Want to Adopt Need 1 young male GP - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**rjramer06** · #1 07-04-09, 12:43 pm

I just recently got a male GP from Petsmart, but am looking to rescue/adopt another one so they have a companion. The one I have now is about 3 months old, so I'd like to get another one around that age. I live in Lafayette, IN and so far haven't found much luck in looking around here.

After this weekend holiday (the 4th of July) I will be building a bigger C&C cage that could house 2 piggies.

**rjramer06** · #2 07-04-09, 01:08 pm

PS - I have tried looking online to find shelters or anyone looking to sell or give away for adoption but am having trouble finding anything close by.

**Ibbet** · #3 07-04-09, 01:35 pm

Good that you want to adopt.

How far are you willing to travel? I know of a rescue in Sellersburg, Indiana. I looked on Google Maps and it says it is about 2 hours 40 minutes from Lafayette.

**rjramer06** · #4 07-04-09, 01:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibbet

Good that you want to adopt.

How far are you willing to travel? I know of a rescue in Sellersburg, Indiana. I looked on Google Maps and it says it is about 2 hours 40 minutes from Lafayette.

I hate to say, but 2 hours is a bit far for us.

I saw the Critter Place (can't remember the exact name) that is in IL and has a lot of guinea pigs that need adopted. I'd be more than willing to take one from them if someone could meet us that was coming this way.

**CavyMama** · #5 07-04-09, 11:41 pm

The place here in Illinois is Critter Corral. I would check petfinder. Lots of times they have pets from Critter Corral that are being fostered in different places, maybe some closer to you.

**PiggieMom** · #6 07-05-09, 12:03 pm

You could also e-mail different rescues to see if anyone is willing to help transport. From the US Rescue List on GL I found these two with contact information:

Indiana/Kentucky
Southern Indiana Guinea Pig Rescue
17903 State Road 60
Borden, IN 47106
(812)-967-7592
firstfeed@aol.com
Salisa

EARPS Exotic Animal Rescue
PO Box 736
Brownsburg, IN 46112
(317) 809-2153
sarah@earps.org
Sarah Dehn

I know EARPS does sometimes help transport. I met a woman who rescued some pigs from them who lives in Michigan. Even if they don't have anyone at the moment, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

If you haven't looked at the Guinea Pig Home Listings check that out. There's also the Guinea Pig Adotpion Network. And look at other forums like Guinea Lynx and and Pigloo. There's also Craigslist and Freecycle. But be careful with private listings. Breeders sometimes pretend to be rescues to be able to sell their animals when terms of service disallows this practice. If you're unsure about a private listing, feel free to link it here and we can check it out for you!

Good luck in your search. Just remember, patience is always rewarded!

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #7 07-05-09, 07:26 pm

You are most likely going to have dominance problems if you put two males of the same age together esp. at 3 months. In a few months they will hit puberty and squabbling for dominance. It's best to get an older one.

**rjramer06** · #8 07-05-09, 07:44 pm

Thanks to all who replied! We were able to get ahold of another male at what we believe to be around the same age (more or less). They did their little "acts of introduction" (i.e. - squealing, humping, sniffing, etc.) and now seem to do quite ok with one another. We'll be keeping an eye on them for the rest of the evening, and hopefully they will be alright when we go to work tomorrow. I will be posting pics of the cute guys and their new home tomorrow once we get their C&C cage set up (we have to wait for a sign shop to open to get the Coroplast).

**Peggysu** · #9 07-05-09, 07:46 pm

So I take it you didn't do a three week quarantine?

**rjramer06** · #10 07-05-09, 07:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggysu

So I take it you didn't do a three week quarantine?

Um, no? I didn't know I had to?

I'm not sure what you mean by "quarantine" though. Do you mean they should have been in separate cages before they were together?

**Peggysu** · #11 07-05-09, 07:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rljr1001

Do you mean they should have been in separate cages before they were together?

Absolutely. Guinea pigs hide illness, usually when a new pig is brought into a home you keep them separate from your current pigs so that you can watch for signs and symptoms of illness. Also treating for mites so that other pigs do not get them. This way you will lessen the chance of multiple sick pigs to just one. You will want to weigh them daily as this is an early sign that something is wrong. You should already be weighing your current pig almost daily as it is still young.

**rjramer06** · #12 07-05-09, 07:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggysu

Absolutely. Guinea pigs hide illness, usually when a new pig is brought into a home you keep it separate from your current pigs so that you can watch for signs and symptoms of illness. Also treating for mites so that other pigs do not get them. This way you will lessen the chance of multiple sick pigs to just one. You will want to weigh them daily as this is an early sign that something is wrong. You should already be weighing your current pig almost daily as it is still young.

Well I can't really separate them since I only have 1 cage.

They both came from the same place, and both seem in great health. I've looked them both over up and down, checking feet, eyes, noses, etc. I will continue to watch their weight though. After about 20-30 mins after their first meet, they both calmed down greatly and now lay together in the same pigloo. Since I don't have the resources to separate them (and they've already been together for several hours now), do you know any other things I can watch for or check as the days go by?

I am new to this whole piggie-care and am trying my best.

**Peggysu** · #13 07-05-09, 08:02 pm

No worries, I know your doing your best or else you wouldn't be here. As for separating it's to late and it would just stress them out. I would suggest you watch their weight as that's the best way to gage if there is anything wrong. Also watch for other symptoms like excessive scratching and sneezing, all the obvious things.

I see you don't have an appropriate sized cage yet. I would suggest that you try to make a bigger cage then the minnimum as your boars are both within the same age range. A bigger cage will hopefully increase your chances of being able to keep them together.

**rjramer06** · #14 07-05-09, 08:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggysu

No worries, I know your doing your best or else you wouldn't be here. As for separating it's to late and it would just stress them out. I would suggest you watch their weight as that's the best way to gage if there is anything wrong. Also watch for other symptoms like excessive scratching and sneezing, all the obvious things.

I see you don't have an appropriate sized cage yet. I would suggest that you try to make a bigger cage then the minnimum as your boars are both within the same age range. A bigger cage will hopefully increase your chances of being able to keep them together.

Well we are getting their materials to build a 2x4 cage tomorrow (a lot of stuff was closed this weekend due to the holiday). We are picking up the cubes from Bed Bath and Beyond (they are 14.5 in, and we could not find just 14 in cubes) and the Coroplast from a local sign shop. We called around and apparently this place has cut Coroplast before for other people making their own piggie cages.

So they should know what we're talking about,

.

Thanks for all the advice!

**Peggysu** · #15 07-05-09, 08:13 pm

Good luck with the 2x4. That's the minimum for two boars. They will be going through puberty together in that cage. I have two sows in a 3x4 and a single boar in a 3x3.

**rjramer06** · #16 07-05-09, 08:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggysu

Good luck with the 2x4. That's the minimum for two boars. They will be going through puberty together in that cage. I have two sows in a 3x4 and a single boar in a 3x3.

Well we have a issue with space right now. We live in a small apartment and only have the room for a 2x4 cage. We hope to make a top story as well, but it may have to wait a bit. When do boars go through puberty, exactly? I thought most rodents could mate very early in life, so I am assuming that puberty is early too? (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

**Bunnah lover** · #17 07-05-09, 08:30 pm

Good job for trying your best to do what's right for the pigs. Good luck to you!

P.S.- We can't wait for the pictures of the piggies!

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #18 07-05-09, 11:51 pm

If you got him from the same place does that mean you went back to Petstupid?

2 by 4 for two adolescent males is likely too small. You need a 2 by 5 at least with a loft. Since you didn't see (or listen to) my advice, be on the watch out for squabbles in a few months.

And take them both to a cavy vet for a check up. Petstupid buys them from breeding mills and backyard breeders. They are often sick and missexed.

eta mating and puberty are two different things. GPs can mate at 3 weeks.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #19 07-05-09, 11:54 pm

Please read these links carefully. They may appear healthy but they often fall sick days or weeks after purchase. They are often inbred/ poorly bred too.

http://www.guinealynx.info/quarantine.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html

**PiggieMom** · #20 07-06-09, 10:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by rljr1001

They both came from the same place, and both seem in great health.

What happened to adopting him a cagemate? Why did you change your mind?

"Thank you, rabbitsncavyluv, for this useful post," says:
Peggysu (07-05-09)

"Thank you, Peggysu, for this useful post," says:
rabbitsncavyluv (07-05-09)

"Thank you, rabbitsncavyluv, for this useful post," says:
PiggieMom (07-06-09)