Want to make sure my boys' behavior is ok

[Pandorica]

Hey everyone =)

So I am a new owner and a little concerned (even though I probably shouldn't be!)

Earlier this week I bought two brothers from a local pet shop (I wanted girls originally but fell in love with these two immediately...and wanted to get them out of their cramped cage at the pet shop).

The owner said the boys were about 6 months old (he got them in December) and have been together since babies (same litter).

They seemed fine at first, but I noticed as soon as the lights went down on night one there was running around in the cage. I couldn't tell if the squeaks were happy or sad. I know Lex rumbles a lot (I read this could be a mating thing or a happy thing).

My husband is home during the day currently has noted the past two full days (yesterday and today) there was some chasing going on in the cage, but he thought it may have been playing.

Last night (their second official night at the house) again as soon as the lights went down they started talking to each other (seemingly excited) and I heard chasing, but one of them was making a noise which made me think of being sad or scared so I got near the cage to wait and watch.

Clark would start making noises at Lex at one end of the cage, sometimes Lex would respond...but then Clark would charge at Lex who would either run away or get tackled.

I didn't see any biting or fighting really (at one point I thought I saw Clark get Lex's ear but it may have just been near it...wasn't easy to see in the dark). Basically as soon as Clark would get to/hit Lex he would just stay there or move sort of to the side, depending on how their positioning ended up afterwards.

It happened a couple times like this.

They don't really cuddle side by side, but sometimes they will be sort of close to each other. Unless they are both inside the igloo they usually just face each other.

And just now...Lex was outside of the igloo and Clark on the inside and Lex seemed to be trying to chase him through it? Lol. Not sure, but Clark was making squeaky noises. And Lex is doing his rumbling.

They are both in a temporary cage right now (still bigger than the one they were stuffed in at the pet shop) so I am unsure if maybe after being stuck near each other for so long they are trying to keep some space? If they even do that...

I am overall not sure if this is a dominance thing (even after 6 months?), them just playing, or something to worry about.

 

[Glynis]

Your boys are trying to establish who's boss in their new cage/surroundings mallethead

How big is your cage? minimum for two piggies is 30 x 50" more room is better tho Make sure you have two bowls for food and two water bottles, they'll take a little time to adjust to a new surrounding too.

The link below will help with sounds for you:

http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/guineapigsounds.html

Then this link is about introducing piggies, you'll find this really helpful and i'll also put the link to boars behaviour for you hope all this helps you and your little boys Clark and Lex x)x)

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

Glynis x

 

[Pandorica]

That link to the sounds don't work for me.

I did end up finding this place though and was just listening to it...came here to share what I learned about their noises and saw your post, hehe!

The link: http://www.mgpr.org/mgpr/Guinea Pig Sounds.htm

So I hope those are accurate!

Do they need to really be introduced and go through the steps if they have been together since birth? I had thought that was for piggies who had been separated or never met before. I will have to look into that!

I read the male behavior link you sent me to and that was very helpful, thank you!

I deciphered some of the noises as curious (the rumbling as Lex is wandering around the cage) and the backoff...that is usually the noise Lex would make before Clark would charge. Now that I know it isn't anything *too* serious and they don't fight or seem to have any problems otherwise I feel much better. Especially since I've heard the happy sounds a lot ^_^

Their cage at the moment meets the minimum standards but I am not happy with it :3

I am waiting for my grids to come in so I can make them a 2-3 layer cage so they can have a lot more room to run about and play in. I can definitely see how the new change of scenery may have caused a disruption.

Last night after I finished watching them they were very quiet all night (barely a beep except when getting a drink). My husband said they were calm today except one charge...so we'll see how tonight goes as well! Maybe they got it out of their system.

 

[Glynis]

Sorry the link didn't work grr mallethead

I just thought if you read about the intro of piggies it would help regarding how much room, cage setup etc
Sounds like when you get the grids they're going to have a HUGE setup -c
Well that's good to hear that today was a relatively non eventful day! Maybe now they've sorted out who is boss pig rolleyes it will all be ok......... boars honestly rolleyes

Our first piggies were brothers, but they had to be separated, mind you they spent most of the day sitting beside the mesh grid chatting happily away LOL they did always get playtime together. Reason for separating? erm Duke humped poor Sully and he ended up with some little bites on his back

 

[Pandorica]

WELL found the reason....

Woke up this morning to find a little baby and Lex was trying to ride Clark (new name coming up). I removed him immediately since I don't want anymore unexpected surprises.

Turns out I was one of those people duped by a petshop. I don't mind having a baby piggy but now I need to make sure we have a lot more room and I need to keep the adults seperated which I am worried may cause stress. So for now I have them near each other's cages but unable to touch. Guess they won't have playtime

Baby and momma seem fine together so I hope it is OK to leave them together.

 

[Niki]

WELL found the reason....

Woke up this morning to find a little baby and Lex was trying to ride Clark (new name coming up). I removed him immediately since I don't want anymore unexpected surprises.

Turns out I was one of those people duped by a petshop. I don't mind having a baby piggy but now I need to make sure we have a lot more room and I need to keep the adults seperated which I am worried may cause stress. So for now I have them near each other's cages but unable to touch. Guess they won't have playtime

Baby and momma seem fine together so I hope it is OK to leave them together.

You did the right thing removing dad but the chances are he's already mated with mum again as most sows come into oestrus again 2 to 15 hours immediately after giving birth so she may be pregnant again. (info taken from Guinea Lynx ).

If baby is a boy he can live with dad when he's old enough, if a girl she can obviously stay with mum & yes they'll be fine together. Sows are usually really good mums.

They will all be fine living next to one another as they can interact with one another if they choose & you're right, no more playtime together.

 

[Pandorica]

My worry now is because they were brother and sister. Chances are pretty high of the baby having health issues down the road, correct? =/

 

[flintstones]

My worry now is because they were brother and sister. Chances are pretty high of the baby having health issues down the road, correct? =/

My girl was the result of Brother and Sister mating, then the original owner didn't remove the babies early enough so Son then mated Mother resulting in Esme who although is very inbred she is a perfectly healthy little pig.

Obviously no one would want to ever inbreed brothers and sisters but if it happens it happens. Sometimes babies can be deformed but normally are fine and live a healthy life.

 

[Pandorica]

Thank you for that info

 

[Niki]

I too have had a surprise baby, mum was from a petshop & was only about 14wks old when the gave birth. She likely got pregnant to a sibling/father & her baby was healthy.