Guinea pigs fighting- please help!

[Sarah Newbold]

Hi everyone! We got our guinea pigs named pumba and gus about 3 months ago now and they are 5 months old. They have started to fight but I have notice that it is mainly pumba who is attacking gus. They’ve got a whole room to themselves so I know that space is not an issue! There’s has been a lot of hair being pulled out and lots of scabby bite/scratch wounds on gus’s face, neck, back and rump. Wondered wether to separate them but they have been fine up to the last week or so. Gus has also got a scab on his anus which seems a bit strange, can anyone help?!

 

[PigglePuggle]

This sounds quite extreme and if the injuries and fur loss are just from fighting I think they need to be seperated. But I also wonder from what you describe if perhaps there is a skin condition like mites or ringworm which is causing some of this, and might also be making them irritable and more prone to fight. I'd get them both to the vet for a thorough check up of any bald or scabby areas before assuming this is just from fighting, see what the vet says x

 

[Sarah Newbold]

Thank you for you’re help we will see what the vet says xx

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you for you’re help we will see what the vet says xx

I agree that having a vet check any injuries is a good idea.

But, at five months old they are starting their teenage months and hormones start to rise. This creates tensions even in a well bonded pair but usually, if they are compatible, then they sort things out. But, if they are not compatible with each other and fights are breaking out due to their incompatibility, then they are likely to not be able to stay together as a pair and separation will be needed. The fact that they have been ok up until now is not necessarily a sign that they will be ok going forward. Two piggies having been fine but they hit their teens and a fall out is not unusual.

 

[Sarah Newbold]

I agree that having a vet check any injuries is a good idea.

But, at five months old they are starting their teenage months and hormones start to rise. This creates tensions even in a well bonded pair but usually, if they are compatible, then they sort things out. But, if they are not compatible with each other and fights are breaking out due to their incompatibility, then they are likely to not be able to stay together as a pair and separation will be needed. The fact that they have been ok up until now is not necessarily a sign that they will be ok going forward. Two piggies having been fine but they hit their teens and a fall out is not unusual.

Ok thank you