First Time Mum, or, What Not to Do

[CookieKarp]

A few months ago in a terribly naive move, I purchased a guinea pig from my local pig store, knowing not all the things I have learned now by reading this forum. I humbly present myself as a great example of what you here at the forum go out of your way to teach people: research before adopt a guinea pig.

That all sound very foreboding, but the truth is I was very lucky.



My girl is named Florina, and little did I know at the time I got her, she was pregnant. I learned this when I took her to the vet a week or two later for her first checkup and to see how a professional cuts nails. Immediate shock set in. Two weeks in, I already loved and adored Florina, and now her life was possibly in jeopardy and even in the best outcome, two unexpected additions to the family were on their way.

So I went out of my way to do all I could. Nothing was too good for my girl with babies on the way. A bigger cage, constant reminders to my boyfriend that we need to stay nice and quiet, calming music, hands off the whole time, she got the lot. Then, one day I leave work and my boyfriend is standing outside. Oh no, I think to myself, what's happened?

"Everything is fine," he told me in his calmest voice, "The babies are here."

(these boys hardly stayed still!)

And there, at home, wiggling around even after an hour were two little heads with legs. Florina was fine. The babies were fine. Everything was fine.


A week later, Florina and the boys went to see a specialist vet who could help determine their genders and check all was well.

Everything was well, except one of the boys, temporarily dubbed "Fluffy" for his coat, has entropion in one eye and needs surgery.

(He hates having his "bad side" in photos, the other eye has the entropion.)

"That's fantastic," I tell my partner, explaining to him about my fear that the babies were going to be lethal whites because I didn't know who dad was. One surgery and no serious deformities? I'd take that.


TL;DR

So here we are today, the boys 19 days old and nearly twice as big, and I submit myself before you all knowing I did the wrong thing, even though I meant well. I bought a guinea pig from a pet store and have been on a rollercoaster ride of learning, purchases, vet visits and more. Today I join the forum because I really do need advice.

What I want to know is, when Florina is in heat, even if the boys are desexed, will they fight? Does one of them need to find a new home?
I cannot possibly accommodate yet another C&C cage; I simply do not have the space. What should I do?

 

[bpatters]

You can't leave the boys together with a female. It just won't work. You can put one male with multiple females, but not the other way around.

Here's some recommended reading for new pig owners:

https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/113176-Information-for-new-guinea-pig-owners
https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/107827-What-NOT-to-do-for-your-guinea-pigs!

 

[sallyvh]

They are a very cute group! Joining this forum is an amazing resource, you will learn practically everything you need to know here.

Unfortunately, even if your 2 little guys are neutered they will not be able to live with mom together. Multiple males just do not work in a group with females. You need to be separating these guys from mom at 21 days old.

If floor space is the deciding factor on you keeping these little boys, I would encourage you to look at stacked C&C cages. This allows you to build 2 appropriately sized cages, but it only takes up the space of 1. They are especially easy if you don't need a lid to protect them from other pets (ie. cats or dogs). If it is difficult to source C&C materials where you live it could also be done with wire closet shelving and it would look decent. This way you could keep your boys on one level and mom on another (and you could look for a female friend for mom). I know a stacked cage was been a great solution for me!

 

[CookieKarp]

Thank you for your replies!

Unfortunately I was suspecting that they would need to be seperated (the boys themselves). I did actually seperate the boys from mum at 21 days as I seemed to be seeing mentioned everywhere. That was one noisy day! I'm currently looking at stacked cages, but right now rehoming one of the boys seems to be what will have to happen, which makes me feel so bad.