Meanie Piggie?

[rnchaney99]

Why would my guinea pig be mean? I've been giving him food+hay, Veggies and fruit, I take him out atleast once a day! He's bitten me twice already. I've had him since October and he's also by himself I'm considering getting another piggie. I just need advice on what to do?

 

[Betsy]

Guinea pigs don't know how to be mean! Nipping is a form of dominance. Mine nip each other. They used to do it a lot but don't do it so much now they are older and are more settled in their herds. There are guides on nipping and one about who is in control me or my guinea pig? But I can't link them in on this device. I'm sure someone will be along soon who can do this.

It's good that you are also considering getting him a friend. Piggies aren't wired to live on their own and he will be much happier. When you do get him a friend, don't just plonk the new piggy in the same cage as your old piggy as this will be seen as an invasion of territory and will end badly. Follow the bonding guides carefully or better still let him find his own friend if you have a rescue near you that offers boar dating.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Your piggy is not being mean. He is displaying behaviours with you that he would otherwise be displaying with another piggy.
" Biting" And What You Can Do (Biting, Tweaking, Nibbling and Nipping)

Definitely get him a friend. But you absolutely have to go about it the right way. Character compatibility and mutual liking is is the key to a successful relationship. You can’t just buy a piggy from a pet shop and expect them to get on. I have linked in some guides below that will help you

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

I also add our cage size guide below. The key with a male pair of piggies is a large cage. They need a lot more room .

Cage Size Guide

This is our feeding guide. Please don’t feed fruit very often. It should just be an occasional treat and fed no more often than once a week

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[rnchaney99]

This is technically my third guinea pig ( one had to be given away and other passed away recently) but he is just so different from my other piggies.

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is technically my third guinea pig ( one had to be given away and other passed away recently) but he is just so different from my other piggies.

They are the same as people - they all have different personalities

 

[LunaOreoPigz]

it's not being mean! just showing you who's boss. My pig luna bites me if I smell of vegetables so maybe you had previously been enjoying salad. I don't know. but guinea pigs don't know to be mean.

 

[rnchaney99]

I don't know he bit me pretty hard broke skin atleast

 

[LunaOreoPigz]

I don't know he bit me pretty hard broke skin atleast

He is probably tell8ng you he is the boss. also , just want to know did it bleed? if so did you wash it? guinea pig bites can get bad infections untreated

 

[rnchaney99]

No blood just painful.

 

[rnchaney99]

How do I know what cage is suitable for two boars I have a large living world cage it held two guinea pigs before but they were different genders.

 

[Piggies&buns]

How do I know what cage is suitable for two boars I have a large living world cage it held two guinea pigs before but they were different genders.

A cage for two boys needs should ideally be at least 150cm long by 60cm wide. Lack of space between boys can cause tension in the relationship and lead to falls outs.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You should also consider that perhaps he was scared and that is why he bit you. Guinea pigs are prey animals and generally do not like being picked up. Biting would be his only form of defence.