Hello, this is my first post and sorry it's long. I have two guinea pigs both around the same age and sows. One is about five and the other is about four. I've had the older one for four years and I got the other more recently after the others cage mate passed. The bonding went well, they stayed in the neutral area for three days with no incidents and they were fine for about a week in there permanent cage but then they started fighting. I thought they just need to work things out so I added a cage extension to make sure they have plenty of space to assert dominance. However the fighting has not stopped and it usually only happens at night when the lights are off. They're in my bedroom so I know they are fighting. It seems to be more than asserting dominance or they can't figure out a dynamic. Another layer to this is that they are both having mite problems(I don't know the exact cause but I have theories) so I fear they might be grumpy and lashing out. They have both been to the vet a month ago and I gave them revolution but that didn't seem to work I've done other things. But I'm calling the vet about that tomorrow and I'm going to make a separate post so it's in the right spot.
Guinea pig bond
- Thread starter dannn
- Start date
It takes two weeks of being together for a hierarchy and bond to be fully formed.
Dominance is something they will need to go through but if it is more that normal dominance then it’s possible they may not actually want to be together.
The guide below explains how to assess the function of a bond by temporary separation for a few days and then a neutral territory reintroduction to allow them to have their say about whether they want to go back together again.
If they are actually having physical fights then sadly that means the bond is over and they will need to be permanently separated. Fights occur because they don’t like each other.
Dominance is something they will need to go through but if it is more that normal dominance then it’s possible they may not actually want to be together.
The guide below explains how to assess the function of a bond by temporary separation for a few days and then a neutral territory reintroduction to allow them to have their say about whether they want to go back together again.
If they are actually having physical fights then sadly that means the bond is over and they will need to be permanently separated. Fights occur because they don’t like each other.
Something I forgot to say is that after they were in the much bigger cage for a week I move them to their permanent smaller Midwest cage. That's where they where for another week. So it should be long enough.
No blood has been drawn but I do fear that they may only tolerate each without actually liking each other. However my older guinea pig was popcorning in the cage yesterday. However her other behavior seems to be leaning towards tolerating to dislike.
No blood has been drawn but I do fear that they may only tolerate each without actually liking each other. However my older guinea pig was popcorning in the cage yesterday. However her other behavior seems to be leaning towards tolerating to dislike.
A Midwest is minimum size for two sows at 120x60cm (48x24 inches) but the recommended cage size is 150x60cm (60x24 inches). There is nothing wrong with a Midwest but sometimes it just isn’t enough room, particularly for older sows who tend to prefer a bit more of their own space.
As long as they aren’t actually fighting and the bond is functioning then they are ok.
Make sure you have two of everything in the cage and that all hides have two exits.
Don’t use food bowls and instead scatter feed their veg and one tablespoon of pellets in loose piles of hay so they can forage.
As long as they aren’t actually fighting and the bond is functioning then they are ok.
Make sure you have two of everything in the cage and that all hides have two exits.
Don’t use food bowls and instead scatter feed their veg and one tablespoon of pellets in loose piles of hay so they can forage.