How to Mix Male & Female Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs make excellent family pets, as they do not take up too much space, are relatively self-sufficient and generally are friendly and love to be held and petted. Guinea pigs are typically social animals that do best when housed with another pig. However, mixing male and female guinea pigs together can be a difficult process unless you intend on breeding them. While housing them is possible, you need to take a few precautions.

Things You'll Need

  • Veterinarian who performs surgery on guinea pigs
  • Large pen
  • Dividers for the pen (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Neuter your male guinea pig. The safest way to ensure unwanted pregnancies and aggression towards other male guinea pigs is to get your guinea pig neutered. Neutering is generally not as invasive as spaying; therefore, recovery is easier. In addition, neutering your male can be very beneficial to his health, as it can decrease his chances of developing prostate cancer and mammary tumors. Find a veterinarian who treats exotic pets to neuter your pig.

    • 2

      Spay your female guinea pig. If neutering your male is not an option, the second best approach is spaying your guinea pig. Spaying a guinea pig will prevent unwanted pregnancies in addition to reducing the chances of developing uterine cancer, mammary tumors and ovarian cysts. You may be able to have your guinea pig spayed with the help of a local guinea pig rescue.

    • 3

      House your pigs in a large pen and supervise them. While it is risky to mix them together without being spayed or neutered, it is possible if they are housed in a large area, such as a dog pen, and have areas in which the individual pig can hide. In the wild, guinea pigs generally live in colonies and many do fine cohabitating; it all depends on the pigs. But to be safe, supervise them when they are together and separate them with dividers when you cannot watch them.