I recently lost 2 of my 3 guinea pigs within 3 months of each other (they were both 4 years old). My third piggy (Chino, female aged 2) was alone and I couldn't bear her being lonely, So I got her a friend (Treacle, female rescue who had also recently lost her cage mate). Not sure of this new piggy's age but she's an adult the same size.
I introduced them in a pen in a neutral setting and they got along fine, just sniffing each other, Chino did a bit of chasing (Treacle didn't mind it) and then they relaxed and ate some veggies. I cleaned Chino's cage and put them both in it but my mistake was that I left the hidey house in the cage which only has 1 doorway. About 2/3 hours after being in the cage, Chino chased Treacle into the house and I assume this freaked Treacle out as she was cornered and she bit Chino and drew blood. It's a small bite and they're both okay. They immediately got separated and after a good few hours I put them back into the neutral pen and sat next to them for a while.
Chino is now fearful of Treacle when she gets too close.(understandable) But thankfully they're respecting each others space and otherwise doing okay, a little bit of butt-sniffing, but if Treacle comes close and they're standing face to face, Chino starts squeaking. I see no threatening behaviours from either of them, they now have a tube and a hidey each in the pen (cardboard boxes with 2 doorways each) and they sit in one each, minding their own business. Treacle will walk around a bit but Chino is not moving around much in comparison.
My question is, is this bite a sign that they'll never be friends? Or is there still hope that Chino will come around and be less fearful? It's been 1 full day and night in this pen together and no squabbles but no friendly cuddling either which I was really hoping for.
I introduced them in a pen in a neutral setting and they got along fine, just sniffing each other, Chino did a bit of chasing (Treacle didn't mind it) and then they relaxed and ate some veggies. I cleaned Chino's cage and put them both in it but my mistake was that I left the hidey house in the cage which only has 1 doorway. About 2/3 hours after being in the cage, Chino chased Treacle into the house and I assume this freaked Treacle out as she was cornered and she bit Chino and drew blood. It's a small bite and they're both okay. They immediately got separated and after a good few hours I put them back into the neutral pen and sat next to them for a while.
Chino is now fearful of Treacle when she gets too close.(understandable) But thankfully they're respecting each others space and otherwise doing okay, a little bit of butt-sniffing, but if Treacle comes close and they're standing face to face, Chino starts squeaking. I see no threatening behaviours from either of them, they now have a tube and a hidey each in the pen (cardboard boxes with 2 doorways each) and they sit in one each, minding their own business. Treacle will walk around a bit but Chino is not moving around much in comparison.
My question is, is this bite a sign that they'll never be friends? Or is there still hope that Chino will come around and be less fearful? It's been 1 full day and night in this pen together and no squabbles but no friendly cuddling either which I was really hoping for.
