It was another week before Bubba was ready to come & live here with us as he managed to break his teeth again, this time rattling the cage bars trying to get to the Sows! Told you he was Cheeky! So it was another week of syringe feeds for Bubba... and more hard work and love from Louise to do this.

Left: The piggy bank receives a kiss from Bubba! Bubba settled in nicely and is full of character. He loves to perch on his grassy hut and watch what is going on and is totally relaxed about having other piggy's and humans around. He particularly enjoys floor time and runs around in huge circuits... totally at ease... something we have not experienced in a single piggy before. We felt Bubba would really benefit from a friend and attempted to introduce him to separated boar Hugo/

Left: Bubba poses with Hugo

Bubba is a friendly laid back piggy who would probably really like a cage mate. But with everything that had happened to him in the past, having his ears eaten by another piggy and with his abscess we were reluctant to put a pig of unknown temperament incase he was bullied. It would not be fair to subject him to a bossy cage mate.

We had to give up on finding Bubba a companion for a little while. Intending, perhaps, to get him a baby piglet to grow into his new friend in the future. In the meantime he was enjoying the company of his next door neighbors Prince and Spam.

Finding Friendship at last...

In October 2005 Prince, our first ever guinea pig tragically died aged just 3 years due to illness leaving his friendly cage mate Spam, who he had been introduced to as an adult inspiring this web site, alone once more.
Being such a social pig we felt Spam would be likely to accept another adult boar, but the very thought of it really hurt, as if some other pig could take 'Prince's place' in his affections. However when Spam began to look fed up and lost after the death of Prince we took the painful decision, for Spam's sake, of thinking about re-pairing Spam up with another piggy. We thought it likely Prince would want this for his pal.

And there was Bubba, who and been living next door to Prince and Spam since his arrival. And been a lovely friendly pig who we wanted to pair up since his arrival but was reluctant to try him with Hugo or Rainbow given their track records.

Anyway, we decided to give Spam and Bubba a cuddle together, the first step towards introducing two adult boars as in this case since they would be already familiar with each others smell living side by side.

Left: The moment was on Camera. As you can see it went very well... but of course usually this stage does even if the two won't get on.

Next they had a few hours of floor time... Below: Their first steps!

Above With the usual bum sniffs... and marking with scent!

Bubba seems to have emerged as boss, as expected as you may have gathered if you have read about Spam. The pair even had a little nap together under the clothes horse where they like to sit because its dark on their first run out.

They were then put in a fully clean temporary cage... with was placed in our bedroom at night and in the living room in the day. It was half-term so we were off work and able to keep a close eye on the boys who have lived together for a week now. We wouldn't have had same opportunity for 8 weeks or so... so we had to try now.

Its gone so well, not the same as Prince and Spam but a whole different dynamic. Prince and Spam were opposites and that's how it worked so well, Bubba and Spam are strikingly similar in temperament. yet it still seems to work some how. Its been good for us all.

Friends Parted

Spam and Bubba lived very happily together for 3 months. They could be found curled up sleeping together or side by side eating. They really were a pair of great friends. Sadly however their friendship ended sooner than we'd hoped when in January 2006 Spam tragically died. Bubba was with him in his last moments.

This left Bubba alone, after striking up such a close bond with Spam he was bound to miss him... though because he was with him at the end he knew what had happened to his pal. He understood why he was no longer there.

A New Friendship Begins

Bubba is such a laid back easy going piggy that he is very easy to pair up. That lovely temperament coupled with the nice large pens we now have here make pairings that bit easier. Luckily for Bubba there was another willing friend nearby in the shape of Hugo. Hugo is another of our residents, who was the former companion of Rainbow before they fell out and were permanently separated. They enjoyed cuddles together and even had a few floor time sessions together without incident. They were introduced, gradually and thankfully got on well. They have been together over a year and the pairing seems to be a happy one, as you can see.

All this may make it sound simple... but its not! We know the personalities of these pigs inside out so had an idea of their compatibility before trying this. If you have two boars you think may also be compatible please check out our Options section and follow the careful procedure outlines their which will give you the best chance of success and keep your piggy's safe!

Another Bereavement for Bubba.

Just over a year after the loss of Spam and since his introduction to Hugo Bubba lost another cage mate. Sadly Hugo died unexpectedly. Bubba was laying nearby Hugo's body when I found Hugo, something I have never heard of in Guinea pigs before. Since Hugo's departure Bubba has coped well. Of course he knew what had happened as he was there at the time. He is continuing to eat well and seems happy and active. He is the type of pig who is happy with or without company.

Visit the Bubba Pigture Gallery to see more snaps of Bubba!