SHOULD I KEEP TWO GUINEA PIGS TOGETHER? Guinea pigs are social animals, so they should always have a companion of their own species. You can keep two female guinea pigs together, or a female with a neutered male. Two brothers that have been brought up together will usually also live in harmony or two unrelated males that are put together as soon as they have been weaned. The other way you can get males to live together is to introduce a baby male guinea pig to an adult after it is weaned, for an adult male usually has no problem accepting a youngster of about eight to ten week of age. He may chase it for a bit for he will catch the scent of it's mother but this will soon stop. Make sure there are places for the little one to retreat to – small enough so the adult cannot get in. Despite what some authorities say, two neutered adult males will not get on. Neutering does not stop their aggression. Never keep a guinea pig with a rabbit. Rabbits can bully and even seriously harm guinea pigs.

Copyright Karen Lecras

HOW DO I INTRODUCE A NEW GUINEA PIG TO AN EXISTING ONE? Don’t just put the new animal into the hutch with an existing guinea pig. The existing animal will fight to defend its territory. Instead introduce them on neutral territory, which does not belong to either of them. If you can’t get a new hutch or a new run, then try introducing them in the bathroom or kitchen, not a garage – they are easily poisoned by car fumes. Better still get your new guinea pig from a rescue shelter and ask them to handle the introduction before you take the new animal home. When they are together, make sure each animal can retreat into something like a cardboard box or a drainage tunnel from a builders merchant.