Removing one of a pair and introducing new

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We have had our 3-4 month olds for about a week and a half now. The one is lovely, a little skittish, but generally a good disposition and calm. Eating well and growing. No aggressive behavior.

The other has been very edgy from the start, has bitten several times, last time drawing blood (human), and seems to pick fights with the calm one. We are removing her from the cage and planning on getting another young pig to join our calm one.

Any suggestions? Do we need to quarantine the new one if coming from the same location as the calm one? Can we have expectations that the two will get along if we introduce them well (using cavyspirit guidelines)?

Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated.
 
Ten days is a very short time to give a frightened piggy to settle in! Please be aware that you will get a repeat of the dominance behaviour with any new piggy. Guinea pigs live in hierarchical groups, and what you have been witnessing is normal dominance behaviour.

Guinea pigs bite when they feel threatened. Make sure that you give your difficult girl space and pick her up in a conveyance of some sort, like a tunnel, a cosy, a padded shoe box with one end cut off or even a folded towel. That will cut down the stress when picked up. Cuddle her gently in a confined space on your lap, which calms her down.

If I were you, I would give those two girls a bit more of a chance to settle down together before you get another one and get a repeat of the same behaviour.

Here is more information about how to settle skittish guinea pigs and sow behaviour:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561
 
I would agree with Weibke. Often pigs take a while to settle in etc so don't be surprised if they are still skittish etc.

They bite mainly when feeling threatened and I have to say I've never had one draw blood before.

If they are still jumpy then just sit with them and try feeding them from your hand to get used to your smell etc then they will gain confidence and associate you with nice things.

Picking them up in a tunnel or cosy etc helps minimise stress, and opportuinities to bite... It also gives them somewhere to retreat to and if you feed them on your lap they will learn it's a good place to be.

Please don't rush getting a new pig as it could likely cause more problems than you have already. Most likely they are just sorting their pecking order out and it will settle down. All young pigs go through some feisty patches before they settle their differences.
 
we've done all of the things you mention, including picking her up in a cosy, a blanket, sitting with her on our laps quietly. she has only gotten worse. she was calmer when we first got her. she is thin also, doesn't seem to be eating.

in what way would we see a repeat of dominant behavior?

she also puffs and almost hisses. i don't want the other pig to learn her behavior, which in some ways seems to be happening. the calm one seems appropriately, newly skittish, but the other one just seems off somehow.
 
I agree with the previous responses. Ten days is a very short time for piggies to settle in, both with you and with each other. I've had pigs that turned out wonderful that were still completely terrified and aggressive towards humans ten days in! I also agree that a lot of what you're seeing between the two of them is normal dominance behaviour. In guinea pig groups, SOMEONE has to be the top piggie. This is going to happen in any pairing. It doesn't mean the pairing won't work out. They are adolescent guinea pigs, and just like adolescent humans it tends to be a hormonal and tempestuous time- but it does pass.

I would give them more time to settle in, both with you and with each other. Otherwise you risk breaking up a pairing that is just getting sorted out and may end up with the exact same issues.
 
You could try keeping them in separate cages but alongside each other. We had to do this with two males who couldn't live without each other, but couldn't share a bed or bowl either,
Mac
 
Have you had them checked by a cavy savvy vet? The biting issue & losing weight could indicate health problems, which would explain the biting. If she is showing any hair loss it could be mites or fungal, easily treatable & a healthy piggy is a happier piggy! :)
 
It sounds like your skittish girl needs to be checked by a vet. Illness in stressed, new guinea pigs is not rare, especially not those coming from a shop. Please weigh her daily. If she is losing weight, you may need to hand feed her. Illness or painful skin parasites like mites can explain her behaviour. As it is less than two weeks since you bought her, the pet shop should refund any vet cost.

If you look at the links that I have given you in my earlier post, you will see which behaviours are dominance behaviours.
 
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