Male Guineas suddenly fighting! Help!

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reesesandoreo

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Hello! I just adopted two 9 month old Guinea pigs (both male) over the weekend (meaning I have had them about 4 days). I built them a new C&C cage 4x2 and placed them in it yesterday. This is when all hell broke loose. Oreo attacked Reeses and made him bleed pretty bad. I contacted the previous owners and they told me they may be doing that since they are in a new cage and environment. Reeses definitely lost the battle, but Oreo still feels the need to attack him when he isn't even doing anything. I placed a panel in between them, but Oreo broke through and tried to attack him again. I secured it better, but I am concerned that they will never be together again. Please help!
 
You need to get separate cages for them asap usually if they look like they ate fighting they are bonding but if blood is drawn its a no-go!
 
Welcome to the forum and I’m sorry to hear this.

It is normal when piggies move house that they have to reestablish their relationship in the new territory so seeing dominance is expected. Sadly, a move and change in territory can bring underlying issues in an unstable bond to the surface, particularly as you are also dealing with teenage boars at the point of which there is a hormone spike, and cause the bond to break down with such a fight.
Sometimes you may be able to give them a couple of days apart to let them calm down and then try a neutral territory reintroduction but I’m afraid as a blood drawing fight has occurred and it seems one still wants to fight, then it is most likely if you were to try a reintroduction, then further fights will occur. It sounds as if their bond is sadly broken and they will need to be kept separate.

You’ve done the right thing in separating them but long term a split 2x4 isn’t big enough. They will each need their own 2x3 as a minimum, but ideally 2x4 cage side by side.

I'm sorry things haven’t worked out as planned.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
Piggies&buns said:
Welcome to the forum and I’m sorry to hear this.

It is normal when piggies move house that they have to reestablish their relationship in the new territory so seeing dominance is expected. Sadly, a move and change in territory can bring underlying issues in an unstable bond to the surface, particularly as you are also dealing with teenage boars at the point of which there is a hormone spike, and cause the bond to break down with such a fight.
Sometimes you may be able to give them a couple of days apart to let them calm down and then try a neutral territory reintroduction but I’m afraid as a blood drawing fight has occurred and it seems one still wants to fight, then it is most likely if you were to try a reintroduction, then further fights will occur. It sounds as if their bond is sadly broken and they will need to be kept separate.

You’ve done the right thing in separating them but long term a split 2x4 isn’t big enough. They will each need their own 2x3 as a minimum, but ideally 2x4 cage side by side.

I'm sorry things haven’t worked out as planned.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
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OH NO! Can the bond ever be restored?
 
reesesandoreo said:
OH NO! Can the bond ever be restored?
Click to expand...

I’m sorry to say sadly not, once two piggies have decided they don’t like each other, then they don’t change their minds.
As it sounds like it was a vicious, full on fight, then I would not recommend you try a reintroduction.
 
Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your upset.

Your boys are unfortunately in one of the trickier phases of teenage (PLEASE read our teenage guide link which deals with all aspects so you understand better what is going on, our recommendations and you future options). The move to the new home requiring a new group establishment and hierarchy sort out has simply upset an already fragile link. Unfortunately, piggies of either gender won't go happily back together after a serious fight. :(

It is NOT your fault but highly likely that the boys were looking for a new home because they were not getting on all that well and may have likely had previous altercations in the first place. Previous owners are sadly very often rather economical with the truth... It is unfortunately one of the pitfalls when you rehome from the free-ads or privately. A pair of teenage boys around 4, 6 or 9 months of age looking for a new home together tends to ring alarm bells with more experienced piggy owners as that are the classic teenage crisis points of boars for different reasons. . :(
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs (See chapter on teenage)
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your upset.

Your boys are unfortunately in one of the trickier phases of teenage (PLEASE read our teenage guide link which deals with all aspects so you understand better what is going on, our recommendations and you future options). The move to the new home requiring a new group establishment and hierarchy sort out has simply upset an already fragile link. Unfortunately, piggies of either gender won't go happily back together after a serious fight. :(

It is NOT your fault but highly likely that the boys were looking for a new home because they were not getting on all that well and may have likely had previous altercations in the first place. Previous owners are sadly very often rather economical with the truth... It is unfortunately one of the pitfalls when you rehome from the free-ads or privately. A pair of teenage boys around 4, 6 or 9 months of age looking for a new home together tends to ring alarm bells with more experienced piggy owners as that are the classic teenage crisis points of boars for different reasons. . :(
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs (See chapter on teenage)
Click to expand...
What do you suggest the next best steps to be? Can I keep the panel in between them so they can still see each other or will that stress them out? Should I sell one and try getting a younger male piggie to bond with Reeses?
 
reesesandoreo said:
What do you suggest the next best steps to be? Can I keep the panel in between them so they can still see each other or will that stress them out? Should I sell one and try getting a younger male piggie to bond with Reeses?
Click to expand...

You can keep them living side by side (the cages will need to be made bigger to do so), as this will enable interaction through the bars so neither of them become lonely. This is perfectly fine to do.

If you wish to surrender one to a rescue centre, then that is an option. They will ensure the piggy is bonded with a compatible friend and rehomed appropriately. Please don’t sell a piggy.

If you wish to surrender one and get a friend for the one you keep, then the safest way to do so is via the help of a rescue centre to ensure the new piggy is character compatible with the one you keep. If you just buy another piggy then you run the risk of ending up with another failed bond. Piggies must have compatibility to be able to live together. Do also be aware that bonding a teenage boar with another boar (even a younger one) is not necessarily easiest due to the hormones. A younger piggy will also become a teenager at around four months of age and have his own hormones spikes.
It may be something to consider having the piggy you keep neutered, have the six weeks post op wait for him to become infertile and then bond with a sow. Again, with the help of a rescue centre if possible as even neutered boar/sow bondings still come down to compatibility.
 
reesesandoreo said:
What do you suggest the next best steps to be? Can I keep the panel in between them so they can still see each other or will that stress them out? Should I sell one and try getting a younger male piggie to bond with Reeses?
Click to expand...

Please do not get rid of any of your boys if at all possible. Ideally, if you have the space for two minimal welfare space cages, you keep your boys next to each other for mutual stimulation and interaction through a grid divider.
Getting a baby boy on spec may not necessarily work out once the baby hits teenage provided initial acceptance happens (which doesn't always, either).
Cage Size Guide

'Fighting boars' is pretty much a death sentence in any shelter unless it is a specific non-kill rescue or shelter (see the link about where to get piggies from that explains the differences) In the UK we do not have killing shelters that will hold surrendered animals for a limited time before euthanizing (they are called pounds over here) for guinea pigs, only for dogs and all our rescues are non-kill. Putting a boy back on the free-ads as a single is failing him a third time and won't guarantee him a good home and certainly not a life that takes account of his own needs - after all, the whole situation has been neither boy's fault.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Please don't make any panic knee-jerk decisions. Your boys will hold with a temporary divider until you have had time to calm down, read all the information links in this thread, do your research and are able to work out the best way forward for you with a clearer mind.
 
Wiebke said:
Please do not get rid of any of your boys if at all possible. Ideally, if you have the space for two minimal welfare space cages, you keep your boys next to each other for mutual stimulation and interaction through a grid divider.
Getting a baby boy on spec may not necessarily work out once the baby hits teenage provided initial acceptance happens (which doesn't always, either).
Cage Size Guide

'Fighting boars' is pretty much a death sentence in any shelter unless it is a specific non-kill rescue or shelter (see the link about where to get piggies from that explains the differences) In the UK we do not have killing shelters that will hold surrendered animals for a limited time before euthanizing (they are called pounds over here) for guinea pigs, only for dogs and all our rescues are non-kill. Putting a boy back on the free-ads as a single is failing him a third time and won't guarantee him a good home and certainly not a life that takes account of his own needs - after all, the whole situation has been neither boy's fault.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Please don't make any panic knee-jerk decisions. Your boys will hold with a temporary divider until you have had time to calm down, read all the information links in this thread, do your research and are able to work out the best way forward for you with a clearer mind.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your help! I am a first time guinea mom and I want to do what is best for them. I will be sure to read the links!
 
PS: All the guides are part of our extensive but very helpful practical information resource, which you may want to bookmark, browse, read and re-read at need. The guides contain all the practical little how-to tips and necessary background information that we cannot repeat in every post all the time.

You are however always welcome to ask any questions in our various Care sections. We have a friendly and supportive forum ethos with a crowd of members from all over the world who appreciate a special space like ours.
 
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