I'd like to post a video for better info but I don't know how to avoid large files. But my two female guinea pigs have been trying to dominate one another for a couple days straight now. It's happening more than usual and I'm wondering if it's normal. I don't know how old they are but they're definitely over two months, so when I looked up about possible heating I assumed it could be it. But I want to be sure if this is just a mild thing or if it'll escalate to them fighting. I hear them rumbling or growlingand then one or the other squeaking loudy and sharply that it makes me wonder if one got bit, but I can't see under their covers nor are there any marks that I have seen. But I'm worried if one day I come home to a bloody mess and one of them badly injured. I'd like to know if I have nothing to worry about or if I need to seperate them. thanks
I don't know if this is normal
- Thread starter Talin
- Start date
When sows are in season you will see an increase in dominance behaviours such as mounting and rumble strutting. Loud squealing can often be a sign of submission, that is a good thing as it means that one piggy is accepting the pther piggy as being in charge. None of this is a need to separate.
You are less likely to see the full on fights amongst sows though.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
You are less likely to see the full on fights amongst sows though.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Claire W
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I really wouldn’t worry. The loud squeaking you are hearing is the submissive piggy backing down which is good. It sounds much worse to us than it actually is
Hi!
Sows fight very rarely because they are wired to live in groups. Their equivalent to a deep full-on fighting bite is a mouthful of hair.
Rumblestrutting is mild dominance behaviour. Submission squeaking by the other piggy is the correct response. It is not painful, but translates as 'I am not competition to you!' - and as such it is actually very effective even if it doesn't sound like it to the uninitiated!
Please follow the tips in our sow guide in the link above, which has information on how to deal with dominance behaviours and minimise any flash points, as well as strong seasons, teenage hormones and ovarian cysts as adults, all of which can cause confrontational behaviours over the years.
You may additionally also find these two links with pictures and some videos helpful:
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)
The sow guide is part of our regularly updated New Owners guide collection, which you will hopefully find a very helpful resource over the years as it specifically addresses all the points on a wide range of topics that we get the most questions and concerns about and which we try to deal with in the kind of detail that is really what is wanted. Useful for bookmarking!
Our even more extensive guide collection can also be accessed via the Guinea Pig Guides link on the top bar.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Unfortunately we don't have a video uploading facility, which would exceed our bandwidth; the forum is run on voluntary member donations and is managed by forum member mods for free in our free time. You are always welcome to upload a video on a public setting elsewhere and then copy it into your forum post.