Is One Of My Guinea Pigs Dominating Her Sister?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Wendy14

Wendy14

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Sep 14, 2015
Messages
17
Reaction score
13
Points
85
Location
Thornton Heath
My 2 guinea pigs are 9wk old sisters. We hear them squeaking during the day and have noticed one is more forward than the other. She comes out for food first, doesn't run away from being stroked where the other is more shy.
We hear noises from inside their house and it sounds like one is trying to get away from the other. The shy one suddenly starts backing out of the house and she is a lot more vocal. Could the one who is more forward be bullying (can't think of another way to put it) her sister or is it all just play as they're young?
 
Sounds like one of your two is trying to be dominant over the other - don't worry, its totally normal!
It can help to let them sort this out between them. I myself wouldn't intervene unless there was an imminent fight (standing on hind legs, baring teeth) or the submissive piggy was getting stressed/being constantly harassed or this had been going on for a fair while, but that's just my opinion :)
 
<3 Simon'n'Joe said:
Sounds like one of your two is trying to be dominant over the other - don't worry, its totally normal!
It can help to let them sort this out between them. I myself wouldn't intervene unless there was an imminent fight (standing on hind legs, baring teeth) or the submissive piggy was getting stressed/being constantly harassed or this had been going on for a fair while, but that's just my opinion :)
Click to expand...
Thanks. I was worried.
 
If you've just got then from a litter/somewhere with more guinea pigs then they're probably just re-establishing hierarchy within the pair. It should settle down in a day or two when she thinks she's got the message across to her sister!
 
Got them from a pet shop, only the 2 and had only been there a few day's. They came into the shop at 8wks and they were 9wks when we got them on Monday (14th) have noticed that the quite one isn't just sitting back and taking it.
 
Wendy14 said:
Got them from a pet shop, only the 2 and had only been there a few day's. They came into the shop at 8wks and they were 9wks when we got them on Monday (14th) have noticed that the quite one isn't just sitting back and taking it.
Click to expand...
I recently got a pair of 12 week sows and even now a couple months later they keep swapping who's in charge but I think have sorted it out now - it's always seems to me the bigger looking long haired are in charge!
 
Thanks for the replies. I am leaving them to sort it out between them but I am watching to make sure it doesn't escalate.
 
if you are in doubt it may help to take out any hidey with only one entrance so no one can be cornered . Good luck with them
 
They were fighting in their house with 2 entrances. Taken that out and they've quitened down a little.
 
Had our girls 2 wks on the 28th. Since taking out their house they get along better. Occasionally they chase each other but the quite one now comes out from under the hay before her sister. It's really made a difference. She has also stopped wriggling when being held.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top