Guinea Pig Visit

[Arielle72]

We had the class guinea pig come for a visit this past weekend. She is a girl piggy and we have Tyler, a boar. At first, we put their cages side by side so they could see each other and talk. However, Tyler soon began a very loud wheeking and/or shrieking noise and Belle began purring or rumbling back at him. This went on for what seemed like hours. Tyler was biting the bars of the cubes and eating the coroplast trying to get out and get to Belle. I finally put Belle in another room, where they could not see or smell each other. Belle calmed down, but Tyler did not. He continued to make lots of noise. If anyone had touched Belle and come near him, he'd stand up on his hind legs and wheek loudly. When let out for floor time, he would spin in circles smelling the area of the floor where Belle's cage had been. Then he'd lick and chew on the carpet.

I have a few questions based on this behaviour.

1. I assume it was love at first sight for Tyler and he was trying to get her interested in mating?

2. Now that Belle is gone, things should eventuallty calm down?

3. Should I take this as an extreme sign that I should get Tyler a little boar friend? (He's an only piggy right now)

[salana]

Yes, yes, and yes.

[Arielle72]

So, is it better to try to find a young piggy or one about the same age as Tyler? I'm close to a reputable rescue that I've asked about in the adoption forum before.

I'm not sure on the requirements for a new piggy, other than definately a male. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Should I take Tyler with me and see if he "likes" any of the other up for adoption?

Help!

[Ly&Pigs]

Depending on how old Tyler is, your best bet if he's a year or more old is to get a pup (young pig). If the rescue is reputable and they allow it, you could probably take him into meet potential cage mates. If it's a shelter, I wouldn't take him in.

You could also adopt a spayed sow for a companion for him.