Fighting Worries

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Roe

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Hello, I have 2 young boar guinea pigs who we bought together, and they are possibly brothers, from Pets at Home (huge mistake I now know for various reasons!). Anyhow they have up to now been getting along fine as far as I could tell. They would do the odd bottom waggle with the purring sound and on occasion seem to square up a little to each other but this evening as I went to get them out of their run and back into their hutch they went for each other and had a proper little scrap! I managed to get them back in their hutch and watched them for a while and they did a bit of teeth chattering, bottom waggling and seemed to be annoying each other but no more physical contact. However I now am worried about them having a full on scrap. I have read the sticky post on fighting and aggressive behaviour but am confused as to whether their behaviour this eve would be classed as minor or critical? I am guessing it is hormones as they are about 3-4 months old now. There doesn't seem to be a more definate dominant one out of the 2.
They live in a 2 storey outdoor hutch with plenty of tunnels and hideaways and as I've never seen them scrap before they share a bottle and 3 bowls (1 hay, 1 pellets, 1 veg) and they have always seemed to be eating equal amounts with no problems but should I give a whole other set of bowls and bottle? Or should I just try and separate the boys completely for a couple of days? I really hope I dont have to end up seperating them completely as I read that you generally recommend an older boar with a younger one but don't really want to take another 2 on esp if we could end up having to separate any more!
I used to keep guinea pigs as a teenager and never experienced the problems I have had so far with my 2 but we kept them with rabbits back then which I know is a big no no now! (Though we never had any probs at all and had several piggie-rabbit pairs.).
We were also originally after rescue piggies but weren't having any luck finding any :(.
Thanks for any advise.
 
Hi I've had similar problems with my two boys 10 month old long coated Dennis and skinny pig Godfrey. They had their first real scrap at around 3 months old and are now in separate cages in doors. Dennis still chatters his teeth at Godfrey through the bars of his cage ( even after being neutered!) one piece of advice I will give and I've had 6 pigs now , over about 8 years is that they can live very happy lives on their own so long as they're handled regularly . None of my pigs share cages and they all seem happy and well adjusted , not Lonely at all, but this probably depends on the individual temperament of the pig . All mine are real characters and like to have their own space.
 
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Just been to check on them this am and though there is no signs of a physical fight (no fur lying around and no signs of injury) they were chasing each other and seemed very irratated with each other. So I have seperated them for now by putting one in the run and leaving the other in the hutch. I will clean and disenfect the hutch shortly and going to get some bits and pieces today in case I need to split the hutch in 2 (by blocking off the stairs and sorting out another sleeping quarters down stairs. Really don't want to have to spilt them permantly but looks like I may have too :( if this is going to be an ongoing issue. They are my young daughters pets, though I am the main carer, so need to limit any distress caused to them too!
 
Hi @Roe you wouldn't normally split them unless they are having fights and drawing blood.

I don't concentrate very well when reading so if you did say they have drawn blood, I apologise :)

How big is the cage?

We had to split two himi's, we adopted them, they were apprently ok at the rescue, we got them back here, and we started to notice little things, like a cut on one's lip, we cleared the cage to clean it one day (they were in a 2x5, plenty of room) when we witnessed one trying to dominate the other, only he didn't want it and they ended up in a full blown fight. The woman from the rescue said it sounded like they both wanted to be the dominant piggie :doh:
 
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Kerrie74 said:
Have a look at these links before doing anything with the guinea's :)

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-bullying-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.127295/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/illustrated-bonding-behaviours-and-dynamics.128361/
Click to expand...
Thanks Kerrie.
It's tuff to know what to do for the best! One of the GP's has a graze on one of his front feet other than that there is no signs of damage. They are long haired though but having inspested them both I can't see any further signs of damage.
They have a very large 2 storey hutch: http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/bluebell-hideaway-(in-store) so have plenty of space to get away from each other however they seem to be constantly seeking each other out!
I read all those links you gave, thank you, but am still confused as what to do for the best! I don't want to cause them any undue stress such as bathing them may cause as one has just recovered from a bout of ringworm so dont want that resurfacing!
I'm not sure I should have separated them now after reading that that can cause more probs but they just seemed to be doing each others heads in! This has only all been noticibly happening since yesterday afternoon but it seems like they have just reached a point where they are both trying to become the more dominant one but looks like they both want it equally!
Would hate to give up on them but we've had nothing but trouble pretty much from the start. I've never had the trouble I have had with these 2 the whole time I previously had GPs. We choose to get GPs due to the fact they are normally quite good pets for young children! Sorry to vent, just feeling fed up and bewildered with it all!
 
It's ok, vent away, I was quite annoyed when my started to fight and we had to split them, I had to go and adopt a piggy for TK and Cesaro is hopefully going to be nurtured depending on how his health check goes on Friday, he will go with the three sows.

I really do know how you feel.

We have a knowledgeable person that gives great advice @Wiebke I hope she doesn't mind me tagging her in again!
 
Sorry to hear this is stressing you so much, but in some cases separation is the only option . You shouldn't feel bad you are only doing what you believe is best for the piggies, and they're lucky to have you looking out for them!
 
Roe said:
Hello, I have 2 young boar guinea pigs who we bought together, and they are possibly brothers, from Pets at Home (huge mistake I now know for various reasons!). Anyhow they have up to now been getting along fine as far as I could tell. They would do the odd bottom waggle with the purring sound and on occasion seem to square up a little to each other but this evening as I went to get them out of their run and back into their hutch they went for each other and had a proper little scrap! I managed to get them back in their hutch and watched them for a while and they did a bit of teeth chattering, bottom waggling and seemed to be annoying each other but no more physical contact. However I now am worried about them having a full on scrap. I have read the sticky post on fighting and aggressive behaviour but am confused as to whether their behaviour this eve would be classed as minor or critical? I am guessing it is hormones as they are about 3-4 months old now. There doesn't seem to be a more definate dominant one out of the 2.
They live in a 2 storey outdoor hutch with plenty of tunnels and hideaways and as I've never seen them scrap before they share a bottle and 3 bowls (1 hay, 1 pellets, 1 veg) and they have always seemed to be eating equal amounts with no problems but should I give a whole other set of bowls and bottle? Or should I just try and separate the boys completely for a couple of days? I really hope I dont have to end up seperating them completely as I read that you generally recommend an older boar with a younger one but don't really want to take another 2 on esp if we could end up having to separate any more!
I used to keep guinea pigs as a teenager and never experienced the problems I have had so far with my 2 but we kept them with rabbits back then which I know is a big no no now! (Though we never had any probs at all and had several piggie-rabbit pairs.).
We were also originally after rescue piggies but weren't having any luck finding any :(.
Thanks for any advise.
Click to expand...

Hi! It sounds like your boys are hitting the teenage hormones. As long as there are no full-on fights, I would not separate, but as we cannot there, you have judge quite how close to the line of no return they are. I would however recommend that you remove any hideys with only one exit and also make sure that there is hay, water and food bowls on each level.
Here are our tips for a situation like this. It lists all your options as what you can do now and if it doesn't work out (with pros and cons) to help you make informed judgements and decisions.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-bullying-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.127295/
 
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This is always a worry of mine with my boars. The advice given here is great!
 
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Thank you everyone for your advise. I've made the decision to separate and have done this by dividing up their hutch so they now have a level each. I've done this as they have drawn blood on each other and just seem to be gunning for each other equally! I'm gutted but am worried about them doing some real damage if they are left together. They won't be able to see each other whilst they are in the hutch though but will be able to when they are in their run which I have also divided. They are currently in the run and seem a little confused as to why they can't get to each other but otherwise seem quite happy for the mo though they are occasionally waggling their bums to each other!
I will have to see how they get on over the next few days now they are only seeing each other at run time and will be sure to give them both attention.
The divides could easily be reversed if needs be but from what I tell from the info on here they prob won't take to each other again will they :(?
 
Roe said:
Thank you everyone for your advise. I've made the decision to separate and have done this by dividing up their hutch so they now have a level each. I've done this as they have drawn blood on each other and just seem to be gunning for each other equally! I'm gutted but am worried about them doing some real damage if they are left together. They won't be able to see each other whilst they are in the hutch though but will be able to when they are in their run which I have also divided. They are currently in the run and seem a little confused as to why they can't get to each other but otherwise seem quite happy for the mo though they are occasionally waggling their bums to each other!
I will have to see how they get on over the next few days now they are only seeing each other at run time and will be sure to give them both attention.
The divides could easily be reversed if needs be but from what I tell from the info on here they prob won't take to each other again will they :(?
Click to expand...

You can always give it a try (please see our tips for re-introductions), but as they go through the whole dominance issue again when re-bonding, there is a fair chance that things will escalate again. Please make sure that you keep any damp piggies out drafts and away from any cold or damp ground until they are dry. Have your oven gloves at the ready in any case and nover get between riled up boars with your bare hands!
 
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