Bullying or submissiveness?

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Julesie

Julesie

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Last night my two boars were fighting quite a bit. Angry teeth chattering and jumping up and attacking. I noticed it was Arthur that was instigating it.

Now since yesterday I heard them teeth chatter a bit but otherwise no fighting. I have been watching them closely though and I have noticed Romano seems very subdued. He stays in the corner area and doesn't really move. I just gave them some food not long ago and watched them. Arthur was eating the food but Romano didn't come over. Arthur then took a lettuce leaf and went off to chew it. I watched Romano and he still didn't move. I waited for about 30 seconds and he finally crawled over and started eating. I was happy and watched him, only for Arthur to come back over for more food and Romano squeaked and ran away from the bowl. He didn't come back over despite it being full.

Worried Arthur would eat it all I placed some lettuce and spinach over where Romano was hiding behind a box and he started eating it.

I just went up to check on them again and Romano is back in the corner hiding behind the hay feeder whilst Arthur is sitting by the food.

Is he just being submissive by staying away from Arthur or should I be worried? I don't want him to be bullied because he's such a relaxed calm guinea pig and I adopted Arthur to give Romano a friend after rescuing him from a bad home where he also curled up scared in the corner.

What should I do?
 
I should add that I got them in July last year so they are nearing a year old each.

Romano was around 11 weeks old and Arthur was five.
 
Niki said:
I would continue to monitor them for a few days but if Arthur doesn't allow Romano to eat, drink, move freely about the cage when he chooses I personally would separate because it is bullying & a bullied pig can become very ill. Here is Terry's story; a bullied pig - http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bullying.htm
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Thank you for the link. I'm going to read it now.

Yes I'm very worried about bullying, being a victim of bullying I know how it feels and because I got Arthur for Romano I don't want him to be bullied.
 
Wow that was very sad.

After a few days if Romano still seems to be acting the same would should I do? Continue to leave them together and buy extra of everything or should I seperate them? Their cage is very large so I know its not an issue with space.
 
Just spoke to my mum today and asked her to tell me if she sees anything with Romano and she told me shes already noticed he seems to be hiding.
 
They really need a bowl each, so two of everything. I have three girls & I use three bowls just so that they won't argue about food. It may also be worth taking Arthur out at feeding time, let the other one get a head start of about 15 minutes or so then put Arthur back when the other has eaten his fill. That worked with mine. :)
 
Poppy'sMum said:
They really need a bowl each, so two of everything. I have three girls & I use three bowls just so that they won't argue about food. It may also be worth taking Arthur out at feeding time, let the other one get a head start of about 15 minutes or so then put Arthur back when the other has eaten his fill. That worked with mine. :)
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They do have a bowl each but its a connected bowl. I suppose it'd be better if I bought two single bowls?

It'll be hard to take Arthur out, he hates being picked up and scratches you up badly but I'll definitely try. It would probably be easier to take Romano out and feed him. :)
 
Can you seperate the food, two food bowls, two huts... it might help him become more confident and get what he needs. All my pigs have double of everything, I have 2 pigs who can only just stand each other and two who love each other to pieces.

The two who can just about stand each other, the bigger pig chases the smaller one but he gives back harder than he gets... At first all he did was run away though. Try the double items unless you already have them, otherwise the bullying sounds abotu right :(
 
Beautifulmess said:
Can you seperate the food, two food bowls, two huts... it might help him become more confident and get what he needs. All my pigs have double of everything, I have 2 pigs who can only just stand each other and two who love each other to pieces.

The two who can just about stand each other, the bigger pig chases the smaller one but he gives back harder than he gets... At first all he did was run away though. Try the double items unless you already have them, otherwise the bullying sounds abotu right :(
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They do have double of everything though. Except the water bottle but they are happy enough to share that as one drinks barely half of what the other one does.

They have four hidies, one tent, two piglooes and one made out of hay that they can sit in or eat.

I just watchedt hem now and Romano rumbled at Arthur a bit so that made me happy to see. Romano is actually the dominant pig so I know Arthur is after his position.
 
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