Introductions
In order to house two or more guinea pigs in the same cage, they should be introduced properly from the beginning. This will reduce the risk of fighting and increase your chances of success. Do keep in mind, that some guinea pigs cannot and will not ever get along. This is okay. Some are just not meant to be together.
In order to house two or more guinea pigs in the same cage, they should be introduced properly from the beginning. This will reduce the risk of fighting and increase your chances of success. Do keep in mind, that some guinea pigs cannot and will not ever get along. This is okay. Some are just not meant to be together.
Some people recommend that you "quarantine" a new guinea pig for 2 weeks before introducing them. This is fine, however, from my experience it is not necessary. Because guinea pigs are social animals, they need to be able to socialize with others of their kind. And not from between bars. I have had no problems with introductions the day I bring the new guinea pig home. Even with males, as long as it is done right. I believe it is better to introduce them the day you bring them home. They don't have to go through more stress of introductions after they get settled in 2 weeks later.
Whether or not you choose to quarantine for 2 weeks before introductions, I recommend using these steps to guide you in your introductions.
Whether or not you choose to quarantine for 2 weeks before introductions, I recommend using these steps to guide you in your introductions.
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1. Check their genders!! A male and female will most certainly reproduce! Do not rely on other people's word if you can tell the difference between male and female. If you are unsure how to tell, check out this site.
2. Create a neutral space for them to meet that is new to both guinea pigs. This includes smells. I usually place a couple clean towels on the floor and set up a fence on it.
3. Make sure there is food and water in the neutral space. I like to put either fresh hay or veggies in the middle.
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4. Check to see if there are any corners. If one gets backed into a corner, they could start fighting. Do not put in huts with one opening in with them. This is considered a corner because a guinea pig could be blocked in. If there are corners, you will have to closely monitor them and keep them from trapping each other during the introduction. Using your hand, you can "steer" them away from anywhere you don't want them.
5. Arm yourself! Have a small hand towel, oven mitts, or cloth at hand. If the intro goes bad, you will need to break up the fight, but not with your bare hands! During a fight, or even before a fight, they can bite you and hurt you pretty bad. You can throw the cloth or towel over them and pick one up in it. Or use the oven mitts to simply pull them apart.
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6. Now for the introduction. It might be best to have someone else there with you to help. Place the guinea pigs in the neutral space on opposite ends.
7. Watch to see how they act. Watch any corners you need to. If they get along, great! Move on to the next step. If they chitter at each other, lunge, or fight, they may not be a good fit, and that's okay! You can try reintroducing them in a few days. (For more info on behavior, click here)
8. If they're getting along, leave them together in this area for 1-2 hours. If they are still fine, they are ready to go into their freshly cleaned cage together.
9. Place them in a clean, reorganized cage. If the cage they will be sharing is the one that was already in use, clean it thoroughly and rearrange the decorations, chews, huts, etc. Make it a new cage. They will have to reestablish who owns which corners.
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10. Love them forever! Hopefully they will bond and be forever inseparable!
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Bonding
A bonded set of guinea pigs are different than guinea pigs that simply share living space. Bonded guinea pigs stick together. There's a real relationship between them. Bonded couples or groups tend to be happier, popcorn and zoom more often, and follow each other around. They are usually more active and lay around each other more. Once a set of guinea pigs are bonded, they should be kept together indefinitely. Because, if you split a bonded set, it can be difficult to bond them to others again. This can lead to fighting, nipping, chittering, depression, etc. So in order to help keep your guinea pigs happy and healthy, it is important to pay attention to how your guinea pigs interact with each other. Bonding guinea pigs can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few months. It takes a good combination of personalities to really hit it off. All guinea pigs have a specific personality and temperament that is unique, so finding that perfect set can be tricky. From my personal experience, there are three main factors that help determine whether they are a good fit before introductions:
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Click here for more info on Behavior.
Our three bonded boys: Fluffy (top), Percy (middle), and Mickey (bottom)
Our herd of girls and one neutered male.
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Clementine (orange & white) caught flirting with our boys.
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Bonding & Gender
Gender plays a large role in bonding. Males are naturally the most dominant so it is usually easier to bond a male and female. However, unless one or both are fixed, this is not a good idea. And most often, fixing a guinea pig is unnecessary if it is only so they can be housed with opposite genders. Females are typically the easier gender to bond. If you are planning to end up with a herd, females are a great starting point. Most females only quarrel when it comes to food, however, some can be moody or more dominant than others. Males are typically the most difficult to bond, especially when going through puberty. Puberty tends to happen between the ages of 3 months and 6 months and last for 2-4 months before they calm down a bit, but it can vary. Males always do best bonding when they are young (up to 3 months old). They can bond during or after puberty, but it may take a lot of patience! |
If you know how your guinea pig acts with other pigs, take a look at these charts:
Go to the chart with your guinea pig's gender. Cross-reference their age with the column that best represents your guinea pig's interest in other pigs.
Remember, this is only a guide to help you choose the right pig to try to bond with yours. This chart may not be accurate for every pig.
