Occasionally fighting boars

[Namida]

My two boys are 10-month old and they have been bonded and living with each other since their 10th week. They are normally a pair of good, loving buddies - they usually rest on the fleece near each other and explore around together.

However, occasionally (usually at night time), the submissive pig would keep chasing after the dominant one, accompanied with a teeth chattering sound. The dominant one would respond with rumblestrutting at the same time.

Based on my observation, the dominant pig has not done anything irritating to the submissive pig to cause the fight. In fact, he always tries to run away and avoid the fight.

They look like fighting but never draw any blood - so I never intervene. They usually fight for like 30 sec, lying down together to take a break (?!), and start again.

The submissive pig is usually very shy and quiet - so I am curious why he would have such behaviour occasionally. The cage is pretty big (2x6 with a 2x2 loft for two pigs) so they should have plenty of space to do their own business.

Appreciate if anyone could share any insight / experience.

 

[Siikibam]

What do you mean when you say fighting? Fighting is a rolling ball. It sounds like the submissive piggy has had a hormone surge and is ‘testing’ the waters. Has there been any attempts to mount or hump? And if so, is the piggy receiving it allowing it to happen? If one of them backs down then they should hopefully make it through their teens. It’s a testing time for even a well bonded pair. Have a read of the guide below and see where they’re sitting in terms of their dominance behaviour. If you feel tensions are rising you can do a trial separation of a few days. But I think they may be able to work through it.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[weepweeps]

Hope it’s just a hormone spike and they settle back down again.