One boar, two boars… more boars

First of all we are talking about Guinea Pigs boars. Second, you need to understand that we are all different in terms of personality, exactly like humans. You wouldn’t find two of us with the same preferences. So, exactly like you, humans, we do or do not get along. True, boars are more prone to pick a fight due to some territorial issues, but also men are more prone to go to war. 😀

What can you do if you have more than one boar and you want to keep them together?! First you need to understand that “fixing” us won’t help, so don’t put us through this procedure unless you want us paired with a female. Next, if we all grow up together and have enough space from the beginning, you may even not need to interfere. And when I say enough space I don’t mean a 1 x 0.6 m cage for two or more boars. I know this is what they usually sell in pet shops as rabbit cage, but trust me when I say it is too small for us. So, be prepared with space and for some handy work because you may even need to build us a spacious enough cage.

But let me explain you with our own example. When I and Kirk arrived into our humans’ house, we were brought in a very small cage. And I mean really small, that we gave it away for a hamster after all. The guys in the pet shop said it was more than enough for us, but they knew nothing.

So, after a month or so, we picket our first fight and the human ran to the shop and bought us a bigger cage, the one of 1 x 0.6 m. She should have asked before…

Of course we were fine for few weeks, but then we’ve started again. And the end was that we were separated, each with our own 1 x 0.6 m cage. They were one next to each other and we could communicate easily.

Next, Worf and Data showed up in our lives. The humans hopped at least them would get along, but was not the case. Data was bulling Worf, who seemed like the shyest one. As Worf had a tendency to develop a fungal infection as a reaction to stress, the humans decided to separate them also. So, we all ended up in our own C&C of 2×2 (0.7×0.7 m). Not much, but we are four…

In August last year the humans moved in a bigger apartment where there was some space with few furniture pieces – the dinning and the kitchen. And the hf decided it was time to try and see if we were out of our puberty faze and maybe more willing to share rooms.

After few trials it became obvious I got along just fine with Data, so starting September we are sharing a 2×4 C&C (1.4 x 0.7m). We still haven’t figured it out who’s the dominant one: even if I growl all the time, he takes over the tunnel… But I can’t stand to have him out of my sight and if the humans pick him up, he struggles to come back. So, after all, I think we are in to something.

Since Monday Kirk and Worf are also sharing a room, a C&C of 2×5 (1.75 x 0.7 m). Although they are not as excited about this as we were (we were sleeping next to each other from the first moment), they seem fine. Just that the weird thing is that Worf seems to be the one that makes the rules. I say this is weird because Kirk has more than 200g in front of Worf and a “drama queen” personality. And he is also 1 year older…

The humans are hoping that in some months, one year, we will all be able to live together in a big 2×9 C&C. I am sceptical as I know very well that I and Kirk can’t see eye to eye.

Conclusions?

• Piggies have different personalities, so matching us can be as difficult as matching people.
• Give us enough space and it may work.
• Give us food to distract in the first days, until we get used of having somebody else in the same cage.
• Unless we are really fighting and biting each other, don’t interfere. We need to prove and settle who the dominant is. But if you see signs of real aggressiveness, do not hesitate to separate us.
• Sometimes we may go crazy and change a little the personalities while passing trough puberty. Maybe you should give us a break during our teenager faze and restart bonding after we get over it. 🙂