Piggie Question

[CaliGirl]

Through your personal experience which is a better match, 2 male guinea pigs, or a male and a female? I have a male guinea pig and I want to get him a buddy eventualy. I have heard rumers that 2 male guinea pigs will fight. Is that true? Just want to do me research before I choose a sex.

 

[mncavylover]

Nope. The only factor that matters is personality. That is a very common myth, and is not true at all. Mine get along just fine, and other peoples' boars live peacefully as well.

Also, it takes out the risk and money to have an operation.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

If you have the proper cage requirements, introduce them correctly and there is a gap between their two ages (an older and younger boar is a best match), it should work. If you have a male and want a sow, you need to get him neutered.

Have you read social life at cavyspirit.com? There was an informative thread at GL, but it's down right now.

 

[CaliGirl]

Have you read social life at cavyspirit.com? There was an informative thread at GL, but it's down right now.

I have looked at it briefly before. I'll be sure to take a look at it again now that I am considering getting one.

 

[roosterboy]

Getting along has nothing to do with sex, but the pigs themselves and how you acclimate them to eachother.

If you have a boy, get another boy. A girl, get another girl.

If you have a boy and get a girl, there is no guarantee that things will be any better, just that you will have uncontrolled babies galore, and nowhere to put them.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

She can neuter the male using a competent vet.

 

[CaliGirl]

If you have a boy and get a girl, there is no guarantee that things will be any better, just that you will have uncontrolled babies galore, and nowhere to put them.

If I were to get a girl I would definitely neuter them.

I just want to know what the majority of people here have (girl & boy, or boy & boy)

 

[dagwellismypigy]

i had two males and they were the best of pals they would play tag and follow the leader twas very cute

 

[tashagurl]

I have one boy with three girls and another boy with another girl. The boys wouldent get along so I got them nuetered and now they are much happier.

 

[CaliGirl]

The boys wouldent get along so I got them nuetered and now they are much happier.

Thats weird, I read on this site that nuetering them woulden't change their moods about each other.

 

[mncavylover]

It didn't change their moods at all, she just put them in with some females instead (hence the neutering). It may also have worked out if she just got them each a different companion, but who knows?

 

[CaliGirl]

It didn't change their moods at all, she just put them in with some females instead (hence the neutering). It may also have worked out if she just got them each a different companion, but who knows?

Oh, sorry. I read the post wrong

 

[mncavylover]

It's fine, I thought that was what she said at first too! I had to read it again. =)

 

[RubyPiggie2]

It didn't change their moods at all, she just put them in with some females instead (hence the neutering). It may also have worked out if she just got them each a different companion, but who knows?

Wait, mncavylover, are you against neutering or something? lol, it kind of seems like you are?

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

It doesn't do anything to neuter males unless they are going to be living with females. Neutering them can be risky unles you have a good vet (and even then it is no guarantee). Mine won't do it unless you are putting him with females and he is one of the best vets, known in other states. He has a high success rate.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

Wait, mncavylover, are you against neutering or something? lol, it kind of seems like you are?

neutering can be deadly if not done by a very good or qualified exotic animal pet.

 

[RubyPiggie2]

I know that, I was just asking. Neutering is risky, which is why I haven't done it.

 

[mncavylover]

Wait, mncavylover, are you against neutering or something? lol, it kind of seems like you are?

No, but I only think it should be done in a case where it was unavoidable. Of course, I'd rather have a male neutered when he is housed with a female. However, I think it is best if a same-sex pair can be found.

Example: Sometimes when a breeding pair is living together, they become bonded. If so, when the caretaker finds out the facts about breeding and wants it to stop, s/he should probably neuter the boar rather than putting them under the stress of a partner change.

If, however, this is not the case, I think it is best not to take the risk (however slight) and not to put them through the stress of an operation. This is fine in some cases, but when unneccessary I don't think it should be done.

 

[tashagurl]

Salem(my older boar) is fine with boys until they are about 4 months old. Then he would start fighting with the baby. I tried several different times. Since I already had five pigs my mom didnt want me to get another one. Sorry my first thread was confusing. Nuetering didnt change their personalities at all. It just let me put them in with my girls without anymore pregnancies. Now they are much happier. Sorry if I confused everyone.

That bonding thing happened to me. I put Honey in with Salem before I knew how bad breeding was. Honey adores Salem. She mopes around and refuses to eat if I seperate them. After they had two litters I found this site and relized what I risked everytime they had a litter. I am just so thankful everything was fine with both her pregnancies. I tried putting Salem in with his son, but that didnt work so I had them both nuetered. Now Honey can be with Salem and not have to worry about having anymore brats

 

[roosterboy]

The risk is why I didn't suggest neutering. Plus I don't know the cost of it.

I remember when we had our rabbit, and were told to get her spayed or she would get cancer somewhere in her uterus. We spoke with an expert who had rabbits of her own. She said the rabbit was more likely to die of the operation, maybe even of being taken to the vet, than cancer, only she might die now rather than later. So we didn't get her spayed. The rabbit lived for years in perfect health until one day a cat got her.

Although there may be some benefits, I think they hype the spay neuter thing mostly because they just don't trust people with animals. The uncontrolled breeding is way out of control. But if you just have boys or just girls, there is no need for it.

Or keep them separate, but they don't think that separate is going to happen, so they hype the spay neuter thing. There was a story somewhere of rabbits or guinea pigs that were kept separate. One male slipped through the fencing and impregnated all of the females, like 30 or more, before they found him. We can see through the many oops posts on here that this happens all the time.