guinea pig personality question

[steppy104]

i've been wanting a second guinea pig ever since i got mine from my friend. he isn't depressed without a friend, and hasn't showed depression since i took him from his daddy. but i still think it would be nice, and that he might like it....but i don't know how he would get along with a new piggy. my other 2 pigs that i used to have threatened eachother constantly, and were together since babies.

i doubt my parents will ever let me get a second one....even though i have proved them wrong on how having just 1 would go...they thought it'd stink up my room, and i'd never clean it, and they'd have to buy the food, and he'd be all sorts of trouble. but despite that, i'd still love to have a 2nd one. it's so odd having just one.

so, would he most likely get along with another one? i'm guessing that he is about 9 months old, give or take....would the age of a companion matter? i mean, would it matter if i got him a babie friend, or an adult friend?

the reason i'm thinkin about all of this right now is because i just went to pet supplies plus today, and was looking at their guinea/rabbit cage, and i just fell in love with this black and orange piggy they have. he was adult size, and there was a note on the tank/cage (whatever you wanna call it) that said something about them recieving the pig from somebody who could not have him anymore. i think it said he was 1 or 1.5 years old...$13. i have the money....i want him!!! but ya...should everything be good between them if say i did get him? (i doubt i will)

 

[The-Wolf]

my nice has three females together.
i used to keep some 20+ years ago and memorie is a bit fuzzy now but I recall that males will fight to become the alpha male.
so to sum up adding a female to another female will be no prob adding a male to another male big prob. adding a male to a female or vice versa, will be a well you know that one

 

[steppy104]

ahh....i wonder if the piggy at the store was male? he/she was sure a beauty...

i think my first 2 piggy's were male.....if so, then that might explain all of the chattering they did at eachother....they never got into an actual fight, but here and there they would face eachother head on, show their teeth, raise their front ends, and chitter at eachother...then they calmed down and went on with their day...

so basically i'd have no choice but to get a girly then? i'll ask my parents tomorrow if i can get another one....that'd be sweet if i get them to say yes...

it's not actually a question of "will they say yes?", it's more a question of "can i get them to change their mind?"

 

[Sorrell]

Maybe I just had good luck, but growing up we had at least 50 piggies at a time and only two enclosers. I have a friend in town who still breeds and she has a good 100 at any given time. I have personally never seen a tinge of aggression.

They do make lots of sounds amongst themselves, but I've never ever seen a fight.


edit-called my friend, she said she's never had a fight or anything resembling a fight either with males or females

 

[steppy104]

hmm...i'm confused now. lol....can there be an alpha with that many piggies? what if it's just 2 males?

 

[Sorrell]

Most of the guinea pigs in the pet trade are males so that kinda gives you an idea of how many boys are kept together

I've had lots of pairs and trios together as well, everyone is fine

 

[steppy104]

thanks.

i argued....and i tried....but i could not get my mom to at least say "maybe". lol. i ain't even gonna try with my dad.....he left it up to my mom wether or not i could have the one i've got now.....if it were his choice, he'd say no. aw well.....maybe i'll try again later....

 

[Hooligan]

I used to keep two male piggies together. They never fighted.

One was alot older then the other though

 

[steppy104]

well....i think i got a solid NO. i tried again....didn't work...again.

 

[snowyangel]

steppy go looking at pet shelters first! You will most likely get everything needed for one, it will be cheaper and you'll be rescueing an animal (im fostering 2 guinea pigs right now). A shelter will be more greatful than any pet store would.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yes, I'd go to a shelter and take your parents with you. THere will probably be so may cute ones they will not be able to resist....

 

[619 Fish GOD]

Hi all,

I have bread GPs all my life. You can put more than one female gp together but putting more than one male that has been in with females is a big no no, it is only because it has the scent of a female on it and ithe male will think it is a female and not leave the male alone. I have never had much luck putting males with males at all, I have put in all different ages and sizes but I am thinking that it is a male thing they probley think that if there is any other males in with them then they will not get all the females to themselvs. But go right a head with the females I ues to have 10 females together in one cage, and they do like others gps to be with them so they are not alone. But hay try putting two males together and watch them to see if they will be all right together if not they will look at each other and have a smell and if the new male in the cage is not up to his standerd then they will start fighting. I really do hope that this will help you I did have trouble when I first started but if you have anymore problems put a post up and I will see what I can do. Thanks

 

[619 Fish GOD]

oh and tell your mum and dad that your gp needs another gp because it will get upset because it does not have a friend, no one to talk to and things like that I hope you will be able to get another one.

 

[steppy104]

i tried saying he wants a friend....it didn't work. lol.

our shelter doesn't carry rodents. went there the other day to find out if they did or not, and all they had were dogs and cats. i think getting the orange and black one would be the same as getting one from a shelter anyway, since he was an unwanted piggy...

so just to stay on the safe side, i guess i'd want to get a male...

another question....can guinnea pigs be neutered? IF i somehow changed my parents mind, the last thing i need is babies.

 

[snowyangel]

Yes they can be neutered but it's very expensive b/c they're much smaller than cats and dogs. Here it will cost you anywhere from $300 -$600 to neuter a guinea.