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Bonding Bonding Boars

Giovanni Miller

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Hello, everyone! I am quite new to this joy of happiness that comes from having Guinea Pigs. I am in love with their reliance on me, like babies that need my constant guidance. They have made my life so joyful by watching them popcorn and do laps, giving me kisses and squealing for food. However, being so new to this whole experience, I am quite worried about an obstacle I am facing with my two young boars under six months old. Now, I know that you shouldn't support pet stores but one day as I walked through the store to buy my Miniature Schnauzer some food, I came across their odd, yet adorable squeaks. I have had many animals in the past but never a Guinea Pig. I asked if I could sit down and play with them (They shockingly had a big enclosure for them). I immediately fell in love with short haired, chestnut colored Guinea Pig. I thought for a long time sitting there with them and then I decided to take him home. Just one... So I thought... They told me to take another one but I refused because I didn't have enough space. I really didn't. But as soon as I got home and started searching online for information, I said "No, I have to get him a partner!" They had told me that the other Guinea Pigs were his brothers (There was only 2 left). So, I went back to ask if I can take his other brothers with me but they were gone! Yes, they sold out within hours. I went on my way home and stopped at a rescue and they only had one Guinea Pig that needed to be "Solo, because he is very aggressive." In all honesty, I wanted the Guinea Pig but I didn't have another cage for a solo Guinea Pig. The next day I received a call from the Pet Store saying that they were receiving more Guinea Pigs the next day. Fast Forward, I ended up buying another Guinea Pig, he is a Rex. The most adorable little one. Anyways, I took them both to the vet the next week and their first physical was wonderful. I moved them in to a 2x3 cage but they started fighting for dominance, Kiko which is my first Guinea Pig is the dominant one and the dominant thing does not seem to stop. I thought that it will only last hours or maybe a day to settle. But with him he is constantly swaying his hips, rumbling and trying to hump Zumi, the youngest one. There is no nipping, biting, or fighting. However, there is a lot of scent now in the cage and the dominance continues. I have separated them but when I do, Kiko goes insane biting the cage to get to him. How will they ever bond? I am ordering a 2x6 at 1AM tomorrow (I need it very soon). Do you think a bath together then placing them in a new cage will make Kiko less territorial? What are your suggestions. Please be polite. I am only new to this.
 

bpatters

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Well, the first thing to do is to separate them for a couple of days while you get a bigger cage. While you're doing that, read this article: https://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html. It's the best article on guinea pig introductions that I know of. You're just setting them back by separating them, and putting them back together. They're wired to establish dominance over another pig, and they'll do it every time they get together. You'll just have to grit your teeth and endure it.

Your cage is not big enough for one pig, much less two, much less two boars. I wouldn't put them back together at all unless I had a cage that is at least 10 square feet, and more is better. No cage sold by a pet store is large enough for two boars. See the Main tab at the top of this page for information on C&C cages. You can build one yourself, or if you'd rather work from a kit, see www.guineapigcagesstore.com.

You don't have to have a C&C cage -- they're just economical, easy to remodel, and serve the purpose very well. But take a look at the alternative cages pictures in the photo galleries if you'd rather do something different.

Since you're new to guinea pigs, read the following for information on guinea pigs:

-- https://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html
-- https://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html
-- www.cavyspirit.com
-- the stickies at the tops of the main forums here
-- https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum...us-Plants-List for what you can feed and how often
-- https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum...ur-guinea-pigs!
 

Soecara

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Personally what I would do is this. I would be torn between separating completely and then doing a full introduction from scratch when the 2x6 arrives, or leaving them together (there would be a risk that the dominance will escalate into full fighting due to the small cage) then do the same thing you would for an introduction (several hours in a very large neutral space like a bathroom until they tire themselves out) once the 2x6 arrives then placing them in the 2x6 together after they tire themselves out. Which method I would go with would depend on the individual pigs, as they are probably young I would lean more towards the second option, and how much time you have each day to keep an eye on them, if you spend all day at work and can't keep an eye on them then I would definately separate completely.

Do have a read of this page though, it is very informative on the topic of introductions and I would definitely do everything for a normal introduction once the new cage arrives either way. https://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html
 

Giovanni Miller

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Cavy Gazer
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
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Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
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Well, the first thing to do is to separate them for a couple of days while you get a bigger cage. While you're doing that, read this article: https://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html. It's the best article on guinea pig introductions that I know of. You're just setting them back by separating them, and putting them back together. They're wired to establish dominance over another pig, and they'll do it every time they get together. You'll just have to grit your teeth and endure it.

Your cage is not big enough for one pig, much less two, much less two boars. I wouldn't put them back together at all unless I had a cage that is at least 10 square feet, and more is better. No cage sold by a pet store is large enough for two boars. See the Main tab at the top of this page for information on C&C cages. You can build one yourself, or if you'd rather work from a kit, see www.guineapigcagesstore.com.

You don't have to have a C&C cage -- they're just economical, easy to remodel, and serve the purpose very well. But take a look at the alternative cages pictures in the photo galleries if you'd rather do something different.

Since you're new to guinea pigs, read the following for information on guinea pigs:

-- https://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html
-- https://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html
-- www.cavyspirit.com
-- the stickies at the tops of the main forums here
-- https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum...us-Plants-List for what you can feed and how often
-- https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum...ur-guinea-pigs!


Thank you very much for that simple advice. I will do so! I don't want to ever give up on them and I want them to live very good happy lives so I am doing as much as possible to make everything work. While I wait tonight, I will read the links you sent me thoroughly and profoundly to really understand everything and what's best for them. Right now they are munching on some hay together like if they were great friends.
 

Giovanni Miller

Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
4
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
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Personally what I would do is this. I would be torn between separating completely and then doing a full introduction from scratch when the 2x6 arrives, or leaving them together (there would be a risk that the dominance will escalate into full fighting due to the small cage) then do the same thing you would for an introduction (several hours in a very large neutral space like a bathroom until they tire themselves out) once the 2x6 arrives then placing them in the 2x6 together after they tire themselves out. Which method I would go with would depend on the individual pigs, as they are probably young I would lean more towards the second option, and how much time you have each day to keep an eye on them, if you spend all day at work and can't keep an eye on them then I would lean towards the first option.

Do have a read of this page though, it is very informative on the topic of introductions and I would definitely do everything for a normal introduction once the new cage arrives either way. https://guinea-pigs.livejournal.com/3002707.html


Yes, I will likely lean towards this method since they do a lot of stuff together, only thing is that Kiko is the dominant so he always gets it his way and his way first. However, they eat pellets, veggies, and hay together, sleep together (sometimes) and whenever I give them floor time, the submissive one is always behind the dominant following. So, they do, in my view have something but it's not quite yet sorted and I believe is the cage size. Thanks a lot!
 
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