Nibble Rare
Does my Guinea Pig need a companion?
So I’ve had my guinea pig for almost a month now and I’m worried that he may not be happy. I spend as much time with him as I can and also give him floor time but for the most part all he does is stay in his igloo and lay down. Is he bored? The pet store lady said he has been by himself for a while but getting a him a friend might help. Am I being too overconcerned? I pictured him at least running around his cage, nibbling on his toys, or something! But he doesn’t even do that. All he does it eat, sleep, and on rare occasions run around. I’ve only heard him wheek once. Do I need to get my boar a companion?
It’s good that you’re observant & care about the well being of your piggie!
Yes, it would be very beneficial for you to get your piggie a friend. A very young boar or a spayed female would be your best bet. Cavies are herd animals in the wild. They live in big herds & are very social. When cavies are kept alone, they can become depressed. They *need* the interaction of another piggie to comfort them. It also helps to ensure good exercise, since they usually will chase each other while playing. You need to be sure you have enough cage space. They need about 10 square feet of space. See http://www.guineapigcages.com/ for info on an easy to build & inexpensive C&C cage.
Proper introduction will go a long way in ensuring a good match. Please see http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm for some terrific info. Scroll down & read the sections on quarantine & introductions especially.
Please also consider adopting your new piggie buddy instead of buying from a pet store. Check out http://www.petfinder.com/ to find the perfect piggie near you.
Good luck!
