New guinea pig doesn't get along

[zariex]

Hi everyone! I'm new, my name is Staci. *waves*

I made a C&C cage last week and decided that, with the new addition and all, I should add to the family.

At the moment, I had one piggie: Gertrude. We went to the pet store to see what kinds of piggies they had and I fell in love with one. Talked to the pet store worker and she asked if we had another piggie. We said yes, and she said that since Gertrude hasn't been alone for longer than a year [I lost Gretchen about two months ago], they should be perfectly fine together.

Teddy [the name of our new piggie] was being treated for mites, darn that pet store, but their cages were pretty close in vicinity when she was being treated, and they talked a lot. Or do they talk? I don't know, but it sure seemed like it! Hehehe. Anyway, it seemed like they were really getting along and I figured that I had nothing to worry about when they were going to be put together in the same cage.

Now... As of a couple hours ago I put them in the cage together and I don't know if it's too soon to tell whether they will get along or not, but it's clear that Gertrude is getting dominant. She keeps nipping when Teddy tries to be playful with her.

It could be because of the fact that Gertrude's older and "more mature" so she's wondering what this immature piggie is doing in her cage possibly, but I'm not sure. I just feel so bad that Teddy's so lively and she's new to the cage but she still popcorns around happily, and Gertrude's a big grouch at her.

Sorry about the book, but does anyone have any ideas other than putting them in a different cage? What about introduction techniques?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

-Staci

 

[amfeider]

Did you quarentine the new pig?

 

[zariex]

Did you quarentine the new pig?

Of course. But the treatment is finished now, and I was initially planning for them to live together.

 

[amfeider]

Keep them together as long as there is no bloodshed.

 

[zariex]

Keep them together as long as there is no bloodshed.

Are you saying they'll just get along? There's no bloodshed, which is a really good thing! I just don't want two piggies that hate eachother to be in the same cage. Right now it just seems as though Gertrude is just older and finds Teddy as annoying; I guess that's good.

 

[VoodooJoint]

Gertrude is establishing dominance over the newcomer. Like Amfeider said, if there is no bloodshed all is well.

Are you positive your new addition is female? Pet shops are known to make mistakes with sexing and health. A sexing mistake when your sow is older can be fatal.

If I were you I would take both pigs into an exotic/cavy vet to have them properly sexed and given a checkup.

 

[zariex]

Are you positive your new addition is female? Pet shops are known to make mistakes with sexing and health. A sexing mistake when your sow is older can be fatal.

If I were you I would take both pigs into an exotic/cavy vet to have them properly sexed and given a checkup.

You know I never even put into question that they might be wrong about that... Especially when most of the other piggies in the girls cage were pregnant. Hm.

Pet stores really have proved to be unreliable. The pet store lady actually refused to believe me when I noticed that the piggie I had chosen had mites until after I showed them to her in multiple places that she did have them.

I will get my piggie checked out ASAP, thank you!

 

[VoodooJoint]

Yikes! Glad you realize that a mistake could have been made. It is very important that you know for sure.

Maybe in the future you will consider adopting a Guines Pig instead of buying one. There are so many GPs out there that have been abandoned and neglected and in need of homes. They need your love much more then a pet store needs your money.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Yes, check rescues and shelters first. Pet stores don't know what they're talking about, or care. Animals are merchandise to them. Many shelters do euthanize guinea pigs

What size C&C do you have? Did you clean it and make sure there is 2 of everything? It's best to put them on neutral territory rather than plopping a new pig into the existing pig's territory.