Guinea pigs may also gently nip one another if annoyed, and such behaviors are necessary to establish boundaries between the guinea pigs. "Eve, June 17, 2003Read more Testimonials and Share Yours! | She does laps, popcorns and is far more vocal and perky. function doLink(){ Guinea pig pregnancies are high risk, and a female that has problems while pregnant will often die a slow and painful death. Although guinea pigs can make shrill noises that may sound like pain, it is just their way of saying that they submit to the more dominant pig. Testimonials here and surf through the many The, "It helped me a lot. Research source. Guinea pigs in cage 1 were infected by Palese with influenza. Guinea pigs are territorial, so make sure your cage has enough space. Seriously, her personality just came alive with more space!! To learn why determining the sex of guinea pigs before introducing them is important, read on! Covid is SARS, bat gene and hiv. *Warning: At times, when they stay still that means they want to be alone for a while. Recycling Things By using our site, you agree to our. Most domestic guinea pigs prefer to be around other animals, and adopting another guinea pig can have a positive change in your pet's life; however, guinea pigs are territorial and any major change should be made gradually to assure things go smoothly. It can cause mouth sores. Features & Options For the health and well-being of your guinea pigs, beyond the minimums, provide as large a living area as you can manage. } onload = function(){ Sleeping Guinea pigs do not require sleeping for a long periods as they are not nocturnal animals like hamsters. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Depending on the severity of the fight, wait a few hours to a few days. Contact, *Note: Most panels (or cubes Guinea pigs have sharp teeth and are capable of inflicting serious harm on one another. //-->. Read some of the A good thing to have after the quarantine time is a divider. References. This is diabolic stuff and extremely dangerous to your wellbeing. For further reading about 'why bigger cages' see the per piggy. Toys & Play Watch for signs of aggression, including teeth chattering, but only separate your pets if one draws blood in a fight. Accessories Make adjustments to the cage. All rights reserved. Do not separate unless blood is drawn. During cold months, the cat's body heat might warm up the sink and make it extra cozy in there. What should I do if I have a female guinea pig and just discovered my new guinea pig is male? Spread their back legs apart to examine their genitals. sure you are using the right kind. When they are under duress, use precaution when handling them to avoid injury. I have a guinea pigs, both females. The genital opening of male guinea pigs is shaped like a circular dot, while the genital opening of females forms a Y-shape. Believe it or not, a larger cage is much easier to clean and keep clean than the smaller pet store or commercial cages. Guinea Pig Home rack should be used with caution with very small guinea pigs. If possible, adopt two guinea pigs who were raised together. ", Thank goodness, as I was thinking it would never work. The health benefit of exercise for guinea pigs is significant. Adult males can develop a condition called impaction -- a loss of muscle tone in the anal area, causing their droppings to get 'backed up' and require periodic cleaning by their guardians. Waking up residents at 6am with their incessant noise is infuriating many. I had 2 female guinea pigs (1 1/2 years old), and one died. Support wikiHow by Remember, measure twice, cut once. If you have two or more non-breeding or same-sex guinea pigs (as you should, since they are social animals), it helps keep them happy with each other if they have enough room to run and play and to get away from each other when they choose. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Introduce-Two-Guinea-Pigs-to-Each-Other-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Introduce-Two-Guinea-Pigs-to-Each-Other-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Introduce-Two-Guinea-Pigs-to-Each-Other-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid664931-v4-728px-Introduce-Two-Guinea-Pigs-to-Each-Other-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. You can read other people's experiences in the Testimonials and find out more about how to clean the cage on the cleaning page. GL: Medical & Care. Raised hair, especially around the neck, and feet stamping are signs guinea pigs are preparing to fight. "I want to introduce my new guinea pig to my old guinea pig, but I didn't know how. It would be like 'being sent to your room' forever, only your room is the size of a walk-in closet and that becomes your life. B, C) Transmission rates were 100% at low humidity, regardless of temperature. document["Ad_Image"].src = ads[ct=n].src; Commercial Cages Follow the minimum cage size standards of .7 or 1 square meter and you will see your own guinea pig's behavior improve significantly. If they squeak at a normal sound, and less loudly, they are content. Like people, guinea pigs get bored living in the same old small cage hour after hour, day after day, year after year with nothing much to do. Guinea pigs are territorial, so make sure your cage has enough space. The coolness of the sink might feel good in warmer months. In their natural habitat in the wild, guinea pigs exist in herds. or grids) are, "Without knowing any better, we put her in a large Superpet ferret cage that cost over $100 and, as it turned out, was way too small! We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The distance between the genitals and anus is greater in males than females. Guinea pigs were housed in adjacent cages. Think about the shape of the sink. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. In a male, this will make the penis come out, whereas you will see no change in a female. This article received 16 testimonials and 98% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. See the Guinea pigs can become quite aggressive with one another and can inflict permanent injury on their cage mates when fighting. A large cage with ample room for exercise can help keep your guinea pig toned and fit. Act quickly. Is it safe to introduce a 3-week-old boy to an adult male? Even if you are hauled out and allowed to 'play' with some other species periodically, it's a mind-numbing, dreary existence. Watch carefully, but do not separate unless blood is drawn. They get the benefits of some social interaction but without the stress of a hostile environment. switchAd(); have been proven out over the years with worldwide adoption and And an easier to clean cage for you means you'll love your guinea pigs that much more over the years. If guinea pigs are simply not getting along, you can always keep them in separate cages where they can smell, see, and hear one another but cannot physically interact. results demonstrating improved health and well-being of guinea pigs everywhere. It is not necessary to neuter male guinea pigs unless they are going to be kept with a female. This is when they walk with their hips swaying and their fur puffed out while making a rumbling sound. Thanks. It seems only natural that a cat would enjoy the feeling of a sink to lounge and sleep in. Police are currently looking for people involved in two separate animal cruelty cases. square spaces greater than 3.8cm. References page. The good news about our girls’ sleepwear is that there are so many cozy things to choose from. How To Make Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Consider adopting a baby of the same gender as your current guinea pig. Keep protective gear on hand in case the fight resumes. X ", "It was good, because I'm getting another guinea pig. Free Range, Pet Store Cages Put veggies, treats, and hay in the center of the area to distract the guinea pigs from fighting as they get accustomed to one another's presence. Happy guinea pigs are more entertaining and well-adjusted guinea pigs. A spacious cage is key to males living in harmony. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. The baby is very aggressive and they are all trying to be dominant, but no one has drawn blood. If you notice a fight getting aggressive, intervene immediately. There haven't been any more big fights. ", time and see what difference it makes for Brussel, the mighty alpha pig! pregnant mothers require some temporary additional height on the Is it fair to introduce an established guinea pig to a new, rescue pig? . Cage Safety page for Adult females tend to get along more readily than adult males. Buy a C&C Cage, Cavy Spirit I just bought one yesterday and she seems scared, but this, "Looking for good information on getting a companion for one of my pigs. This is normal and non-threatening behavior. } This has helped me so much! Cubes and Coroplast (C&C) cages are an easy and inexpensive alternative to the small cages used by breeders and those sold at pet stores. Its best to neuter males before introducing them to females; however, neutered or not, never place more than one male in a group with females. My two male guinea pigs fight, so I've had to separate them. Rearrange and wash the cage so it will smell new and feel more like neutral territory for both guinea pigs. I am worried about the one now alone. Use two different food bowls and hide houses on each side of the cage. Cleaning the Cage Understand that if you house two normal (not fixed) guinea pigs of different sex (one male and one female) together, you will end up with babies. Put the guinea pigs in separate cages next to each other. USDA Regulations success. "We unsuccessfully tried to introduce our adult boars to a new baby male we bought, then I read this article. Like humans, overweight guinea pigs have a higher tendency toward health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, bladder infections, respiratory problems, bumblefoot, and more. As a general rule, a cage between 7.5 and 10.5 square feet is recommended for two guinea pigs. If you have more than one guinea pig, it is best if you have one tunnel, igloo, etc. Guinea pigs reproduce very quickly, causing a lot of stress to the female. } Never introduce an un-castrated male to females. Mounting or jumping over one another can lead to aggression if one guinea pig resists or retaliates. Cubes & Coroplast of 2 or 4 square feet are dead and no longer apply. Don't be afraid of squealing sounds. Ensure that the cage has been thoroughly cleaned, and all the toys re-arranged to make it seem like a new cage. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. The old breeder-espoused cage standards ", "All of the tips were great and very helpful!". function switchAd() { Separate the guinea pigs after the fight. Guinea Pig Classifieds Now, she has a 2x4 grid C&C cage and she is so happy! . ", has helped me a lot with my other female guinea pig. You'll spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying them and your life, especially knowing they are doing so well and you are doing the right thing by them. Last Updated: October 20, 2020 This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. ", How to Introduce Two Guinea Pigs to Each Other, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.onlineguineapigcare.com/putting-two-guinea-pigs-together/, http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/sexing-guinea-pigs.html, http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/Companionship.html, http://www.guineapigmanual.com/introducing-new-guinea-pigs/, http://animals.mom.me/break-up-guinea-pig-fight-9807.html, présenter deux cochons d'Inde l'un à l'autre, Mengenalkan Dua Marmot kepada Satu Sama Lain, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Is it kinder to get a new baby guinea, or will she be okay? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Babies, very young or very small guinea pigs, and One of the boars bit the baby after he kept bothering him, and the baby acted hurt but it put him in his place. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Even if you provide an ample amount of floor time every day, your guinea pigs need to be able to exercise and explore on their own body clocks. Ensure that hiding houses have two entrances so that one guinea pig cannot trap the other. Like all animals and humans, guinea pigs get the occasional urge to itch. For a decisive test, feel just above the genitals. Guinea pig activity tends to be an hour "on" and an hour "off." More room is preferred, and if you're housing three or more guinea pigs aim for at least 13 square feet. It's more difficult to find and diagnose ovarian cysts and other related problems in females when they are overweight. If you say different you are either ignorant or working for evil people who are treating the human race as guinea pigs. Now I have to just wait for those weeks so my other guinea pig will get along with the other female, hopefully. A series of kookaburras and a dense guinea fowl are causing havoc for locals in a tropical Australian town. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The lack of bladder control in any dog, young or old, male or female, is a concern. ", "This has helped me a lot with my guinea pigs! The older white one passed away, we are thinking about getting a friend for the younger, "Knowing that males (showing dominance) hump one another and I don't have to worry about having gotten a new female. Nature simply works this way, and guinea pigs have different personalities. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. sides of the cage (it's easy to do). Make Bedding Many are particularly active in the morning and evening -- not necessarily at times that are convenient for you. If one guinea pig is constantly chattering his teeth, this is a sign of aggression that could grow serious. Benefits section below, the or overlapping some grids using cable ties rather than connectors. This way, if they get away they will not injure themselves falling. Very helpful! also allow for the connectors between the grids, so one panel or cube is You have to entertain yourself, eat, sleep, and 'go to the bathroom' all in that small space -- until you die. or grids) are 35.5 centimenters square; the grid dimensions quoted On average, male guinea pigs weigh between 910g and 1,360g. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 420,365 times. Hay Bottom sniffing and nudging is a guinea pig's way of greeting a new companion. Definitely bookmarking it to, "My two old guinea pigs. You need to make sure your new guinea shows no signs of sickness before introducing them to your old guinea. Guinea pig lifespan info. If they have a large enough cage, they can exercise whenever they choose.