I’m new & need help with fighting males

[2 pigs stacy]

Hello
Brand new owner!.. We got 2 guinea pigs from pet shop back in April, 2 males & were told they were around 8 weeks. We have a 4ft 2 tier hutch & a 4ft by 4ft run for the garden which they go out in most days. So far all was well. But the last couple of weeks they have been fighting, we weren’t sure at first; 1 suddenly had a couple of scratches/possible bite to its face, then the other got some, they healed but we noticed they both have got bad scratches on their backs with bald patches. They have long hair so wasn’t noticeable straight away. And now I have seen them fighting! The last couple of nights we have separated them in the hutch by closing off the ramp, and they have 2 of everything in hutch and run. I then put them together in the run yesterday but there was new scratches again!
Otherwise they seem ok in themselves and are eating.
I’m waiting to speak to ‘guniea pig expert’ at my local vet on Monday but they didn’t know what to advise except permanent separation or neutering. But I’ve read here neutering won’t help?
Do we sadly separate them permanently, but then we worry of them being lonely if their in their own hutch? The whole point of getting 2 was companionship.
Will they still sort it out themselves? if it’s just an age thing?
Would a bigger hutch help at all?
Any advice welcome! Thank you

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
I’m tagging @Wiebke for you as she has expertise in this matter.
Hope that things work out for you.
You will find this a very supportive place

 

[Wiebke]

Hello
Brand new owner!.. We got 2 guinea pigs from pet shop back in April, 2 males & were told they were around 8 weeks. We have a 4ft 2 tier hutch & a 4ft by 4ft run for the garden which they go out in most days. So far all was well. But the last couple of weeks they have been fighting, we weren’t sure at first; 1 suddenly had a couple of scratches/possible bite to its face, then the other got some, they healed but we noticed they both have got bad scratches on their backs with bald patches. They have long hair so wasn’t noticeable straight away. And now I have seen them fighting! The last couple of nights we have separated them in the hutch by closing off the ramp, and they have 2 of everything in hutch and run. I then put them together in the run yesterday but there was new scratches again!
Otherwise they seem ok in themselves and are eating.
I’m waiting to speak to ‘guniea pig expert’ at my local vet on Monday but they didn’t know what to advise except permanent separation or neutering. But I’ve read here neutering won’t help?
Do we sadly separate them permanently, but then we worry of them being lonely if their in their own hutch? The whole point of getting 2 was companionship.
Will they still sort it out themselves? if it’s just an age thing?
Would a bigger hutch help at all?
Any advice welcome! Thank you

Hi and welcome

Unfortunately, it very much sounds like your two boys have hit the teenage hormones badly. They are currently at the most difficult time when the testosterone output at its all-time highest and the age where the majority of fall-outs happen and boars at their most difficult to bond as well.

Good that you have separated the boys! With all those scratches on the back, it looks rather like repeated serious confrontations. Personally, I don't think that they will go back together with that amount of aggravation between them.
This guide here will take you through your various options: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Sadly neutering only takes away the ability to make babies, but it doesn't it doesn't change their social interaction, behaviour and personality, nor does it totally curb their testosterone output, which happens to a good deal via testosterone laden pee.
I can guarantee you that any excited neutered can stink up any room in a matter of moments when they meet up with a girl!

That said, neutering and living with a sow each is going to make for the stablest of all piggy bonds, so it may be something worth considering. It is not the cheapest or easiest option and not a quick fix with its 6 weeks post-op safety wait, but on the other hand, with the right vet it is the safest long term companionship option. A goodly number of my neutered 'husboars' over the years have been fallen-out, bullied or 'unbondable' teenage bullies and they all have or are now living their dream in the company of a wife or several.
You can find our comprehensive information on neutering in think link here: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Keeping single boars on different hutch levels is sadly less than ideal as they miss out on most of the vital interaction and stimulation.
You may want to contact Bobtails Rescue in Ewell, which is your currently closest guinea pig rescue. They may be able to help you best.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

PS: Please be careful to protect your boys during any heatwaves and heat spikes as well during the winter months.
The last few days have cost far too many lives of small pets in hutches. It won't have done anything for your boys' tempers, either!
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[2 pigs stacy]

Hi and welcome

Unfortunately, it very much sounds like your two boys have hit the teenage hormones badly. They are currently at the most difficult time when the testosterone output at its all-time highest and the age where the majority of fall-outs happen and boars at their most difficult to bond as well.

Good that you have separated the boys! With all those scratches on the back, it looks rather like repeated serious confrontations. Personally, I don't think that they will go back together with that amount of aggravation between them.
This guide here will take you through your various options: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Sadly neutering only takes away the ability to make babies, but it doesn't it doesn't change their social interaction, behaviour and personality, nor does it totally curb their testosterone output, which happens to a good deal via testosterone laden pee.
I can guarantee you that any excited neutered can stink up any room in a matter of moments when they meet up with a girl!

That said, neutering and living with a sow each is going to make for the stablest of all piggy bonds, so it may be something worth considering. It is not the cheapest or easiest option and not a quick fix with its 6 weeks post-op safety wait, but on the other hand, with the right vet it is the safest long term companionship option. A goodly number of my neutered 'husboars' over the years have been fallen-out, bullied or 'unbondable' teenage bullies and they all have or are now living their dream in the company of a wife or several.
You can find our comprehensive information on neutering in think link here: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Keeping single boars on different hutch levels is sadly less than ideal as they miss out on most of the vital interaction and stimulation.
You may want to contact Bobtails Rescue in Ewell, which is your currently closest guinea pig rescue. They may be able to help you best.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

PS: Please be careful to protect your boys during any heatwaves and heat spikes as well during the winter months.
The last few days have cost far too many lives of small pets in hutches. It won't have done anything for your boys' tempers, either!
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

Thank you for taking the time to reply and your advice.
Yesterday afternoon we put them in their run together on the grass, (after spending the night & morning apart) and whilst we had some teeth chattering & a bit of chasing we didn’t notice any actual fighting. And they both seemed settled, eating, moving around and being able to lay down. I also wondered if the hot weather affected them last week although we don’t leave them in the hutch in the day. And I make sure the run is in the shade of course.
Can bathing them help calm them down? I’ve read conflicting advice if that helps or is needed. They both do have long hair which I’ve trimmed previously when it’s got matted. And silly question but if I do bath, hows best to do it?! Thank you so much

 

[Clementine]

Hello
Brand new owner!.. We got 2 guinea pigs from pet shop back in April, 2 males & were told they were around 8 weeks. We have a 4ft 2 tier hutch & a 4ft by 4ft run for the garden which they go out in most days. So far all was well. But the last couple of weeks they have been fighting, we weren’t sure at first; 1 suddenly had a couple of scratches/possible bite to its face, then the other got some, they healed but we noticed they both have got bad scratches on their backs with bald patches. They have long hair so wasn’t noticeable straight away. And now I have seen them fighting! The last couple of nights we have separated them in the hutch by closing off the ramp, and they have 2 of everything in hutch and run. I then put them together in the run yesterday but there was new scratches again!
Otherwise they seem ok in themselves and are eating.
I’m waiting to speak to ‘guniea pig expert’ at my local vet on Monday but they didn’t know what to advise except permanent separation or neutering. But I’ve read here neutering won’t help?
Do we sadly separate them permanently, but then we worry of them being lonely if their in their own hutch? The whole point of getting 2 was companionship.
Will they still sort it out themselves? if it’s just an age thing?
Would a bigger hutch help at all?
Any advice welcome! Thank you

I’m glad it’s started to clear up a bit between them, if it does start to occur again I would recommend separating them for a few days, ensuring that you fuss over them a lot so they don’t get too lonely, then slowly reintroducing them as you would do to two New Guinea pigs who’ve never met before. And if after that you’re still having problems, there may be some other problem with the conditions of their lifestyle or something, I do recommend taking them to the vets and find ways to keep them cool on hot days, cooling hutch covers can also be purchased. Try freezing a large bottle of water or ice packs and wrapping them up securely in an old, clean towel and place in the hutch. That way, if your guinea pigs feel hot, they can lie next to the bottle to keep cool.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and your advice.
Yesterday afternoon we put them in their run together on the grass, (after spending the night & morning apart) and whilst we had some teeth chattering & a bit of chasing we didn’t notice any actual fighting. And they both seemed settled, eating, moving around and being able to lay down. I also wondered if the hot weather affected them last week although we don’t leave them in the hutch in the day. And I make sure the run is in the shade of course.
Can bathing them help calm them down? I’ve read conflicting advice if that helps or is needed. They both do have long hair which I’ve trimmed previously when it’s got matted. And silly question but if I do bath, hows best to do it?! Thank you so much

Bathing helps only in the respect that removes any testosterone stink from the coat if you decide to introduce sooner rather than later before the boys have got a chance to clean themselves and the pheromones to fully evaporate. otherwise it is simply an additional stress factor for any bonding and no longer recommended. All it does is delay the bonding process, but it doesn't influence the outcome positively.

Good that your boys seem to have made up again.