To split up or not to split up?

[danuutka]

Our boy Edgar has been at a rescue for the past 3 days, getting bonded with an 8 month old boar. The rescue has said that they were acting perfectly fine with each other.

We’ve brought them home, and there was some hostility noted (like chasing, really loud teeth chattering and lunging) from Edgar, meanwhile little one was submitting.

However this morning we’ve gone in an Ed has a gash on his lip that’s bleeding. There’s another just on the inside of the lip. He doesn’t seem to have any injuries elsewhere and little one doesn’t have any injuries either.

So my question is - do we separate because they’ve drawn blood? Or was it more likely a misjudged snap back when little one got cornered somewhere?

For the mean time we’ve but some cage bars between them (but they can still see, smell and interact) until we get advice from here and the rescue on what to do.

They have two of everything, they’re in a 2x5 C&C cage and all of the hideys have at least 2 exits.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Seeing the dominance when they came home is to be expected as they will do this in any new territory/environment.
Was the cage cleaned down before you put them in it?

It might have been a misplaced swipe, but it would well be worth you keeping an eye on things very closely.
I would put them on neutral territory for a few hours and see how things go.

 

[Tnoz]

It could be that they battling for ownership of the new home they have been put in

 

[danuutka]

Seeing the dominance when they came home is to be expected as they will do this in any new territory/environment.
Was the cage cleaned down before you put them in it?

It might have been a misplaced swipe, but it would well be worth you keeping an eye on things very closely.
I would put them on neutral territory for a few hours and see how things go.

Yes the cage was completely cleaned out and left to air out for the three days they weren’t with us.

They’re being pretty hostile through the bars - instead of rumble strutting, Ed is just chattering (the loud one you can hear from another room) and little one is puffing air, yawning and chattering back

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes the cage was completely cleaned out and left to air out for the three days they weren’t with us.

They’re being pretty hostile through the bars - instead of rumble strutting, Ed is just chattering (the loud one you can hear from another room) and little one is puffing air, yawning and chattering back

Hmm, that doesn’t sound too good unfortunately
It sounds to be the amber section of this guide.

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[danuutka]

Hmm, that doesn’t sound too good unfortunately
It sounds to be the amber section of this guide.

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

Yes that’s exactly what I thought! I just wanted to run it past some more knowledgeable people because I don’t want to do them wrong x