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Guinea pigs are great family pets and make a perfect starter animal for children trying to learn how to care for them to take on bigger responsibilities. Adding a second guinea pig can help prevent your pet from feeling lonely and isolated, and it can also help them get more exercise and mental stimulation, which can lead to a longer, happier life. However, many people may be unsure of the best way to introduce a second animal to the environment and have many questions about safety. If you are thinking about adding a second guinea pig to your habitat, keep reading while we provide you with a step-by-step plan for getting two guinea pigs to cohabitate peacefully in the same cage.
Preparing for Company
Determine the Sex
As we mentioned earlier, sex is an important part of deciding which pet is compatible with yours, so the first thing you should do is determine sex. The genitalia of a male guinea pig appears circular with a slight bulge. The female genitalia will be a flat y-shaped opening.
Cage Size
Before you purchase a second guinea pig, we recommend making sure the cage you have is large enough to house them. The enclosure for two guinea pigs should be at least 10.5 square feet.
The 4 Steps for Introducing the Guinea Pigs
1. Quarantine
When you first adopt the second guinea pig, you will need to quarantine it so the new animal can get used to the new environment. You should keep them in separate cages during this period. The idea is that you bond with your new pet before they are introduced to their new mate.
2. Scent Swapping
Once your guinea pig has settled into their new environment and has shown no signs of illness during the quarantine period, you can begin scent swapping. This step is essential, as it helps both guinea pigs get used to each other’s scent before any direct contact. One helpful method is to briefly switch their living spaces—about 30 minutes at a time—so each pig becomes familiar with the other’s scent. Avoid longer swaps at this stage, as it can cause stress and slow down the bonding process. You can also exchange toys, bedding, and even bits of food between their enclosures to spread the scent more naturally. Pay close attention to their reactions to these smells, as it can give you early insight into how they might behave when they eventually meet.
3. The Meet-Up
Once the quarantine has finished and both guinea pigs are comfortable with each other’s scent, it’s time for their first face-to-face introduction. In some cases, guinea pigs will get along quickly, as if they’ve always lived together. However, in other instances, the two may not immediately click. Luckily, there are steps that you can take to make this relationship work.
Start the introduction in a clean, neutral space with a clear or mesh divider between them. Place your resident guinea pig on one side and the newcomer on the other. This setup allows them to see, smell, and interact safely without direct contact. It’s completely normal to observe behaviors like squeaking, sniffing, or grunting — these are part of how guinea pigs establish social hierarchy. This process may continue until one asserts dominance.
If you notice calm or excited squeals, that’s a good sign; you may be able to remove the divider and let them meet more directly. That said, the barrier may need to stay in place for a few days or even a week, depending on how the pigs respond. Take your time, and ensure that the first barrier-free introduction takes place in a neutral area, not in one guinea pig’s established territory.
4. Move Them Together
Once your guinea pigs are showing positive behaviors like grooming, lying next to each other, or happily squeaking, you can remove the barrier and let them interact under supervision. Some mild dominance is normal, but signs like biting, chasing, or loud teeth-chattering mean you should separate them and try again later
If they continue to get along, it’s time to combine their habitats. Make sure the space is large enough and offers multiple hiding spots, toys, and food stations, one for each guinea pig. Even bonded pairs need their own territory to feel secure.
Keep in mind that occasional fights can happen, even after moving in together. While you don’t need to supervise them constantly, it’s good to stay alert for signs of stress or conflict, especially during the early days.
Best Guinea Pig Matches
Opposite Sex
The first thing you will need to consider when you are thinking of adding a second guinea pig to your cage is what sex the new pet will be. We recommend getting the same sex as the guinea pig you have, or getting one neutered male and one female. Guinea pigs reproduce quickly and can have up to seven babies in each litter, so while it might sound like fun, breeding can quickly get out of hand, hence why we recommend neutering your male guinea pig.
Young/Old
Pairing a younger guinea pig with an older one can sometimes help the bonding process go more smoothly. The older guinea pig is more likely to establish dominance calmly, while the younger one may naturally submit. However, personality still plays a big role, and conflicts can still occur regardless of age. Always supervise initial introductions and proceed gradually.
Personality
It’s hard to tell the personalities of a guinea pig without allowing it to stay in the cage for a few weeks, but two dominant males or females will have a difficult time living together. Two submissive, or one submissive and one dominant, are required for the two animals to live together.
Final Thoughts
It’s not all that difficult to introduce guinea pigs to each other unless they are both dominant personalities that aren’t willing to submit. In that case, you will need to try a different guinea pig that might be fine being the submissive one. Guinea pigs often get along well and usually are excited to meet each other after a short quarantine.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this guide and found the answers you needed. If we have helped you get a friend for your pet, please share this guide to introducing guinea pigs to each other on Facebook and Twitter.
You might be interested:
- 21 Fascinating & Fun Guinea Pig Facts You Never Knew
- Do Guinea Pigs Know When Another Guinea Pig Dies?
Featured Image Credit: Olena Kurashova, Shutterstock
