Adoption / new guinea pig questions - Please help!!!

[Baubler]

Hi, all. I'm sorry if I've posted this in the wrong area, but I really could use some advice.

For the last couple of months I've been thinking about getting a second gp to keep Charlie company. I was really excited and spoke to some experts who said they thought it would be a good idea since I think Charlie is lonely (he's making noises that are indicative of a lonely piggy.)

Then today I started talking to some other people who said that it was definitely a bad idea since Charlie is a 2+ year old un-neutered male.

So now I'm really confused. I don't want to "ruin the lives" of any cavies.

Is it highly likely that they really won't ever get along?
I'd be pairing a 2 month old pig with a 2+ yr. old pig.

I do have enough space that, if necessary, I could house the piggies separately. Do you think that it would still be a bad idea to get a second guinea pig?

I just expanded Charlie's cage to 2x5 grids and I could just build another cage or use my first one (which is quite large).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I really just want Charlie to be happy and I'd love to be able to help out another little one, too.

Thanks all!

 

[Sabriel]

Never know till you try. I have never heard of an age releated problem. It has more to do with personality. Kinda like people.

I've heard a baby boar does well with an older boar.

Neutering doesn't make a difference unless the new piggie is a girl. I would stick with all of one sex but accidents happen (like my "sow" o.0)

I think he'd be happier with a neighbour then with nothing at all. My Kero perked up, ate more and gained 110g in 2 weeks when we moved him into his bachalor pad above his lady friends.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

I would say try it. They should get along with the age difference, and abundance of space. Just make sure you have two water bottles, to feed dishes, two places for hay, and at least two places to hide. I would expect things to work out, but you never know.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

Dagwell is two or three and he is SOO much happier now that he has his little 'posse', go for it!!

 

[Baubler]

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Baby Bears]

Baubler, I successfully paired two sets of males. Their ages are all within a few months of each other, however, because I provided a large enough cage and plenty of hidies for everyone and two sets of bowls, water bottles and a huge hay rack they can all get to at once, there were no problems. They did their typical "I wanna be the boss." But they sorted that out in a couple of weeks. Get Charlie a buddy! Put them in two seperate cages at first, and let them meet at floor time. When you are ready to put them in the cage together (I did after a week of floor time) clean the whole thing out and use the vinegar/water solution to "de-scent" it. Put in the new bedding, two dishes, hidies, etc. and put them in together. If they rumblestrut (rumble noise and butt shaking) and mount - it's NORMAL! They are just sorting out who is boss. Let them sort it out. Only separate them if you see actual bloodshed. I don't think there will be, though, I bet Charlie will LOVE a little brother.