Why aren't my pigs happy together?

[ch_leeds]

Hi all! First time GP owner. We've had our 2 girls since March, we got them both from the same litter. They have a large cage, several hidies and ample space.
I did research before bringing our GPs home and assumed they'd be best friends, staying close when scared etc. And they did at first, but this has changed recently. I'm concerned they're not happy?

They're both still quite nervous and skittish but that's fine, I'm not trying to force them into been held they're quite happy to just come and take food from me and go back off to their safe space.

Over the last few days there's been a dramatic change in their behaviour. As I write this they are both sleeping but at opposite ends of the cage out of sight from the other - until recently they always slept next to each other. More concerning than this is they can't seem to spend more than a few seconds in the other's personal space without a scrap. No major fights that have drawn blood or resulted in injury, but the last one may have gone that way as I had to break them up. I'm concerned that they may fight when I'm not around and cause a serious injury. I've watched them quite closely and can't identify if one or the other is the aggressor, it's almost as if they're dueling! They'll approach each other slowly, cackle a bit then fight.

Their behaviour has scared my child and she has now lost interest in helping my look after them. I don't want it to get to the stage where we have to rehome them but I certainly need help as a first time owner.

Should I put a divider in the cage so they have their own personal space? I thought they needed to be able to interact but they can't carry on like this.

 

[Sweet Potato]

there are some good guides on behaviour in the guides section above. my piggies don't usually cuddle together they prefer their own space most of the time but will come together when they're scared or excited. some guinea pigs just don't get along if their personalities don't match but you really don't want to separate them or break up disputes too soon because sometimes they need to have a bit of an argument (not an actual fight) to work through it and sort the hierarchy out.

I have boars not sows so I can't give too much advice on your situation but hopefully someone will be along shortly who can help.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Character compatibility is the absolute key to a successful bond - being siblings is absolutely no guarantee of a long term successful bond. There is nothing you can do to make them like each other. It’s not the case that piggies will always cuddle together - even well bonded piggies don’t spend time cuddling (mine certainly don’t).

If they are struggling to work out who is going to the dominant and the submissive, and they both want to be dominant, then this is where problems will occur.

Could it be that they are in season and this is why the change in behaviour has occurred (this will be a temporary thing so if it has been going on longer then it won’t be because of that).

If you believe their bond is dysfunctional, then they won’t be able to stay together. They can live side by side so they can have through the bar interaction and that will stave off loneliness.

I will link in some guides that may help you decipher what is going on - whether this is temporary dominance that will calm down or whether their bond is in trouble.

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Bonds In Trouble
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[Little Ones]

Guinea pig dominance can look quite frightening to humans, but it’s normal. They communicate very differently to people. My two boys chose to live together through dating at a rescue, and I can tell they love each but there are times where dominance is only minor such as the dominant pig showing dominance behaviour by getting really in the face of the other in order to claim a bowl or a bed. Then there are times where dominance behaviour is higher, such as persistent chasing in the cage, loud teeth chattering, loud bad guinea pig noises etc but then it subsides again. Behaviour like this doesn’t always mean they aren’t compatible, just that they’re re-establishing or re-affirming hierarchy. Guinea pigs are built to live in a hierarchy which is why dominance behaviour exists, someone has to be in charge and make sure the other knows it, just like sometimes the submissive pig will sometimes try and see if they can overthrow the dominant one.
Read the guides and decide what’s best accordingly, generally separation is better when blood is drawn as that means they can’t live together at all rather than it being a hierarchy conflict or hormones from being in season

 

[VickiA]

have you checked their sexes?