Guinea pigs are naturally sociable creatures that need companionship to stay happy. In the wild, they live together in large herds, so they should always be kept in pairs or small groups. Here we talk all about companionship and suitable combinations.
When it comes to deciding whether to keep guinea pigs, you might have lots of questions on your lips including how many guinea pigs should I get? Just remember if you love guinea pigs and want to bring one home, you should get two or more to keep them happy and healthy. Here’s some information on how to help your guinea pigs become furever friends.
You should think very carefully when it comes to housing three sibling boars together. Although they often start off living together well, one guinea pig is likely to be badly bullied. So there’s a high risk of them fighting and needing to be separated in the future.
The same goes for a boar with a young male under one year old. Although the mix may work at first, when the young male matures he will compete for dominancy, which could result in serious fights.
A rabbit and a guinea pig should not live together. Although some owners have found that a rabbit and guinea pig can live happily in each other’s company, there’s a risk that the guinea pig will be accidentally kicked when the rabbit is running and hopping about. Communication is a big factor to consider as well. Guinea pigs are vocal communicators, whereas rabbits are mostly silent, and this can be upsetting for both species.
If you find yourself with a single guinea pig, or you’d like to expand your herd, we can help! Woodgreen’s onsite mixing service is a lifeline for owners looking for support with finding their single guinea pigs a lasting companion. This could involve mixing onsite or providing you with advice on how to mix them at home.
Guinea pigs thrive in the company of other guinea pigs and the best combination is a pair of guinea pigs, but they don’t necessarily need to be in pairs. If you have a group of three or more that live happily together, that’s great!
When introducing guinea pigs, it’s very important this is done on neutral ground. Start in the morning so you have the whole day to watch them closely. It’s best to mix them in the outside run where they have lots of space and grass. If you do mix indoors, make sure they have plenty of space.
Once your mixing area is up and running, your guinea pigs are ready to enter. Place them in at the same time and allow them to explore their new surroundings and approach each other in their own time. Guinea pigs will often show signs of bonding or aggression fairly quickly.
If you see the following during a mix or between an already bonded pair, you should separate the guinea pigs immediately.
Health check all guinea pigs daily to spot any hidden injuries. When mixing a group, make sure you watch them carefully to make sure there is no bullying.
If mixing is taking place indoors and everything is going well by the late afternoon/early evening, leave them in that space overnight.
If you choose to mix outdoors, make sure their main living space has been thoroughly cleaned. Then move their hiding spaces and hay from their mixing space into their normal living area – this will help the guinea pigs settle in the environment as it will smell like both of them. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they settle into the new space before leaving them overnight.
Vets don’t typically agree to neutering female guinea pigs, unless it’s necessary to treat another illness. This is because it can come with many complications.
Males can be neutered if they will not pair with a male and need to be mixed with females.
Unlike other species, neutering a male guinea pig will not affect their behaviour, so it’s not a solution to a fighting pair of males. If you do have to get your guinea pigs neutered, choose a vet who specialises in small pets and has lots of experience in neutering guinea pigs to ensure a swift recovery.
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Pearl’s unsuspecting owner had no idea she was heavily pregnant when they took her on.
Read more about 'Woodgreen saves the day when accidental litters leave owner with 25 guinea pigs'For many small pets, the company of furry friends is a must. Sociable animals need companionship to live their best life, otherwise they can become unhappy and stressed.
Read more about 'Woodgreen’s small pet mixing service'