Can guinea pigs be mean to each other without hurting each other?

[JoyPig]

I am a new guinea pig owner. I've had mine for about 2-3 months now. I have two guinea pigs, both male. When i first got them, one of them was actually sick with a rash and a respiratory infection so he was away for 2 weeks or so getting treatment. When he returned, I divided the c&c cage for 3 days and then introduced them on my bathroom floor where none of them have walked, and I left them there for 3 hours with veggies and no hideys. They were great and very confused and got along very well after it. No biting and blood whatsoever.

However! One of my pigs is so freaking moody OMG. He does not like being touched by me or by the other piggy (I think), and constantly, i mean always, shakes his little butt and does that little vibrating sound for the slightest thing. If the other piggy gets in the tunnel behind him, he rumblestruts. The moody pig never nips at the other one (who doesn't mind being petted, and stretches out for my little "massages") but he always sasses him. WTF! It drives me crazy because the other piggy is so sweet lol, he doesn't do anything or ever rumblestruts. They're both the same age (right now I think they're around 7-8 months).

They nap together sometimes but the sassy one humps the others face sometimes and is always shaking his freaking butt. Actually, there was one time where the sassy pig humped the nice pigs face and the nice pig was so fed up he bit his penis. The sassy pig still humps the others face but they're chill now. Haven't spotted blood since that one incident. Can guinea pigs be mean to each other? hes such a sassy blorb! > I give them both cherry tomatoes as a treat but I don't want to hold on to it, I let the sassy pig steal to tomato and run away with it. is he going to never let me touch him? Has anyone had a sassy pig?

 

[Wiebke]

I am a new guinea pig owner. I've had mine for about 2-3 months now. I have two guinea pigs, both male. When i first got them, one of them was actually sick with a rash and a respiratory infection so he was away for 2 weeks or so getting treatment. When he returned, I divided the c&c cage for 3 days and then introduced them on my bathroom floor where none of them have walked, and I left them there for 3 hours with veggies and no hideys. They were great and very confused and got along very well after it. No biting and blood whatsoever.

However! One of my pigs is so freaking moody OMG. He does not like being touched by me or by the other piggy (I think), and constantly, i mean always, shakes his little butt and does that little vibrating sound for the slightest thing. If the other piggy gets in the tunnel behind him, he rumblestruts. The moody pig never nips at the other one (who doesn't mind being petted, and stretches out for my little "massages") but he always sasses him. WTF! It drives me crazy because the other piggy is so sweet lol, he doesn't do anything or ever rumblestruts. They're both the same age (right now I think they're around 7-8 months).

They nap together sometimes but the sassy one humps the others face sometimes and is always shaking his freaking butt. Actually, there was one time where the sassy pig humped the nice pigs face and the nice pig was so fed up he bit his penis. The sassy pig still humps the others face but they're chill now. Haven't spotted blood since that one incident. Can guinea pigs be mean to each other? hes such a sassy blorb! > I give them both cherry tomatoes as a treat but I don't want to hold on to it, I let the sassy pig steal to tomato and run away with it. is he going to never let me touch him? Has anyone had a sassy pig?

Hi and welcome!

What you call 'mean' is actually classic boar behaviour. Guinea pigs live in a strictly hierarchical society and establish and maintain their society by dominance/submission behaviours.

How old are your boys now? I assume that your boys have now started the teenage months with their intense hormones spikes that set in once the testicles start descending at around 4-6 months of age.

Please take the time to read our illustrated guides below to learn about the different behaviours, their meaning and to be able to judge when things go wrong. The boar guide contains information about the different ages and the classic dos and don'ts with boars. I have also included a guide on how to check on your boy's bits and what problems you can get there.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Information on how to make friends with your piggies and understand how prey animal instincts work can be found in this illustrated guide here: Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

 

[Livia Rabideau]

Sounds normal to me. I have 2 very rumbly boys. Lol. As long as there is no fighting/blood shed, they should be fine. Make sure they have a lot of room. 2 of everything of course. They may be going through hormone spikes at this age as well.