My boys are fighting 😭 All help welcome

[Lastrolo]

Hi everyone!

I have 2 boars who I adopted about a month ago. They're from the same littler and I'm told they're a year and a half old, and as far as I'm away have had no issues in the past and have always lived together. They've bickered and occasionally tussled since I've had them but nothing too serious, just the nornal dominance stuff.

Yesterday they it in to a fight, seemingly unprovoked, and were seriously gunning for each other. I separated them over night, gave them a buddy bath this morning, and reintroduced them on neutral ground in their run, but as soon as I added cardboard boxes (with 2 exits and that they'd never been near before) they started fighting again, and continued once the boxes were gone so they've now been separated again. Neither of these fights drew blood, but only because I was so quick to break them up both times, they absolutely would have if they'd continued.

I know their current cage is too small (a ferplast one they came in) and I am awaiting for a new c&c cage to arrive but I'm concerned they still won't get along as they fought in their run today which is normally the place they get along best.

I'm hoping some of you lovely people have some advise or tips on how to help them out? I don't have the room to keep them both separate forever. Should I wait until their new cage is here or just try again before that? I don't know what else to do other than maybe surrender one to a rescue and adopt a female friend for my remaining one but I would hate to split them up. They do seem to be missing either other when they're separated, they're less interested in play/food and we're squeaking to each other this morning.


Any and all help is welcome. Thanks!

 

[Smudgeflofifi]

If your cage allows you to put a separation you could try that. If you put smth to separate them then you wouldn’t have to worry about them being lonely as they can still interact through the bars.

 

[Lastrolo]

If your cage allows you to put a separation you could try that. If you put smth to separate them then you wouldn’t have to worry about them being lonely as they can still interact through the bars.

Sadly I can't split their current cage, and I don't have room for a side by side layout. Really I think my options are to somehow get them to get along, or I'll have to surrender one permanently.

 

[Julie M]

I'm sorry your boys are not getting along. Cage size could be to do with it, as it causes stress if they can't have their own space and stuff. I would only suggest a female for your male if he's safe after his 6 weeks post neutering wait. When I had my dominant boys they were in a 6x2 c&c I had hay areas at each end of the cage same for water and food. 2 x of everything so they had one each.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone!

I have 2 boars who I adopted about a month ago. They're from the same littler and I'm told they're a year and a half old, and as far as I'm away have had no issues in the past and have always lived together. They've bickered and occasionally tussled since I've had them but nothing too serious, just the nornal dominance stuff.

Yesterday they it in to a fight, seemingly unprovoked, and were seriously gunning for each other. I separated them over night, gave them a buddy bath this morning, and reintroduced them on neutral ground in their run, but as soon as I added cardboard boxes (with 2 exits and that they'd never been near before) they started fighting again, and continued once the boxes were gone so they've now been separated again. Neither of these fights drew blood, but only because I was so quick to break them up both times, they absolutely would have if they'd continued.

I know their current cage is too small (a ferplast one they came in) and I am awaiting for a new c&c cage to arrive but I'm concerned they still won't get along as they fought in their run today which is normally the place they get along best.

I'm hoping some of you lovely people have some advise or tips on how to help them out? I don't have the room to keep them both separate forever. Should I wait until their new cage is here or just try again before that? I don't know what else to do other than maybe surrender one to a rescue and adopt a female friend for my remaining one but I would hate to split them up. They do seem to be missing either other when they're separated, they're less interested in play/food and we're squeaking to each other this morning.


Any and all help is welcome. Thanks!

Hi

If possible, put a divider in their cage and wait longer for re-intros but leave out a buddy bath; that is a trick that has proved to not contribute to a successful outcome. After 2-3 days any testosterone will be washed from the coat anyway and tempers have had time to settle down again.

Any move to a new home means that the hierarchy needs to be re-established, which can bring underlying issues to the fore. Young adult boars can continue to suffer from sudden short hormone spikes.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (including information on how to deal with moves or new/extenced cages): A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Unfortunately there is never any guarantee that your piggies may go back together but give them more time and do not force the issue right now.

 

[Smudgeflofifi]

Sadly I can't split their current cage, and I don't have room for a side by side layout. Really I think my options are to somehow get them to get along, or I'll have to surrender one permanently.

It is possible that the reason they are fighting is because the cage is too small

 

[Lastrolo]

Update: I've kept them separate but put them side by side for the evening. The one I thought was more dominant (Snickers) is very eager to see his friend and is nibbling the bars to try and get out. The other boy (Oreo) is a little interested but is currently laying down and napping whole Snickers is going crazy. Oreo also seems to be rumblestrutting about his cage. Perhaps making it because he's never had it all to himself before?

I'm hoping Snickers just misses his friends but my partner thinks he might want to get at him for a fight. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Julie M]

I would personally leave them separate for now until you get your bigger cage.