Where People & Piggies Thrive

Newbie or Guinea Guru? Popcorn in!

Register for free to enjoy the full benefits.
Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum!

Register

Help with? Male and female babies

Newbabies20

Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Posts
5
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
5
Hello all!
We were given a male and female from a large group of babies. They were born April 1st. Can we keep them together or will they mate already? How early is it safe to neuter the Male? My sweet daughter already loves both of them!
 

bpatters

Moderator
Staff member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Posts
29,260
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
29,260
They need to be separated right now. Three weeks is the longest a baby male can be safe with females.

Most vets want young males to be 350-400 grams before they're neutered, so usually 3-4 months old or so.
 

Newbabies20

Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Posts
5
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
5
We separated them tonight! She was getting territorial with him on our lap.
How will I know if she is pregnant?

We put their "cages" next to each other. Can they have any supervised time together? I am afraid they won't "know" each other after all this time after neutering
 

Soecara

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 18, 2012
Posts
1,985
Joined
Aug 18, 2012
Messages
1,985
No they can't have even supervised time together, guinea pigs can mate in a mater of seconds. You are right they won't really know each other any more after a day or two of not being in the same cage, but supervised time together won't change that. When they are separated they will begin to claim their separate spaces as their own territory, and any guinea pig who is not constantly sharing the territory is an invader, even if they see each other daily it doesn't matter, supervised time together won't help and it opens you up to the risks of her getting pregnant if she isn't already or even them fighting from the stress of having a "foreign" guinea pig near them so regularly.

When it comes time to put them back together once he is 3 to 4 weeks post op from the neuter you will need to introduce them from scratch. See this link for more information on how to properly introduce two guinea pigs https://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html
 

Newbabies20

Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Posts
5
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
5
We have a small cage that we used for a hamster, and a makeshift small dag crate that we are using now. We have ordered a large cage that was to house both of them. Should I wait to use that one until we are ready to introduce them? Or, just clean it really well as instructed?
 

Candalalala

Active Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Posts
35
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
35
56263064080__A5F4A374-C4EA-40A6-81E7-9685B2F17060.jpg I added a lid after taking this picture, but this is the set up my supposed "sisters" shared after I realized I had a boy and girl. I got them at a month old and they were fine for the 3 and a half months separated.
 

Newbabies20

Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Posts
5
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
5
Did you have to "reintroduce" them once they could be back together?
 

Candalalala

Active Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Posts
35
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
35
I reintroduced them when I visited home (college student). All their stuff was clean and I put them straight into the makeshift cage together... Mine were fine but I didn't really do "proper" introductions...
 

CavyMama

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Posts
5,025
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Messages
5,025
@Newbabies20 Are you talking about the adults or the babies? Unless one gets fixed, the male and female should never be reintroduced even with lids on the cages. A determined male would climb over the divider with no problem.
 

Newbabies20

Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Posts
5
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
5
@CavyMama I have a male and female baby, about 4 weeks. We have them separated in the same cage--35"x25" separated by 1/4" wire mesh. We have a new, larger cage coming(delayed by shipping). I am hoping to use the same set up, like above picture, until we can get the male neutered.

Once the male is neutered, will we need to reintroduce them, since they have been "together"?
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.
Top