boys fighting

[NJ2020]

Hi. I am looking for some advice my guineas are fighting.
they are just over 2 years old. bought together when they were young.
They began fighting around 6months ago. it has led to wounds on 1 guinea pig. they were treated for mites, i was told the wounds were from scratching. but I have witnessed them fighting .
I dont know what to do. There are 2 hidey homes, 2 food bowls etc.
Should I seperate them? do I need another cage or bigger cage? cage measures 120x51cm
I dont know what triggers the episodes. but there is alot of chattering and feet thumping.

 

[DMS260820]

The cage is under the reccomended size for 2 boars, try getting a bigger cage and see if it helps. I'd seperate them if they are getting Injuries, but have them next door to one another so that they can still see and smell one another

 

[Lady Kelly]

If they are biting and drawing blood then they need to be separated unfortunately. Once blood is drawn it's very unusual for a pair to live happily together afterwards.

The minimum cage size for 2 piggies is 120x60cm so your cage is on the small side. It is now widely acknowledged that boars need more space than sows so it's recommended to not have anything smaller than 140x60 for a pair of boars.

 

[DMS260820]

Yea you got to think, its 120 you have but after 2 hideys and bowls, not alot of room to relax for 2 boars. Could be the issue

 

[Wiebke]

Yea you got to think, its 120 you have but after 2 hideys and bowls, not alot of room to relax for 2 boars. Could be the issue

Please take the time to read the advice in these guides here. If there have been serious fights with full on bites, piggies won't go happily back together. Hormone spikes can happen to boars even into adulthood but they tend to be stronger in early spring when in their wild ancestor species the breeding season began. Lack of space is one of the main contributing factors to boar fights as the losing boar cannot remove themselves from the premises long before it comes to that.

Bonds In Trouble
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
For a detailed discussion of your options for the 'after': Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[NJ2020]

Hi all thanks for advice. I have been looking into a new cage for them for a while.
So if I separate them does that mean they will be separate forever or will i be able to reintroduce.. I will have another read at the advice in guides.
1 guinea pig is the quite 1. he sits quietly. his weight is good. he is eating. x

 

[Siikibam]

I think the main issue is that once blood is drawn that’s usually a sign it won’t work. You could possibly try, but there is the risk of another full on fight. If I were you I wouldn’t. Your options are to have them living side by side (each cage needs to be 120x60cm minimum), or get them each a friend (cage size would have to be 150x60cm minimum if paired with another boar).