I have been doing a lot of reading on previous posts about dos and don’ts when it comes to fights, separating, bonding etc and we seem to have tried everything. We have 3 boys, 2 of which have bite wounds the third does not and appears to be the trouble maker. So we did a 2 and 1 separation with the trouble maker on his own but that caused more fights between the 2 together. We tried a different combination and the single piggie is calm and happy but the other 2 are still having sporadic and aggressive fights. I tried putting them all separate but then one piggie is distressed constantly biting the cage and not settling but the other 2 are calm (seemingly enjoying the break). As a 3 they most certainly have enough space with a double decker cage opening out to a large guinea pig/rabbit pen. Any ideas or suggestions on how best to proceed with these little trouble makers?
Help needed- Problems with 3 males
- Thread starter Tamara4
- Start date
Unfortunately three males does not work out. The failure rate amongst trios is 90%, there is almost always fights and space is almost irrelevant when it comes to attempting a trio - if the piggies don’t want to be together.
Normally you would look for a suitable pairing - the two piggies who get on best can remain together, and then one needs to be kept alongside but by himself. It does sometimes happen that putting three boys together breaks all bonds meaning none of them can live together. It sounds like that may be the case here. If you cannot find a suitable pairing between them due to them all fighting regardless of the combination, then they will all need to be kept in separate cages and not be allowed back together.
You say one is constantly biting the cage and not settling when he is separated- I am afraid that is to be expected. The instigator of trouble is almost always going to be upset by a separation, but it isn’t his reaction that counts. The two that are calmer are the ones you need to gauge - as they are happier, then it indicates that separation is the best thing.
They can all be kept alongside each other so they can still communicate and interact through the bars. This will ensure nobody gets lonely. Communication is about more than physically being together, so they will be ok like this. However, If you wanted to pair them each up with a new piggy to live with for the long term, then you need to ensure a character compatible match - enlisting the help of a rescue centre to find the perfect companion (going out and buying a piggy runs the risk of a newcomer being rejected and still ending up alone). Each boy can live with one other boy. Equally, they could all be neutered, have a six week wait to become infertile, and then each one can live with a female.
I’ll link in some guides below
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Normally you would look for a suitable pairing - the two piggies who get on best can remain together, and then one needs to be kept alongside but by himself. It does sometimes happen that putting three boys together breaks all bonds meaning none of them can live together. It sounds like that may be the case here. If you cannot find a suitable pairing between them due to them all fighting regardless of the combination, then they will all need to be kept in separate cages and not be allowed back together.
You say one is constantly biting the cage and not settling when he is separated- I am afraid that is to be expected. The instigator of trouble is almost always going to be upset by a separation, but it isn’t his reaction that counts. The two that are calmer are the ones you need to gauge - as they are happier, then it indicates that separation is the best thing.
They can all be kept alongside each other so they can still communicate and interact through the bars. This will ensure nobody gets lonely. Communication is about more than physically being together, so they will be ok like this. However, If you wanted to pair them each up with a new piggy to live with for the long term, then you need to ensure a character compatible match - enlisting the help of a rescue centre to find the perfect companion (going out and buying a piggy runs the risk of a newcomer being rejected and still ending up alone). Each boy can live with one other boy. Equally, they could all be neutered, have a six week wait to become infertile, and then each one can live with a female.
I’ll link in some guides below
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
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Sweet Potato
Adult Guinea Pig
Boys need to be kept in pairs (unless they are neutered and can live with females in a herd) I would try pairing the most dominant piggie with the most submissive piggie and try to find a new friend for the other piggie through a rescue.
Hi! Sadly the fall-out rate in baby boar trios when they hit teenage is extremely high. In most cases you end up with a functional pair and one outsider. In about 10% of cases you end up with three singles (i.e. three dominant boars), and as many percent of trios make it because they consist of three laid-back and not too dominant boars. The rest will do be best as a pair and a single who you may need to find another solution for.
Sadly pet shop and breeders will tell you anything to make money and win you as a repeat client...
Boar trio problems are one of the most common problems of people finding us - more so than boar pair problems, actually!
Please read these guides here that also talk you through all the possible options with their various pros and cons you have after a fall-out, so you can work out for yourself which is the best longer term solution for you. By far not everybody has all options available; it is a matter of finding what suits your space and rescue/piggy savvy vet access possibilities best.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Sadly pet shop and breeders will tell you anything to make money and win you as a repeat client...
Boar trio problems are one of the most common problems of people finding us - more so than boar pair problems, actually!
Please read these guides here that also talk you through all the possible options with their various pros and cons you have after a fall-out, so you can work out for yourself which is the best longer term solution for you. By far not everybody has all options available; it is a matter of finding what suits your space and rescue/piggy savvy vet access possibilities best.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?