I got 2 male guinea pigs from the same litter a few months ago (when I got them they were around 8 weeks old) They used to get on really well apart from the occasional mounting, however, recently they seem to be fighting each other really randomly (unprovoked) I’m not sure if this is hormonal or will get better in time but i’m unsure what to do about it. I’ve separated them a couple times but they squeal when they aren’t together. They seem to be ripping fur from each other sometimes and i’m worried one of them will get hurt. Should I separate them?
Guinea pig bond issues
- Thread starter gpig2
- Start date
Hi and welcome
I am very sorry that the teenage hormones have hit and that it looks like your boys are having a parting of ways and may do better as next door neighboars with full interaction through a divider but with each their own territory.
We call them 'can't live together but can't live apart' boar pairs, and quite a number of forum members have them.
You can conduct a 2 day trial separation with a divider first, after which you reintroduce your pair on neutral ground outside the cage to see whether the bond is still viable. If yes, they will go together with minimal fuss, as if nothing had happened; if the grudge potential is too high, then tension will build up again very quickly and the bond is no longer viable. This lets you evaluate the bond especially in those cases where there hasn't been an outright fight. You will however need to have the oven gloves at the ready. Riled up piggies are prone to react instinctively to the least movement with a deep defence bite which can also permanently damage your hand, if you are the moving one.
Please take the time to read this very practical and helpful guide here first:
All the best. I am sorry. This is not how we usually envisage our piggy journey... Unfortunately, our pet shop system is failing boars on so many levels.
Thank you, we’re going to try this today, any tips? Should I give them seperate floor time? I was thinking about trying bond building activities like buddy baths, is it okay to do this during this time?Hi and welcome
I am very sorry that the teenage hormones have hit and that it looks like your boys are having a parting of ways and may do better as next door neighboars with full interaction through a divider but with each their own territory.
We call them 'can't live together but can't live apart' boar pairs, and quite a number of forum members have them.
You can conduct a 2 day trial separation with a divider first, after which you reintroduce your pair on neutral ground outside the cage to see whether the bond is still viable. If yes, they will go together with minimal fuss, as if nothing had happened; if the grudge potential is too high, then tension will build up again very quickly and the bond is no longer viable. This lets you evaluate the bond especially in those cases where there hasn't been an outright fight. You will however need to have the oven gloves at the ready. Riled up piggies are prone to react instinctively to the least movement with a deep defence bite which can also permanently damage your hand, if you are the moving one.
Please take the time to read this very practical and helpful guide here first:
All the best. I am sorry. This is not how we usually envisage our piggy journey... Unfortunately, our pet shop system is failing boars on so many levels.
An actual fight is bond breaking and they can never have any physical contact - that means they must have separate floor time.
There are no bond building activities. Buddy baths do not work.
Piggies are either compatible, like each other and want to be together or they aren’t and don’t. If they aren’t and are fighting then sadly there is no way to fix it and they must remain apart from now onwards.
I have had it happen to one of my boar pairs. They are much happier apart.
Sadly yes. The issue I have is one of my piggies wants to be friends. It’s only the other pig who is starting fights and the other one won’t react unless he has to. They get along and share food well, it seems just random. They both scream when the other isn’t in sight
Sadly yes. The issue I have is one of my piggies wants to be friends. It’s only the other pig who is starting fights and the other one won’t react unless he has to. They get along and share food well, it seems just random. They both scream when the other isn’t in sight
Carry out the separation and leave them side by side for a couple of days.
After those days, put them back on neutral territory to allow them to decide if they want to go back together or not. As wiebke has said this allows them to decide how they feel.
If they go back together in neutral territory without issue then move them back to their cage together (once their cage has been cleaned out) after a few hours in the neutral territory.
If when in neutral territory the fights and issues start again then their bond is not functioning and their separation needs to be made permanent.
As I said though there are no bond building activities - they either want to be together or they don’t.
Thank you for your help we are going to try this today! We are first time piggy owners and just want them to be as happy as possible !
Please take the time to actually read the link in my last post. It explains it all with further detailed behaviour links if needed.
Buddy baths are one of the measures that in our collective forum experience has not stood the test of time but is happily handed round on social media by people who have never tried it themselves.
fluffysal
Forum Donator 2024/25
Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of guinea pigs. I have a pair of separated "neighboars". It's actually my dominant boy who benefited most from the separation as the other one was being a total ASBO brat who wouldn't leave poor Sir George alone. Master Boris settled after a few days and there is still plenty of through the bars interacting.