IDal
New Born Pup
Hi,
I’m new here. I’m a second time guinea pig owner, but the last time was when I was a teenager. We just got two young teddy guinea pigs a week ago, Ben (black/brown) and Rico (named by my kids, not my choice). They are now 7,5 weeks old. They have a double cage (100x50 on 2 floors) and easily take the ramp and jump on there shelters, so they use the whole cage. I also bought a run for more space (enough fences for 225 by 75cm), but the jumping isn’t limited to the shelters, Rico also is capable of jumping the fence (27cm high). So right now I’m figuring out how to give them more space without the risk of them running loose in the house.
When I got them Ben was already the most relaxt. With Rico I doubted is he was more scared of more curious, I now tend to believe it’s both. He is clearly showing the more dominant behavior, rumble strutting and shaking his behind. He’s doing this also sometimes when Ben is not around, so I don’t know if its just dominant behavior, but he seems a bit young to be displaying mating behavior. Ben meanwhile shows submissive behavior (literally holding his head down and squeaking while Rico is holding his head up and rumbling). Now I sometimes see chasing behavior too, no true fighting. Rico on the other hand seems more skitish, so he’s like a nervous leader, where I sometimes wonder when he’s going to lash out. I also often hear a sort of sneezing/hissing sound, but this can also be when one is upstairs and one downstairs.
The problem is, they are only 7,5 weeks old, barely hitting puberty. Will this behavior get worse, or will they just figure it out before puberty? Also, Ben is slightly bigger (recently 515gr, Rico 505gr), will he at some point realize he is probably stronger and demand top spot?
Both are fine with being handled, and sitting on your arm for a while, eating from my or the childrens hand (they do not get to hold them, just slightly pet them and give them some lettuce or parsley). When startled they run to a shelter together and also at other moments sit in the same shelter when resting (Eventhough there are several shelters). They eat from the same bowl or on the same lettuce leave, but seem to prefer when I put veggies in the cage to each take their own side of the cage (I put veggies on 2 places for that reason).
I’m new here. I’m a second time guinea pig owner, but the last time was when I was a teenager. We just got two young teddy guinea pigs a week ago, Ben (black/brown) and Rico (named by my kids, not my choice). They are now 7,5 weeks old. They have a double cage (100x50 on 2 floors) and easily take the ramp and jump on there shelters, so they use the whole cage. I also bought a run for more space (enough fences for 225 by 75cm), but the jumping isn’t limited to the shelters, Rico also is capable of jumping the fence (27cm high). So right now I’m figuring out how to give them more space without the risk of them running loose in the house.
When I got them Ben was already the most relaxt. With Rico I doubted is he was more scared of more curious, I now tend to believe it’s both. He is clearly showing the more dominant behavior, rumble strutting and shaking his behind. He’s doing this also sometimes when Ben is not around, so I don’t know if its just dominant behavior, but he seems a bit young to be displaying mating behavior. Ben meanwhile shows submissive behavior (literally holding his head down and squeaking while Rico is holding his head up and rumbling). Now I sometimes see chasing behavior too, no true fighting. Rico on the other hand seems more skitish, so he’s like a nervous leader, where I sometimes wonder when he’s going to lash out. I also often hear a sort of sneezing/hissing sound, but this can also be when one is upstairs and one downstairs.
The problem is, they are only 7,5 weeks old, barely hitting puberty. Will this behavior get worse, or will they just figure it out before puberty? Also, Ben is slightly bigger (recently 515gr, Rico 505gr), will he at some point realize he is probably stronger and demand top spot?
Both are fine with being handled, and sitting on your arm for a while, eating from my or the childrens hand (they do not get to hold them, just slightly pet them and give them some lettuce or parsley). When startled they run to a shelter together and also at other moments sit in the same shelter when resting (Eventhough there are several shelters). They eat from the same bowl or on the same lettuce leave, but seem to prefer when I put veggies in the cage to each take their own side of the cage (I put veggies on 2 places for that reason).
