so I just got my first guinea pig a week ago. I felt bad that she was alone so I decided to get a new one a few days following. I think they get along for the most part, the new baby (shes not named yet) will lick Nami and whenever she gets scared she will run to nami to cuddle her. but Nami is what i thought was showing the baby that she’s the dominant piggy but she actually got on top of the baby and mounted her and started hunching her? i’m kind of spooked this is my first time having a guinea pig, two at that so i’m not sure what to do? is this normal? will it stop? should i separate them? she makes a little growling noise every time the baby comes near her.
Older pig mounting the new one?
- Thread starter namisan
- Start date
S'mores and Pockets
Junior Guinea Pig
That is completely normal. They should establish dominance and it will slow down a bit, the more dominant piggie will make sure to keep the other one in line though. Out of my piggies, S'mores is the alpha and will mount Pockets from time to time. If they are severely fighting, getting scratches, and drawing blood, then you will need to separate them. But it is completely normal for them to disagree and quarrel a bit. It is part of establishing their partnership. 
mounting is a normal dominance behaviour. When you first introduce two new piggies, they will spend the following two weeks establishing a relationship and during this time you will see a lot of dominance behaviours. This will continue throughout life though and as your piggies are sows, you will see an increase in hormonal behaviour if they have a strong season.
Sows tend not to have such blood drawing fights, and the sow equivalent is if they pull each other’s fur out. This is a sign they don’t like each other and at that point you may need to separate them and have them live as neighbours but for now what you are reporting is entirely normal and is not grounds to separate them.
have you checked the sexes of both piggies for yourself? I’m assuming they are pet shop piggies and sadly such missexing happens in pet shops. Please do check the piggies yourself to ensure you don’t end up with a missexed pair and potential pregnancies.
The guides below will help you further
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/illustrated-sexing-guide-for-all-ages.156297/
Sows tend not to have such blood drawing fights, and the sow equivalent is if they pull each other’s fur out. This is a sign they don’t like each other and at that point you may need to separate them and have them live as neighbours but for now what you are reporting is entirely normal and is not grounds to separate them.
have you checked the sexes of both piggies for yourself? I’m assuming they are pet shop piggies and sadly such missexing happens in pet shops. Please do check the piggies yourself to ensure you don’t end up with a missexed pair and potential pregnancies.
The guides below will help you further
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/illustrated-sexing-guide-for-all-ages.156297/
*wipes forehead* i’m relieved to hear that. the
Thank you! and Yes I did check the sex of each piggy after i brought the new one home just to verify. i was scared that Nami was actually a boy because she has what looks like a little penis on her but she has a Y shaped genitals and the new baby also had the same little point on her genitalia also. almost scared me shitless thinking i was going to have to take care of 5 new guinea pig babies
Thank you! and Yes I did check the sex of each piggy after i brought the new one home just to verify. i was scared that Nami was actually a boy because she has what looks like a little penis on her but she has a Y shaped genitals and the new baby also had the same little point on her genitalia also. almost scared me shitless thinking i was going to have to take care of 5 new guinea pig babies
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
The fleshy seal is quite distinct. If you’re sure your first is a sow then you can just compare. Leaving them together when you’re not entirely sure is risky. But hopefully they will be sexed the same.
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please separate them immediately and put your female on pregnancy watch for the next 10 weeks. Read the pregnancy section for how to care for her and any pups in case she has become pregnant.
please help. i got two pet store piggies and i was told that they were both girls. although i just discovered that one is a boy.
now i have to return the girl and i’m truly heart broken. is there any way that they could live in unison without having babies or is the best bet to just swap her out? i feel like a horrible person for having to return her.
now i have to return the girl and i’m truly heart broken. is there any way that they could live in unison without having babies or is the best bet to just swap her out? i feel like a horrible person for having to return her.
they just be separated immediately. The sow needs to be put on pregnancy watch - it takes weeks before you can know if she is pregnant
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/pregnancy-guide.109375/
They can live in separate cages until you can get the boar neutered and then for the six weeks wait after neutering for him to become infertile. After neutering and the six week wait, you can rebond them both so they can live together in the same cage
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/pregnancy-guide.109375/
They can live in separate cages until you can get the boar neutered and then for the six weeks wait after neutering for him to become infertile. After neutering and the six week wait, you can rebond them both so they can live together in the same cage
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
You’d either have to neuter the boar and re-introduce them after 6 weeks. Or you have them live wide by side in separate cages.
I hope you warned them she may be pregnant. If they were together when you got them unfortunately it’s likely she is.
Try seeing if there is a rescue near you before you try and get your boy a friend from a pet shop. If there are none then you have to check the sex before you take him/her home.
PS I will ask your other thread is merged with this one as it’s linked.
I hope you warned them she may be pregnant. If they were together when you got them unfortunately it’s likely she is.
Try seeing if there is a rescue near you before you try and get your boy a friend from a pet shop. If there are none then you have to check the sex before you take him/her home.
PS I will ask your other thread is merged with this one as it’s linked.
hrsrdr
Junior Guinea Pig
For now, keep them separated, and schedule an appointment at the vet for both of them. Get the girl checked to make sure she isn't already pregnant, and get the male checked to see if they'll be able to neuter him. If he's a baby, you might have to wait for the testicles to descend, but if not, they may be able to do it the day you bring them in. Also, for the future, it'd be a good idea to learn how to tell the sex of guinea pigs. I make it a habit to always check the gender of all the piggies in one cage at a pet store or rescue.
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
If she’s newly pregnant they won’t necessarily be able to know or find out she’s pregnant
hrsrdr
Junior Guinea Pig
True.
okay he won’t be able to get to the vet & fixed until the 18th. but as i packed Robin into her box to return her back to the store i cried like a baby so i decided i’m just going to get her a second cage & let her stay with me. it’s not her fault pet stores suck.
You will need to ensure that the cage the boar lives in is very secure and that there is no way he can escape - just in case she isnt pregnant already, the last thing you want is for him to get in with her and get her pregnant anyway. Boars can be very determined to get to sows.
When are you getting another cage? Are you able to keep them apart in the meantime?
please read the pregnancy guide I linked in in my first reply. You will need to mark the date on your calendar and learn how to care for a pregnant piggy along with coming up with a plan of how you will house any potential babies. Hopefully you won’t need to put that plan into action and she isn’t pregnant, but it won’t hurt to be prepared.
If she isn’t pregnant, then neutering your boar, having his six week wait and then bonding them back together will be the best thing you can do for them.
When are you getting another cage? Are you able to keep them apart in the meantime?
please read the pregnancy guide I linked in in my first reply. You will need to mark the date on your calendar and learn how to care for a pregnant piggy along with coming up with a plan of how you will house any potential babies. Hopefully you won’t need to put that plan into action and she isn’t pregnant, but it won’t hurt to be prepared.
If she isn’t pregnant, then neutering your boar, having his six week wait and then bonding them back together will be the best thing you can do for them.
yes the cage is very secure, the only latch is at the very top! & i’m on my way to get her a cage as we speak, (i have her with me) i will definitely read the pregnancy guide i really hope she’s not pregnant though! they were together for a good two days before i realized nami was actually a he so there is a very high possibility. worst case scenario she is but atleast i can still take care of her through it
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
Then he’s not likely to be ready to neuter for perhaps another 9 weeks, depending how quickly his testicles may descend. In that time you will hopefully find out whether your girl is pregnant or not.he’s about 7 weeks old
As I mentioned before, if she was in the cage with the boy then she could already be pregnant. If she does end up being pregnant then I would hold off neutering your boy until you know what the sex the pups are. Fingers crossed she’s dodged that bullet though.
Free Ranger
Forum Donator 2023/24
If she's not pregnant and you can get through the neutering and waiting, you will have a mixed gender pair who are most likely to form a strong, stable and loving bond. If she has babies and there is a male who has to be separated from his mum early on at least he will have his Dad to go to live with. It's a shock for you and there may be challenges ahead but it's so clear how much you already love these pigs and that's what they need from an owner - someone who is there for them. Feel proud of yourself! And welcome to the forum ❤
PS It's still a good idea to let the pet-shop know what has happened - if your young man was in a group of girlies he might have been having a busy time
PS It's still a good idea to let the pet-shop know what has happened - if your young man was in a group of girlies he might have been having a busy time
can they still play together with my supervision during floor time?. i’ve been doing their floor time separate & they really miss eachother
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
No they can’t. It literally takes a second and if you tried to separate them you could cause serious damage. There’s no point risking it, especially if she isn’t yet pregnant just have their cages next to each other so they can interact all the time.
Have you read through the guides on pregnancy? Especially the one about diet n
Have you read through the guides on pregnancy? Especially the one about diet n
yes i did read the guides & I'm 99% sure she’s already pregnant i did go to the pet store i got her from & let them know that one was misgendered. & they realized that she was in a cage full of males! so idk i just feel bad