Have new piggie, already thinking of getting a companion...

I have a male guinea who is 7 wks. old. We've had him almost 2 wks. I regret not getting two at the get-go and now I'd like to get another. I got this one at an independant pet store and would consider adopting from a rescue place for the second one, but I'm inclined to think shelters are going to have older pigs. But I haven't looked into it yet. And it seems to me it might be better to get another young male for a companion, therefore maybe it's better if I go back to where I got the first one, which will have a selection of 4-7 week-olds. It wasn't a totally bad place as far as pet stores go, definitely better than a chain operation.

Anyway, please advise me on the way to go here, and if my assumptions are wrong. I sure wish I'd discovered this site before I got the first one. I thought I did my research, but it was the minimum, I realize now! Thanks very much!

Careful getting another male. The two males might not get along. Even if they do at first, they might get to the point where they don't later. My poor Gizmo got a nasty bite on his back during Floor time when I couldn't separate him and Spaz quick enough.

However, getting a female companion can easily lead to pregnancy. If you want to get a permanent compainion for your little boar, I recommend getting him fixed and getting him a female companion (make sure she's not already pregnant when you get her). A male and female almost always get along well together.

- Dan III

[CavySpirit]

Your assumptions are wrong.

All ages, kinds, sexes end up at shelters and rescues.

Pairing up your young male with another male should be pretty easy. Very young males are pretty easy to pair up. See the Cavy Spirit Social Life page for more tips. www.CavySpirit.com/sociallife.htm