Constant Mounting... And When I Say Constant I Mean Constant

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josh1881

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I have two guinea pigs, both male (I've checked--repeatedly). One was purchased a few weeks before the other, and the older one is presumably about a month older. We eased them in during introductions (maybe not as slowly as advised, but the initial meeting seemed to go OK so we decided to just let them cautiously see how it went). There was some rumblestrutting and chasing but nothing violent at all. We've gradually let them be, but the older one has taken to mounting the younger one.... constantly. I've read on several forums and whatnot to just let this go, that it's common, they're just sorting out dominance, etc... but dominance has been sorted. The younger one does nothing to try and stop this anymore, he just kinda squeaks and runs away as soon as he can. The older one just chases him down or corners him and then goes at it again. It seems like all the older one ever does is chase the younger one down and rumblestrut and mount him, and all the younger one does is try to stay away long enough to get a couple bites to eat before the older one mounts him again. It's really disturbing. Like I said, everything I've read says to just let it go since it's not violent, but the younger one literally can't do anything without the older one interrupting by grabbing him and riding him. When he hops off, he takes one lap around the cage and just grabs him again. When I take the older one out for cuddle time or to clip his nails or whatever, the younger popcorns around the cage, presumably because he's happy he can actually have a couple seconds of peace before he starts getting terrorized again. Will this ever stop? Do I need to just consider separating them permanently, so the younger one can actually do something? Do I need to just give the older one a cold shower, or a stuffed animal to do his business with? :) Please help, it's very upsetting. I feel like I'm torturing the little guy by making him stay in there.
 
josh1881 said:
I have two guinea pigs, both male (I've checked--repeatedly). One was purchased a few weeks before the other, and the older one is presumably about a month older. We eased them in during introductions (maybe not as slowly as advised, but the initial meeting seemed to go OK so we decided to just let them cautiously see how it went). There was some rumblestrutting and chasing but nothing violent at all. We've gradually let them be, but the older one has taken to mounting the younger one.... constantly. I've read on several forums and whatnot to just let this go, that it's common, they're just sorting out dominance, etc... but dominance has been sorted. The younger one does nothing to try and stop this anymore, he just kinda squeaks and runs away as soon as he can. The older one just chases him down or corners him and then goes at it again. It seems like all the older one ever does is chase the younger one down and rumblestrut and mount him, and all the younger one does is try to stay away long enough to get a couple bites to eat before the older one mounts him again. It's really disturbing. Like I said, everything I've read says to just let it go since it's not violent, but the younger one literally can't do anything without the older one interrupting by grabbing him and riding him. When he hops off, he takes one lap around the cage and just grabs him again. When I take the older one out for cuddle time or to clip his nails or whatever, the younger popcorns around the cage, presumably because he's happy he can actually have a couple seconds of peace before he starts getting terrorized again. Will this ever stop? Do I need to just consider separating them permanently, so the younger one can actually do something? Do I need to just give the older one a cold shower, or a stuffed animal to do his business with? :) Please help, it's very upsetting. I feel like I'm torturing the little guy by making him stay in there.
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What ages are your two boys, please? Excessive mounting without a chance to eat is reason for a separation (as stipulated in our bonding guides). Alternatively, you could try to fashion a cardboard box with an entrance that is too small for your bigger boy to give the younger some respite and a place to eat and sleep in peace.
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
 
I'm not entirely sure but I believe Phil, the oldest, to be about 4 months and Bear, the youngest, is about 3 months.
 
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josh1881 said:
I'm not entirely sure but I believe Phil, the oldest, to be about 4 months and Bear, the youngest, is about 3 months.
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So Phil is just hitting the testosterone then. You can try to separate them overnight and see whether things have calmed down again whn you introduce them tomorrow on neutral ground and after a buddy bath to remove the testosterone stink from their fur.
Fingers firmly crossed!
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
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