nismo while nismo is eating it. And will Nismo ever stop trying to hump Momo's head? I mean his little thing comes out and everything, oy.

[Ly&Pigs]

The humping is dominance behavior and is quite normal although probably very irritating from Momo's point of view. Sounds like they are doing well. I wouldn't worry about it overly much and just leave them together. If they were going to get in a major fight they would have done so already. The humping will stop when Nismo is tired of doing it. If Nismo has a problem with Momo stealing his food, Nismo will let Momo know. If Nismo is not letting Momo eat at all, then make separate areas of veggies. Also do you have 2 food dishes for pellets?

[nismosmama]

I have 2 food dishes and another dish for pellets, i put the hay in the loft along with the pellet dish. Nismo is a pro at going up there, but Momo is still hesitant, should I put another pellet dish down below? Right now they are sleeping in separate hidey houses, Momo in the tent and Nismo in the globe. There's been lots of chattering a rumblin goin on over here

[Ly&Pigs]

Yes, I would and make sure there is hay below too. You are liable to have rumblingstrutting and chattering for several days until one gives in to the other. It's all normal.

My girls get along pretty well, no fighting but some occasional light nips, chasing, mounting mainly when in heat and rumblestrutting from the higher ups, but they don't curl up and sleep together. The closest I usually see them lay together is about 2" apart. They all have their favorite places to sleep in the cage. Your boys may become the bestest of friends over time or they may just tolerate each other but at least they won't be lonely. That's what is most important.

[nismosmama]

I think my favorite thing in all of this is the Ball that Momo is having. This is the very first time he's in such a big house and he's loving it! In fact, even though they seem to get on each other's nerves, I've seen A LOT of popcoring from both of my boys since I put them in their cage !

[nonamian_girl]

This makes me feel better, it sounds exactly how my pigs are behaving too. Except in my case, one runs after the other and nips her on a regular basis :S.