Bonding Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are very social creatures and love the company of their companions. In the wild guinea pigs are found in large herds, not only to enjoy each others company, but also for safety in numbers. In a wild herd guinea pigs will make high pitched squeaks to alert the herd of signs of danger, as well as use their numbers to their advantage by scattering in all directions and confusing predators. Our domesticated guinea pigs generally live in smaller herds, and also rely on human interaction as part of the social structure - but how do we keep numerous guinea pigs together whilst avoiding negative interactions within the social hierarchy? Well.... unfortunately, just like people, some guinea pigs just will not 'click' and get along, however we do have some handy tips and tricks to help you successfully introduce and bond new guinea pigs to create a harmonious herd at home.
FUN FACT: In some countries it is illegal to only own one guinea pig in order to meet the animal welfare standards and meet their social requirements, so when one guinea pig ends up alone, it is ideal to try and find them a new friend. This can be a challenging process as not all guinea pigs will readily get along, and it does take some patience to successfully introduce a newcomer.
Housing more than one guinea pig together not only fulfills their social needs and companionship, but it also encourages more activity and exploration, which in turn has a number of health benefits including reduced risk of obesity and related health issues. Guinea pigs are often more extroverted with friends and going back to their core instincts - feeling 'safety in numbers'. Older guinea pigs also tend to sleep more often and bringing a younger friend into the mix does encourage more exercise and enrichment, and can improve their mental and physical health. Guinea pigs that are kept with others usually also develop a much more varied diet, as they try new and different foods with the support of their friends.
Selecting the right guinea pig for your herd:
One of the first steps when considering adding a new member to the herd is choosing the right guinea pig. As mentioned, not all guinea pigs will get along so it is important to plan ahead for the best chance of success, by taking into account your housing set up, floor space available, sex of your current piggies, and the temperament and personalities of your current piggies.
- AGE: Housing younger and older piggies together is generally a good match as there is already a natural hierarchy established, which avoids some conflict
- TEMPERAMENT: If you currently have a very outgoing guinea pig, it may be best to choose a more laid back buddy, to avoid territorial fights.
- SEX: We strongly recommend keeping same sex herds to avoid unwanted pregnancies and territorial conflicts. Neutered boars will usually get along within a female herd. Female guinea pigs are generally easier to match and get along well, however in saying that conflicts can still occur when two strong female personalities come together. Housing male guinea pigs together can be a little bit more complex, however it is a common misconception that males cannot be housed together - this is FALSE! A bonded pair of male guinea pigs can live very happily together, just a little more time and patience may be required. If housing more than one male guinea pig together, we also recommend going up a cage size to allow them more space.
Check out our Ozzy Cage size guide below - we recommend going up a size if housing two boars together.
How to introduce your piggies:
Bringing a new guinea pig home is a super exciting time and the first thing you will want to do is introduce them to your current piggies - however it is important to place any new arrivals into quarantine prior to coming into contact with your current herd - Guinea pigs will often try and hide any signs of illness for as long as possible, so we want to make sure they aren't bringing anything contagious into your current herd!
The next step is to clean their cage - we want to make the environment as neutral as possible and remove any residual scents or territorial markings. Make sure to disinfect and clean all surfaces in your cage, and provide fresh, clean bedding. We recommend allowing as much as space as possible, and adding in several hides so your piggies can retreat if needed. We also recommend adding in two of everything including food and water to start with, reducing the instigator for any potential fights.
Setting up a neutral room in the house for example a bathroom that has no previous piggy scents, may also assist with first time introductions.
Be sure to supervise your piggies during their first introduction so you can readily step in if required.
Ron and Patrick - Bonded boars
Recently Ron and Patrick, two male guinea pigs, found themselves alone in a rescue. The owner of Cavy Angels Guinea Pig Rescue, Monique, assessed both boys and thought they had similar personalities that would get along well. They have become much loved ambassadors of the GPA team and are seen regularly on our social channels!
Watch here as they were first introduced and watch them through the bonding process.
Watch here to see how they are going now!
See more of the bonded GPA guinea pig herds on our socials:
