my guinea pig is aggressive towards other guinea pigs

abbymarie

abbymarie

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Hello!
I got my guinea pig about a year ago and she bonded to me immediately. She's always been really happy and healthy, has an adorable attitude, and is normally friendly towards people and very confident. (Oh and she's also litter trained!) She's still just as happy and spunky as ever, but as time goes on I'm worried about her possibly getting lonely.

I never got her a buddy because she was the only one left in her litter at the time and I wanted to take time to research about owning a cavy, but now I've taken over the care of both of my brother's other female cavies. We've tried before to socialize Muffin, my singular guinea pig, and my brothers guinea pigs Pumpkin and Charlie, but she is highly aggressive and I always have to separate Pumpkin and Muffin before things get hairy. I know she's not being entirely playful because she kept jerking her head upwards and lunging at them with her teeth bared, and I can tell they aren't having it because one of the other is starting to become more aggressive in response. They all live in my room now, but they are in two separate cages. She's still really friendly towards people, but I literally have to tape paper on the cage so she can't see the other two's cage or she goes haywire. I try to give them all equal care and her a little extra because she needs me to be her buddy, but I'm wondering if them being there is going to make her depressed. Is she going to be okay or do I need to figure out how to force a friendship between them? If I do, how do I do that?

My brother actually got a singular guinea pig himself at first because he liked mine so much. (He ended up getting his from the same place, and I suspect they are related! Might that be part of Muffin's and Pumpkins bad reception?) But I could tell Muffin was different because Pumpkin got depressed immediately without a friend. I suggested we get a pal for her, and soon he got Charlie and Pumpkin immediately recovered, the two bonding instantly. In order to make Pumpkin happy at first we tried to introduce both of our single pigs and that's when Muffin started showing aggressive behaviors like teeth chattering, rumble-strutting, raising her head and nipping Pumpkin's bum. We've tried carefully many times after this with Charlie as well, but Pumpkin's started to get violent in response to Muffin since she dominated Charlie and got her spunk back. I haven't tried in a long time since but now that they live beside each other I can pretty much tell there's still tension between the groups. One thing I've noticed is that Muffin has a newfound desperation for attention and keeps destroying things. Other than that, left alone without interaction between them they're pretty peaceful and happy. Should I even try anymore?

Thanks! I'm grateful for any answers or suggestions you might have!
 
Hi and welcome. Muffin May have lost the ‘knack’ of communicating with other piggies in the year she has lived alone. Or it may be that they just don’t like each other. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do once piggies decide they won’t get along. They’re like humans really, except perhaps more complex. Could you be forced to like someone who rubs you up the wrong way?

It can sometimes be difficult to bond a pair. They may not want another piggy to join them. The other issue with trios is that there can sometimes develop an outsider problem.

I wouldn’t try them again as they don’t seem to want to get along. If she gets all het up when she can see them, leave the divider covered for a while and then gradually remove the cover. Hopefully with a bit of time she can calm down.

Living as neighbours is a good alternative to living alone. I’m afraid no matter how much time you give them, you can’t replace the company of their own kind. In the absence of this, they will likely behave with you in somewhat of the manner they would with other piggies. You become a sort of ‘surrogate piggy’.

If you have the space and funds, I would consider taking her to a rescue and picking out her own friend.

Please can you also change your location to your country. It makes it B easier to know whether we can tailor the information for you.
 
Siikibam said:
Hi and welcome. Muffin May have lost the ‘knack’ of communicating with other piggies in the year she has lived alone. Or it may be that they just don’t like each other. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do once piggies decide they won’t get along. They’re like humans really, except perhaps more complex. Could you be forced to like someone who rubs you up the wrong way?

It can sometimes be difficult to bond a pair. They may not want another piggy to join them. The other issue with trios is that there can sometimes develop an outsider problem.

I wouldn’t try them again as they don’t seem to want to get along. If she gets all het up when she can see them, leave the divider covered for a while and then gradually remove the cover. Hopefully with a bit of time she can calm down.

Living as neighbours is a good alternative to living alone. I’m afraid no matter how much time you give them, you can’t replace the company of their own kind. In the absence of this, they will likely behave with you in somewhat of the manner they would with other piggies. You become a sort of ‘surrogate piggy’.

If you have the space and funds, I would consider taking her to a rescue and picking out her own friend.

Please can you also change your location to your country. It makes it B easier to know whether we can tailor the information for you.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the reply, I was wondering if she was just unable to socialize and this explains some things. I'm glad at least having a neighbor is more of a good thing then a bad thing, and I'll defiantly try gradually letting her see their cage again. I don't understand the letting her pick out a friend part, but I will look into it. Tysm!
 
Some rescues offer dating. You take your piggy and they are tried with some other piggies. In what part of the world are you located?
 
abbymarie said:
Hello!
I got my guinea pig about a year ago and she bonded to me immediately. She's always been really happy and healthy, has an adorable attitude, and is normally friendly towards people and very confident. (Oh and she's also litter trained!) She's still just as happy and spunky as ever, but as time goes on I'm worried about her possibly getting lonely.

I never got her a buddy because she was the only one left in her litter at the time and I wanted to take time to research about owning a cavy, but now I've taken over the care of both of my brother's other female cavies. We've tried before to socialize Muffin, my singular guinea pig, and my brothers guinea pigs Pumpkin and Charlie, but she is highly aggressive and I always have to separate Pumpkin and Muffin before things get hairy. I know she's not being entirely playful because she kept jerking her head upwards and lunging at them with her teeth bared, and I can tell they aren't having it because one of the other is starting to become more aggressive in response. They all live in my room now, but they are in two separate cages. She's still really friendly towards people, but I literally have to tape paper on the cage so she can't see the other two's cage or she goes haywire. I try to give them all equal care and her a little extra because she needs me to be her buddy, but I'm wondering if them being there is going to make her depressed. Is she going to be okay or do I need to figure out how to force a friendship between them? If I do, how do I do that?

My brother actually got a singular guinea pig himself at first because he liked mine so much. (He ended up getting his from the same place, and I suspect they are related! Might that be part of Muffin's and Pumpkins bad reception?) But I could tell Muffin was different because Pumpkin got depressed immediately without a friend. I suggested we get a pal for her, and soon he got Charlie and Pumpkin immediately recovered, the two bonding instantly. In order to make Pumpkin happy at first we tried to introduce both of our single pigs and that's when Muffin started showing aggressive behaviors like teeth chattering, rumble-strutting, raising her head and nipping Pumpkin's bum. We've tried carefully many times after this with Charlie as well, but Pumpkin's started to get violent in response to Muffin since she dominated Charlie and got her spunk back. I haven't tried in a long time since but now that they live beside each other I can pretty much tell there's still tension between the groups. One thing I've noticed is that Muffin has a newfound desperation for attention and keeps destroying things. Other than that, left alone without interaction between them they're pretty peaceful and happy. Should I even try anymore?

Thanks! I'm grateful for any answers or suggestions you might have!
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I would however stop trying to bond Muffin with the other two; it is never going to happen. It looks like Muffin has lost out on crucial socialisation due to being single during the formative weeks and months the first year of life. What Muffin wants is your full attention; the behaviour clearly demonstrates that. You are the pal of their choice now.

Please take the time to read these links here with are very practical but also informative; you will find that the guides will ring a bell observations.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?

Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs (this article serious looks at social development and different challenges over a piggy's life time)

Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs (obviously no piggy company but there are lots more ideas)
 
Siikibam said:
Some rescues offer dating. You take your piggy and they are tried with some other piggies. In what part of the world are you located?
Click to expand...
Oh wow! I actually knew nothing about this. I just updated my location, sorry for not doing so before.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

I would however stop trying to bond Muffin with the other two; it is never going to happen. It looks like Muffin has lost out on crucial socialisation due to being single during the formative weeks and months the first year of life. What Muffin wants is your full attention; the behaviour clearly demonstrates that. You are the pal of their choice now.

Please take the time to read these links here with are very practical but also informative; you will find that the guides will ring a bell observations.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?

Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs (this article serious looks at social development and different challenges over a piggy's life time)

Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs (obviously no piggy company but there are lots more ideas)
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply. I read the articles, and they were all very interesting and I think I learned more about why she is the way she is. I think I got the conformation I needed to stop trying the bond them; ty!
 
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