Guinea pigs should never be kept alone. So, how to get them to know the right way if you have one at home and you got them a friend or if you have adopted two specimens from different places?
Steps
Step 1. Before bringing the guinea pigs together, you must keep them in separate cages away from each other, in the same room but on opposite sides, for at least 2 months
This is the quarantine phase. You have to keep them separate because one of the two animals could have diseases and infect the other, which is to be avoided. The reason you have to wait at least two months is that in the wild, guinea pigs are usually prey, not predators. When they get sick, they keep it hidden for as long as possible, so it doesn't appear weak to predators, so symptoms are often not noticed. Some conditions take up to 2 months to show symptoms (and more time to heal). Domestic guinea pigs behave in the same way.
Step 2. After keeping the guinea pigs apart for at least two months, it's finally time to bring them together
When you bring them together, this must be in a territory neither animal has ever been in before. In this way, neither of them will be agitated because they feel that their territory has been invaded. For example, think you are in the same situation. You don't want someone you've never seen before to settle in your home and live with you, do you? Try to distract the guinea pigs by giving them both some greens when you put them together. If you have a garden, this is a good place for guinea pigs to meet. Surprisingly, it works better than anywhere else.
Step 3. When the guinea pigs are together, check how they behave
Always keep a towel handy to separate them in case they start fighting. Here are some things that are likely to happen when you bring two guinea pigs together.
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Normal, harmless behaviors:
Introduces Two Guinea Pigs to Each Other Step 3Bullet1 - Both animals raise their heads. They are trying to figure out who will be the boss (the one who raises his head higher).
- Guinea pigs rub their hindquarters on the ground. They are marking the territory.
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"Movement and rumbling". The animal slowly moves the back of the body from side to side, emitting a rumbling sound.
Introduces Two Guinea Pigs to Each Other Step 3Bullet2 - Guinea pigs sniff their hindquarters or sniff under their chins. This is their way of saying "hello, how are you?"
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Behaviors that should make you ready to intervene:
Introduces Two Guinea Pigs to Each Other Step 3Bullet3 - Guinea pigs chatter their teeth. Be careful if one or both animals start chattering more and more. If they do it just a little bit, that's fine.
- They chase each other in the cage (or in the playpen). Usually the one that is being chased squeaks loudly. Only intervene if one of the animals tries to attack the other, for example by biting.
- They squeak very loudly. Usually this happens if one of the guinea pigs wants to scare the other one back. As long as the guinea pig does not attack the frightened mate, there is no need to intervene. But keep an eye on the frightened animal. If it shows bite marks, separate them. Otherwise wait some time. The squeaking guinea pig might just be flustered and a little scared of the other - wait a bit and see if it calms down.
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Behaviors that indicate that you need to separate the animals immediately:
Introduces Two Guinea Pigs to Each Other Step 3Bullet4 - Straight coat that makes animals look larger. Especially around the neck.
- Guinea pigs stamp their feet to the side. It's different from swaying and grumbling - it's more aggressive behavior.
- Yawns. Guinea pigs do not yawn because they are tired: they do it to show their teeth.
- They attack themselves. This is the most serious behavior. Take the towel, as mentioned before, and with it take one of the two guinea pigs to move it away from the other. You have to use the towel to protect yourself from bites. If the guinea pig bites you, it's not because it wants to hurt you, but because your hand got in the way and one of the guinea pigs accidentally bit you. When they bite you, they don't mean to hurt you, but it can still happen. So always use the towel to grab one of the guinea pigs and separate them.
Step 4. Wash the cage thoroughly and put it back so it looks and smells like a new cage
Then put the guinea pigs back in.
Advice
- To maintain peace and harmony between your guinea pigs, you must guarantee them a space of at least 1 square meter in the cage (not counting the different floors) for two individuals.
- There are also other ways to introduce two guinea pigs. If you don't have a place for them to meet, try asking a family member or friend to hold one guinea pig while you hold the other.
- The simplest combination is a spayed male with two or more females. In this case, making them socialize is very simple.
Warnings
- If one animal is older than the other or you have had it for a long time, the process needs to be slower and more carefully, as the animal may think the newcomer is there to take its place.
- If you have an unsterilized, older male, you can only introduce him to a very young female, or there may be very violent fighting. Also, some males don't get along well with other males. In any case, males must be spayed and THEN introduced to females after a 6 week period (during which time they are still fertile).
- NEVER combine an unsterilized male with females. Guinea pigs reproduce very quickly and it gets out of hand. Also, if you have no experience in breeding and genetics, the puppies may be sick. Also keep in mind that there are already enough abandoned guinea pigs that are in desperate need of a home and love; there is no need to make them increase in number.
