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msmarti58

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Hi. I adopted a sick guinea pig from a friend who has neither money nor time anymore for him now that he is ill. I pigsat for him about three times in the past, but this last time I found a mass on his belly and it has turned out to be non invasive mammary cancer. He is 5. He has always been cooped up in a very small cage and all alone, so I decided to adopt him and get him two buddies, which I bought at a pet store. They suggested I get the outgoing piggie and then I fell in love with a small Black and Tan one. Their names are Lightning (5 yr old), Squiggy, dominant male, and Lenny, shy scaredy cat, both babies. From the beginning Squiggy has harassed Lenny to the point that Lenny was bleeding from his ear, and he has a lot of scabs on him which I am not sure were inflicted by Squiggy or previously. They were both in separate glass cages at the pet store. I have decided to let them have playtime together as long as I am observing, but am now keeping Lenny in his own cage for overnight which is in an L shape to the other one. Bought a jumbo C&C cage 2x6 and put Lenny in a Midwest cage that I had bought previously. Now Squiggy chases him pretty much nonstop and Lenny runs as fast as he can and hides. Can I ever dare hope that they could all live together? Going broke on cages, fleece, kitchens, etc.
 

msmarti58

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These are my three!

image.jpg
 

msmarti58

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Left to right, Lightning, Squiggy, Lenny.
 

bpatters

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Guinea pig introductions: https://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html

Separating them and putting them back together repeatedly just slows the relationship process down. They're wired to establish dominance, and every time you separate them and put them back together, they start all over again from square one.
 

poop_patrol

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Thank you for taking in the sick pig! I know it is too late, but next time the best way to find a buddy for a pig is to contact a reputable rescue and allow your pig to select his own buddy.

For your current situation, read the link [MENTION=13820]bpatters[/MENTION] referenced and follow the procedure. 3 boars is a difficult situation but workable if you follow introduction best practices and provide extra space.

Best of luck to you!
 

msmarti58

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I haven't separated them repeatedly. I only removed Lenny when I found out he was bleeding from his ear. I have read that you leave them all together UNLESS blood is drawn.
 

msmarti58

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Lightning (the first one, the one with cancer), gets along with everybody. Yeah, Squiggy kind of tries to bug him but he just raises his head and has nothing to do with him. It's the two new ones who don't get along. Bought them both together at the pet store. They assured me that everybody would get along. I was clueless at the time. I just put them all in together, but then I kept hearing Lenny squeal repeatedly and it's never gotten better, only worse. When blood was drawn that is when I separated Lenny.
 

bpatters

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I have decided to let them have playtime together as long as I am observing, but am now keeping Lenny in his own cage for overnight

Sorry. That sounds to me as if you're putting them together for playtime and then removing Lenny. That's putting them together and separating them, repeatedly.

Read the link I gave you in post (broken link removed) . You can take them all out, thoroughly clean the cage so that nothing in it smells like any pig, give them a buddy bath, and try putting them back together after you introduce them in a large neutral space.
 

msmarti58

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Sorry. That sounds to me as if you're putting them together for playtime and then removing Lenny. That's putting them together and separating them, repeatedly.

Read the link I gave you in post (broken link removed) . You can take them all out, thoroughly clean the cage so that nothing in it smells like any pig, give them a buddy bath, and try putting them back together after you introduce them in a large neutral space.

Yeah did all that yesterday but no change. Lenny just freaks whenever he sees Squiggy and Squiggy seeks him out just to bully him doesn't matter how much space I give them.
 

msmarti58

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Thank you for taking in the sick pig! I know it is too late, but next time the best way to find a buddy for a pig is to contact a reputable rescue and allow your pig to select his own buddy.

For your current situation, read the link @bpatters referenced and follow the procedure. 3 boars is a difficult situation but workable if you follow introduction best practices and provide extra space.

Best of luck to you!

Where do I find that link? Thanks.
 

bpatters

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In post (broken link removed) on this thread.
 

msmarti58

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Okay, have done everything now. Put them both on couch today with me but became a ball of fur twice and Lenny got bit again and was bleeding. I then tried the neutral territory in bathroom thing. Squiggy butt nudged Lenny but that's all. Lenny wouldn't move from the one spot. Then he did go up to the hay but just stood still. I considered that a success? And put them back in the cage minus igloos and minus Lightning who just doesn't need this crap for right now. It's an uneasy truce. Lenny has taken up residence in the kitchen coroplast insert and Squiggy just runs around. If he gets too near Lenny Lenny will run and Squiggy chases. Squiggy seems to want out to go be with Lightning who is adjacent, keeps chewing on the cage door. Or else just wants out into the play area. They really can't seem to stand each other. I just don't get it.
 

bpatters

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If you're introducing three pigs, you need to put them all together at once. Otherwise, you always trying to introduce a singleton to a pair, and it's a never-ending circle. If you want three to live together, you'll just have to suffer through the initial squabbles.

But, it sounds like the two that are together are doing just fine. You just need to develop some patience, a lot of patience. This is not a quick process, and it will take time for them to work out which one is the dominant pig.

Are you doing this at a time when you've got hours to devote to it? Because the basic idea is to give them a lot of time in the big neutral area, and only put them in the thoroughly cleaned cage when they've tired themselves out.
 

msmarti58

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Lightning already gets along with everyone. Just nervous because he's 5 and has cancer and needs his rest and his igloo. Wanted to concentrate on just the two squabbling ones. I just did it for 20 minutes or so. Don't have the time right now. Lots going on here right now. Getting house ready for sale, etc.
 

msmarti58

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P.s. Worried about them not having their individual igloos. Feel mean for having taken them away.
 

msmarti58

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Sorry I guess I just give up. Whatever I do always seems to be the wrong thing. They will just have to work it out, I guess. I wanted guinea pigs who would all cuddle up together.
 

CritterSlave

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When you do intros they need to all be in that large area for hours not for 20 minutes. And I mean all. If you want any chance of these three at the very least cohabitatin peacefully you need to follow the instructions given to you by the people who have owned dozens of these animals over the course of decades. Working with animals can be stressful and time consuming and if you aren't willing to dedicate the time and energy into proper introductions they will pretty much have no chance of getting along. If the two troublemakers finally worth through their issues and you just throw the third pig in there with them it can go and undo the hard work you put in trying to get the first two to get along.
 

msmarti58

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Listen, I don't need lectured by a bunch of know it alls who are all probably a bunch of kids, I am almost 60. I will be leaving this board. Have fun picking on the newbies.
 

CritterSlave

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You asked for advice. You got advice. You ignored it. How is this the forums fault?
 

CritterSlave

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Sad that a 32 year old is more mature than a 60 something year old. I'm sorry you didn't get a pat on the back for not listening to bpatters but for the sake of the tiny lives in your care I highly suggest swallowing your pride and taking the advice she gave you. She knows her stuff and has been working with the animals for decades.
 
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