A playmate

[Rhinos_mom]

Alright, So as some of you know I've been wanting to get my piggy Rhino a friend for a long time. Well now i know i am getting one, next month, though exactly when, i'm not 100% sure on.

I need to get him another pig. I feel horrible and i think he's depressed, he doesn't really do much all day and i haven't seen him popcorn in a while.

I have a few questions/ideas about it.


Rhino is a bossy pig, and i think he's pretty dominant. I want to get another mature pig though, whether same age or older. The rescue around me is not guinea pig specific, and they let you try out the animal in a room before you adopt. What should i look for in a submissive pig? Since they're a prey animal and likely to be scared anyway, are there any signs i will be able to see during that time that can help me determine if it will be submissive?

Does the quarantine period have to happen in another room or can it be complete opposite sides? I really don't have another room to put a pig in, though if absolutely needed then i will come up with something.

I had a plan about intro day, i'd like your inputs on. I think what i'm going to do is rent a steam vac (completely depending on price, haven't looked into it yet) and use pet odor eliminator, just to make sure there aren't smells in the carpet from Rhino. Then i was thinking basically piggie proof the room, make sure they can't get into anything or chew wires. Then putting toys and tunnels and such on the floor and putting each pigger on opposite sides of the room, then i shall stand with a towel and watch. What i was thinking about was just leaving them out like this together with all the floor space of my room for like a whole day, then when i'm sure they wont try to kill one another, putting them in the cage together.

So, for putting them in the cage together, clean it out super awesome with vinegar? is that what I've been reading? pigloo in dishwasher, bowls in diswasher what about wooden tunnels, any way to clean those off all good n stuff?

Also, Rhino can't see out of his left eye because he's partially paralyzed on that side of his face, does anyone have advice on making the intro easier when one pig only really has one good eye? anything i need to know about that? Has anyone had a similar situation? what worked/didn't?

Anything else i need to know/keep in mind? I've been reading a lot about intros, as much as i can find.

Thanks for your help guys!

[iamsnape]

Alright, So as some of you know I've been wanting to get my piggy Rhino a friend for a long time. Well now i know i am getting one, next month, though exactly when, i'm not 100% sure on.

I need to get him another pig. I feel horrible and i think he's depressed, he doesn't really do much all day and i haven't seen him popcorn in a while.

I have a few questions/ideas about it.


Rhino is a bossy pig, and i think he's pretty dominant. I want to get another mature pig though, whether same age or older. The rescue around me is not guinea pig specific, and they let you try out the animal in a room before you adopt. What should i look for in a submissive pig? Since they're a prey animal and likely to be scared anyway, are there any signs i will be able to see during that time that can help me determine if it will be submissive?

Does the quarantine period have to happen in another room or can it be complete opposite sides? I really don't have another room to put a pig in, though if absolutely needed then i will come up with something.

I had a plan about intro day, i'd like your inputs on. I think what i'm going to do is rent a steam vac (completely depending on price, haven't looked into it yet) and use pet odor eliminator, just to make sure there aren't smells in the carpet from Rhino. Then i was thinking basically piggie proof the room, make sure they can't get into anything or chew wires. Then putting toys and tunnels and such on the floor and putting each pigger on opposite sides of the room, then i shall stand with a towel and watch. What i was thinking about was just leaving them out like this together with all the floor space of my room for like a whole day, then when i'm sure they wont try to kill one another, putting them in the cage together.

So, for putting them in the cage together, clean it out super awesome with vinegar? is that what I've been reading? pigloo in dishwasher, bowls in diswasher what about wooden tunnels, any way to clean those off all good n stuff?

Also, Rhino can't see out of his left eye because he's partially paralyzed on that side of his face, does anyone have advice on making the intro easier when one pig only really has one good eye? anything i need to know about that? Has anyone had a similar situation? what worked/didn't?

Anything else i need to know/keep in mind? I've been reading a lot about intros, as much as i can find.

Thanks for your help guys!

As far as I'm aware, when introducing boars, when it comes to age it is better to get a guinea pig that is not the same age as your current boar if you want to reduce the chances of fighting. This isn't a process I've gone through yet myself, will be in a few weeks, and I've gone with getting a younger piggy to house with Noah as it is highly likely that a younger one will be more submissive due to size (Noah's several months old whereas this one will only be several weeks). A friend of mine tried to introduce a year old male with another year old male and it was utter chaos.

I don't think you'll be able to tell if the guinea pig will be submissive until they're actually put together. It may seem very chilled out on it's own but that might be it's general solitary behaviour.

If Rhino is blind in one eye I think introducing the other guinea pig to his good eye, so to speak, would be the best idea. It's like horses - come at them from the front and they're more likely to get spooked. But if you stay to one side all the time, they can see you and are less likely to freak out. I don't know the temperament of Rhino but it may be best to kind of let him know the other guinea pigs there.

I think your idea for getting rid of all odors with a steam vac is good, but make sure you introduce them on neutral territory! A room/place where Rhino hasn't played before, just in case. Especially as the boar you're planning on getting is older and more capable of doing damage because they'll be of a similar size.

From a lot of research, not yet experience (although I've watched friends introduce boars) I would advise against getting one the same age. That's not to say it won't work out, it could, but I've heard of a lot of boars that are introduced at the same age have dominance issues. An older boar is more likely not to kick off, whereas Rhino might kind of, 'take a baby under his wing' (although there's a possibility of squabbling when a younger one reaches adolescence, but that isn't likely to end up an utter blood bath, just a few mood swingy arguments).

As for quarantining I've always known people put their guinea pigs in separate rooms but this isn't something I'm 100% on.

Oh and for cleaning you can use a vinegar water mix, or a cleaning agent for small animals that can be bought at most pet stores. I use that cos I can't STAND the smell of vinegar

[bpatters]

Renting a steam vac is not necessary.

Take the wood tunnels out temporarily. You can replace them with cardboard boxes turned upside down and holes cut in the ends.

Read Guinea Pigs Social Life for instructions on introductions -- they're about halfway down.

[Agrimony]

I got my two boars at the same time, one over a year old and just under three weeks old. While they were not living together when I got them, as the little one was still with his mother, she already decided on them as a pair as the older male I got was very dominant and couldn't go with another boar his age. They get along famously (even now through my little guys bratty adolescence !) and while the first couple days of them together was the older boar constantly rumblestrutting and chasing around the baby after that they've been fine, and have never really fought. I'm looking to possibly get a third but I know I am waiting to get another young boar.

Anyway just sharing my experience, I know its a slightly different situation, but again if you could, a young one is probably an easier way to go as far as smoother introductions

[Rhinos_mom]

Thanks bpatters I've read that a few times before, i just want to make sure i'm doing things right.

I can certainly look at getting a younger pig, they don't come through the rescue often but if i do enough looking around i should be able to find one at this one or another one. I just love supporting this rescue.

The thing i was worried about with a younger pig is adolescence, as well as possible missexing... but i guess probably adolescence arguments probably wont be as bad as mature pig arguments.

[ThePigAlchemist]

I'm not sure about this, so correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're adopting from a rescue you trust (and especially if you're introducing the pigs at the rescue), you don't have to worry about quarantine.

[LauraK]

I live in Colorado as well, and I would suggest going up to Cavy Care Inc. in Aurora. She has tons of males up for adoption and she knows guinea pig behavior very well- so she will be able to find a suitable cage mate safely if he is willing to have another cage mate. She introduced a couple of pigs to mine until we found a great match. And the good thing is- if your male turns out to not want a cage mate, then you won't have to worry about what to do with your new adoptee- because you wouldn't have to take one home. Best of luck to you and Rhino in finding a buddy

[iamsnape]

I can certainly look at getting a younger pig, they don't come through the rescue often but if i do enough looking around i should be able to find one at this one or another one. I just love supporting this rescue.

It may be worth keeping an eye out for anyone that's had an accidental litter in your area. That's how I've adopted both my piggies. Also if you're concerned about sexing, you could always take them to a vet before you put them together

[Rhinos_mom]

I'm not sure about this, so correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're adopting from a rescue you trust (and especially if you're introducing the pigs at the rescue), you don't have to worry about quarantine.

Technically i probably wouldn't have to, but i would rather be 100% sure that a new pig is healthy before introducing them, you know?

[Rhinos_mom]

I live in Colorado as well, and I would suggest going up to Cavy Care Inc. in Aurora. She has tons of males up for adoption and she knows guinea pig behavior very well- so she will be able to find a suitable cage mate safely if he is willing to have another cage mate. She introduced a couple of pigs to mine until we found a great match. And the good thing is- if your male turns out to not want a cage mate, then you won't have to worry about what to do with your new adoptee- because you wouldn't have to take one home. Best of luck to you and Rhino in finding a buddy

I'll have to look into them, thanks. Are you saying i would bring Rhino to them to find a friend?



Edit: I just went to the sites website and all over most of her males it says she can't partner them with another male because its too hard to do because they can fight. Not sure if she would be able to help, but i can contact her and see.

[LauraK]

Years ago when I adopted 2 pigs from her, I brought my pig up there and she matched them up. Granted, they were females (and a male that we neutered), but it wouldn't hurt to talk with her about males. She knew exactly who would work and who wouldn't with my pig at the time, and she had to try a couple to get the right fit. They all lived happily together for many years When I am able to have a bigger cage, I plan on contacting her again to find suitable friends for my girls when the time comes.

I don't know if she's changed her way of doing things since then, but I would just see what she says- it never hurts to ask. That way, she knows what she is doing (I would be nervous to adopt a male then have to introduce them myself- she KNOWS guinea pig behavior. I would also be nervous knowing that if Rhino ended up not liking a cagemate, then you are stuck with two single males in separate cages, and that wasn't your intention- you want Rhino to have a cagemate!) and has a lot to choose from to find a potential playmate for Rhino. I did see that a lot of her male pigs are singles, but she constantly has pigs moving through her rescue, so you never know when she might have a young male/baby or just a sweet male that enjoys company of other pigs and would be able to make the perfect match. Best of luck- keep us updated!

[jacqueline]

i know we all try so hard to do the right thing, and minimize the risks. but the truth is that we're dealing with little skittish prey animals who see the world differently from the way we do.

prepare the cage, do introductions, have a buddy bath as a back-up. make sure no hideys have only one entrance/exit, have at least one dish/water bottle/ hay bin per pig. once you put them together do not separate them unless blood is drawn.

but here's the thing - even if you do everything "right" there's always the chance that your 2 pigs will not live happily ever after. i don't think age matters so much in deciding on a good match (i could be wrong about that). i have a total of 6 boars in 3 cages, and trying to work out who lives with who was pretty complicated. there are still times when there's chasing and nipping. boys can be more bully-ish at times and tend to need moor and wider space in their cage.

do the best you can to minimize the risks, and just let them work it out between them. they are herd animals and will need to establish a pecking order - who takes orders from whom.

on the off chance that the fighting is intense and there is blood shed, be prepared with a second cage to separate them.

however they get along now won't necessarily be permanent. their attitudes change sometimes as they get older. sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, just like with people. adolescence stinks with pigs (pun intended!!).

good luck. keep us posted!