How Can You Tell The Signs Of Dominate And Submissive?

[CharleneN]

Septimius and Tiberius were introduced about three weeks apart, I'd gotten Septimius on the first of January and Tiberius on the seventeenth. Recently I've been thinking Tiberius was a girl but have found out otherwise which i'm very relieved about.
I've never owned two guinea pigs at one time so i'm curious to find out what I should expect from these two little guys in the matter of binding. They are both different ages also, Septimius is 7-8 months and Tiberius is 2-3 months. So my questions are:
Does age affect them bonding? Is it normal that Tiberius chases Septimius during floor time but Septimius runs away and then tries humping Tiber? Why does tiberius do a rumbling sound thing while I'm not paying attention to him that much and when Septimius comes close to the barrier between their cages? (They are in two different cages set directly next to each other, I was planning at some point putting the cages together but I don't know if I should.) My last question, Tiberius is supposed to be my guinea pig but he is more relaxed when my mom is around, Will he always be nervous around me and skittish?

 

[CharleneN]

Septimius and Tiberius were introduced about three weeks apart, I'd gotten Septimius on the first of January and Tiberius on the seventeenth. Recently I've been thinking Tiberius was a girl but have found out otherwise which i'm very relieved about.
I've never owned two guinea pigs at one time so i'm curious to find out what I should expect from these two little guys in the matter of binding. They are both different ages also, Septimius is 7-8 months and Tiberius is 2-3 months. So my questions are:
Does age affect them bonding? Is it normal that Tiberius chases Septimius during floor time but Septimius runs away and then tries humping Tiber? Why does tiberius do a rumbling sound thing while I'm not paying attention to him that much and when Septimius comes close to the barrier between their cages? (They are in two different cages set directly next to each other, I was planning at some point putting the cages together but I don't know if I should.) My last question, Tiberius is supposed to be my guinea pig but he is more relaxed when my mom is around, Will he always be nervous around me and skittish?

Also reading this now I see a typo, binding should be bonding

 

[VickiA]

Just checking. are they 2 boars? If so I don't have experience of boar bonding. I only have sows and a neutered boar. I'm sure other members with experience of bonding boars will be able to tell you more. However, if they are 2 boars it is not a good idea to let them out at floor time together but then keep them in separate cages - this is because they have to establish the dominance each time they meet.

Have you read our threads about introducing piggies to each other? Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs

Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[CharleneN]

Just checking. are they 2 boars? If so I don't have experience of boar bonding. I only have sows and a neutered boar. I'm sure other members with experience of bonding boars will be able to tell you more. However, if they are 2 boars it is not a good idea to let them out at floor time together but then keep them in separate cages - this is because they have to establish the dominance each time they meet.

Have you read our threads about introducing piggies to each other? Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs

Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics

Yes they are two boars, the cages are set up that all I have to do is remove the barrier and its connected. I didn't put them together yet because of my mom and I thinking tiber could be a girl. Which we found out wasn't true thankfully.
The first link you sent says to take away any one exit huts but Septimius loves to sleep on top of his not inside it. Is it safe to still leave both huts in their cages since they have only one exit?

 

[7squeakers.]

It is important that huts have two exits so that a bullied boar cannot get trapped inside one. When bonding two boars, there should also be two of everything in the cage; water bottles, food bowls, etc. so that each boar has the opportunity to eat/drink when he wants to without being pushed aside by his new companion. Hope it all goes well!

 

[Wiebke]

Yes they are two boars, the cages are set up that all I have to do is remove the barrier and its connected. I didn't put them together yet because of my mom and I thinking tiber could be a girl. Which we found out wasn't true thankfully.
The first link you sent says to take away any one exit huts but Septimius loves to sleep on top of his not inside it. Is it safe to still leave both huts in their cages since they have only one exit?

Here are our bonding/introductions tips:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics

I would recommend to take out both hideys until your two boys have settled down; after a few days, you can put them back. Fights can happen when a boar feels trapped during the introduction/dominance phase. It sounds like Tiberius is quite a feisty, dominant little guy, so you have to see how they get along in the long term, especially when he hits the teenage hormones. Right now, they are still working on the dominance by the sound of it.

 

[CharleneN]

It is important that huts have two exits so that a bullied boar cannot get trapped inside one. When bonding two boars, there should also be two of everything in the cage; water bottles, food bowls, etc. so that each boar has the opportunity to eat/drink when he wants to without being pushed aside by his new companion. Hope it all goes well!

Thank you, I don't know how I can do a open exit places though in the cages or cage i have set up

 

[CharleneN]

Here are our bonding/introductions tips:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics

I would recommend to take out both hideys until your two boys have settled down; after a few days, you can put them back. Fights can happen when a boar feels trapped during the introduction/dominance phase. It sounds like Tiberius is quite a feisty, dominant little guy, so you have to see how they get along in the long term, especially when he hits the teenage hormones. Right now, they are still working on the dominance by the sound of it.

Okay, thank you. I've made the mistake it seems in separating them after meetings but I'm still learning right now and any advice is very much welcome

 

[CharleneN]

Here are our bonding/introductions tips:
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics

I would recommend to take out both hideys until your two boys have settled down; after a few days, you can put them back. Fights can happen when a boar feels trapped during the introduction/dominance phase. It sounds like Tiberius is quite a feisty, dominant little guy, so you have to see how they get along in the long term, especially when he hits the teenage hormones. Right now, they are still working on the dominance by the sound of it.

Also I go to school everyday and can't supervise them most of the time if a fight actually breaks out, i don't know what I should do if that occurs

 

[VickiA]

Thank you, I don't know how I can do a open exit places though in the cages or cage i have set up

A small cardboard box with 2 doors cut into it works well so that no-one can get trapped inside.