How to Introduce a New Guinea Pig to a Community Cage

Bringing home a new pet can be an exciting! However, use caution when adding a guinea pig to your community cage. By following the proper procedures, you greatly increase your chances for a successful addition. Skipping steps can result in injury, parasites or pregnancy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Quarantine cage with accessories
• Old, clean towels
• Old, clean blanket
• Two pairs of oven mitts
• Helper
• Old, clean towels
• Old, clean blanket
• Two pairs of oven mitts
• Two helpers
• Bathtub
• Small animal shampoo
• Vinegar

Preparation

1. Quarantine your new friend in a completely different room. Your piggy will require an extra cage with accessories, so come home prepared! The standard pet store cage, about the size of a kitty carrier, can work in a pinch. This size cage should only be used for temporary quarantines and trips to the vet. It is MUCH too small for permanent quarters!
2. Give plenty of attention to your new friend, thoroughly washing your hands and arms both before and after handling. Change your shirt before visiting your other pigs.
3. Observe the new arrival for a minimum of two weeks. Although it seems an eternity, this step is very important! Watch for any sign of disease. Mites, lice, and other illnesses brought home by a new piggy can quickly affect your entire herd. Watch for lice, frequent scratching, unusual hair loss and wheezing. At the first sign of illness, see your vet.
4. Verify that the new guinea pig is healthy, and then make your first introduction!

First Introduction

5. Stretch out a clean blanket on the floor. Sit on one side, wearing oven mitts, with a guinea pig and an old towel. Instruct a helper to do the same, sitting on the other side of the blanket.
6. Place each guinea pig on the blanket next to you. Allow them to find one another. Prepare to toss the towels on agitated guinea pigs to distract them from fighting.
7. Expect and allow some aggressive behavior. Guinea pigs establish dominance with one another. They can mount or circle one another aggressively, chatter teeth or show other signs of agitation. As long as they do not seriously harm one another, allow them to sort it out. If they slowly begin to calm down, skip to step five. If a serious fight breaks out, see step four.
8. Stop a fight by throwing the towels over the guinea pigs. Carefully scoop them up and away from one another. The oven mitts are for your protection. Upset guinea pigs bite hard enough to draw blood! Return them to their respective cages, and skip to the Second Introduction section.
9. Allow the guinea pigs to play if they are getting along. Repeat the steps as needed with every member of your herd, making no more than two introductions per day. When finished, place the guinea pigs back in separate cages, and wait one day for the second introduction.

Second Introduction

10. Instruct a helper to clean the community cage while you bathe your herd. The cage, all containers and toys must be thoroughly scrubbed with vinegar and rinsed well. Replace all bedding, and change the location of all items.
11. Bathe your piggies, including the newcomer, in the big bathtub. Use a second helper for another pair of hands. Take care to use proper bathing techniques, and be sure to dry all piggies completely.
12. Place the entire herd with the new piggy on the blanket. Unless a fight breaks out, which must be stopped, allow the new guinea pig to find his place within the herd. If a serious fight ensues, remove the newcomer and repeat the process another day. If they spend fifteen or more minutes getting along, return all piggies to the community cage.
13. Observe behavior inside the cage carefully. Since hierarchy is established, fighting is likely to be a rare occurrence. Keep your eyes open, just in case!

Tips & Warnings

• Some piggies never adjust. Be prepared to keep your new friend in a separate cage permanently. Because guinea pigs are herd animals, the cages must be kept side-by-side where piggies can interact but not touch.