Hi! So, I have two Guinea Pigs names Squanch and Jerry, but I seem to have some behavioral problems and in desperate need to understand what’s happening with them. I have had Squanch since the ending of October to now (January 30). I have had Jerry about a week into December (I got him because Squanch’s other partner passed away, sadly) I did the quarantine period and slowly introduced the two. I made a two story C&C cage and for a couple of weeks they’ve been having issues with each other. Squanch will only stay on the second level, Jerry has complete control of the much larger bottom. Everytime Squanch gets down on the bottom level, Jerry will chase him around the bottom level until Squanch returns to the top level. They also continuously have standoff’s with each other and Jerry nips him. Do they dislike each other? Or are they still trying to figure out their hierarchy? Do I need to separate them? I have read about doing buddy baths to see if that helps them, but I don’t want them to feel panicked getting washed (as they shouldn’t get washed often). I just really need some advice about what to do that is best for my piggies. A big thank you to anyone that responds!
Urgent, Please Help! Territorial Cavies
- Thread starter Sawyer
- Start date
anyar.dris
Forum Buddy
They are trying to figure their hierarchy. And buddy baths can help. They would hopefully feel bonded in a "scary" or "anxious" situation. Also, try putting them in a big area which is new to them (a neutral place) and see what they will do. Boys are very territorial so you will always experience this if they are new to each other. They will try to figure out who's the boss. When we got a neutered boy in the past to be with my 2 girls that time, one of the girls (which was the boss originally) didn't get along for a couple of months. During the day, we would let them run on a run we built in the living room all the way to the kitchen. We put loads of boxes (with 2 cut out doors or entry/exit) and food. They should have plenty of space to run and chase. If you think it will start to get nasty (meaning actual fighting and you'll definitely notice it) then you must have towels/blankets that you can put on top of each of them to separate them. Never handle them with your bare hands coz you'll get bitten during fights. During night time, we had to separate the boy. We only let him sleep with them once they are all okay with each other.
I am very sorry about having to contradict your advice re. buddy baths because while it is still making the rounds online as THE magical wand procedure, it has in fact NOT borne out in practice. As a fair number of forum members that have tried it over the years can attest, it does not work for any length of time and is - if anything - hindering and not helping any bonding!
Please be also aware that boar bondings have very different dynamics to cross gender bondings. The biggest difference is that you cannot split up boars during a bonding without forcing them to start all over right from the beginning once they meet again.
If you do give advice, I would like to ask you to please only do so where you have any personal experience with the exact problem to contribute.
Two weeks is the average time that the dominance phase to establish a working hierarchy. However, it looks like your dominant boar is not accepting his new companion in his space. Is Jerry going upstairs and how is his behaviour there? Where do these stand-offs happen?
Nipping is considered mild dominance behaviour. It is a typical dominance behaviour that you see in both sows and boars especially during the dominance phase.
Please take the time to read these two very detailed guides here to judge how your boys are doing with each other. It may well be that you end with two live alongside boys rather than a cohabiting pair.
Have you tried them together on neutral ground? How do they interact there?
This extensive and very detailed guide covers the whole bonding period from preparations to the end of the dominance phase; it will hopefully help you to assess how well the boys are getting on and to which extent they have bonded - or not. Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
This guide here deals with dysfunctional boar bonds and your various options: Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
anyar.dris
Forum Buddy
@Wiebke I'm sorry if you think my advice doesn't work. I can only give advice based on my experience of course. While it worked for me, I know that it doesn't work for everyone. My husband also has kept boars for majority of the 25+ years he's had guinea pigs (2 at a time so he's always had the experience of bonding 2 new boars). We only started getting females for the past 6 yrs. Again I know it doesn't work the same for everyone. You can delete my post if you think it's not helpful or wrong.
We just see the buddy baths still regularly recommended by new members. They have their use if you have to separate nearly fallen out teenage boars that are covered in testosterone laden pee short term until their roused tempers settle down, but otherwise a bonding bath has no bearing on the ultimate outcome of a bonding.
In the end it is down to whether the piggies do want to live together and are character compatible or not. I have tried it myself either way and have found that it makes at the best no difference and at worst makes the piggies disgruntled and dominance behaviour worse; my experience is mirrored by other long term owners. Once the piggies have got over the shock, they have to go through the same bonding ritual all the same - just with a bad start. It is the same with all the old scent masking breeder tips. if you really want to play around with scent, you are better off rubbing them gently vicariously with a soft rag; but even then, if they do not like each other or can't agree on who is boss, you have had it all the same.
If your mixed group was still able to share roaming time together without fighting or grudge matches if they were determined to not cross the line, then they must have bonded even though they had obviously some major dominance or fear aggression issues.