2 males suddenly fighting

[Oinkpiggies]

Hi all, i am a new inexperienced Guinea pig owner, and I’ve had my 2 boys for about a month now. I got them a day apart from each other, and they both were terrified. Introduced them in new territory which was a playpen. The newest piggy ran to the other one and was cuddling with it obviously because they were both so scared. But even over time they were getting along great. Anytime i held one, the other one would wheek for it. They would lay on each other (not humping) when i had them in a carrier. Today, i had heard a noise they both have never made before. They were chittering and purring in a high pitch. I knew immediately that was not good. I know you are supposed to let them settle down but the aggressor’s hair was standing up puffy, and it was just escalating so I separated them for a while and put them back but then they actually fought and attacked each other. Both wouldn’t stop being aggressive towards each other for a few hours. They’re both babies i am told, but the youngest one has just now begun making noises. Maybe he’s so young he hadn’t learned that yet? My other one did and i think he’s older. Are my piggies suddenly fighting because they are hitting puberty? I’m praying that’s the reason because i really thought they were compatible also wondering if they’re fighting because my dog has been barking at whining at them non stop since we got them. Maybe it’s stressing them out. They didn’t seem phased by it though.
Attached a cute photo of them snuggling :’) i hope they will love each other again.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m afraid if they have had an actual full on fight then they are not compatible. The onset of the teenage months is when a bond is tested and sadly not all will come through it. Such a full on fight is bond breaking and means they will need to live in separate cages from now onwards.

 

[Swissgreys]

How big is their cage and do they have 2 of everything.
Boars can be challenging and need a lot of space and resources.
As Piggies&buns has already said, if they have had a full on fight then the chances are that they will not go back together.

You might find this thread helpful.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

I have to sadly agree.

Here is our detailed advice on teenage, fall-outs and what comes next. Please take a read (we cannot explain it in full detail in every post we make or we would never be able to answer all posts) and see if and which parts of this comprehensive and very practical guide apply to your situation: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[Oinkpiggies]

How big is their cage and do they have 2 of everything.
Boars can be challenging and need a lot of space and resources.
As Piggies&buns has already said, if they have had a full on fight then the chances are that they will not go back together.

You might find this thread helpful.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Hi thank you for being honest and for your help. Their cage is the Midwest Guinea pig habitat plus, i think it has 8 square feet of space. They have 2 hides, 2 water sources, but maybe i should get them 2 food bowls and another hay feeder. I also have a fleece liner in there with a burrowing pocket so that’s another place to hide. I could get a bigger cage, i figured i would need to when they get older, just didn’t know where to put it so my dog doesn’t get to them. Right now they’re on my kitchen counter so the cage is kinda taking up the whole area lol.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

I’m afraid if they have had an actual full on fight then they are not compatible. The onset of the teenage months is when a bond is tested and sadly not all will come through it. Such a full on fight is bond breaking and means they will need to live in separate cages from now onwards.

Hi thank you for being honest. Do you think they look like teenagers? I really can’t tell how old they are but they’re tiny. First pic is my little brother holding them so they’re really small. The black one is smaller.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

Hi and welcome

I have to sadly agree.

Here is our detailed advice on teenage, fall-outs and what comes next. Please take a read (we cannot explain it in full detail in every post we make or we would never be able to answer all posts) and see if and which parts of this comprehensive and very practical guide apply to your situation: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Hi thank you i understand I'm sure there’s a lot of questions asked on here haha thanks for the link

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s not really possible to tell their age from a photo, certainly not the difference as to whether they may have turned 16 weeks and be classed as teenagers.
The reality is though, for a full fight to occur, then it’s most often because they just don’t like each other.

A Midwest cage at 8 square feet is not big enough for a boar pair. Boar pairs need 12 square feet.
Space really matters to boars and being in a cage which is too small does run the risk of causing problems.
Boars need the right size cage from the beginning. Planning on getting a bigger cage later when they grow often too late because any space related issues may already been caused. Plus changing cage size constitutes a change in territory and with boars, you don’t want to keep changing territories. Doing so will cause them to reestablish their relationship each time and that very thing can bring underlying problems to the surface and be the thing that will finally break a problematic bond.

Equally, now they have had a full on fight, getting them a bigger cage will not save their relationship and will not make them be able to live together. If they don’t like each other then sadly nothing will change that now.
You will need to get a second cage though because each piggy will need their own 8 square feet cage to live in separately (You can’t split a Midwest cage in half because each half would be far far too small). The two cages will need to be side by side so they can interact through the bars.

Do the hides have two doors in them? Any single exit hides should be avoided because they can cause fights - a piggy can get trapped inside by the other piggy.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

Okay thank you. Do you think i should just get a cage with 12 square feet, and add a divider so they can still interact? One of the hides has multiple exits, another has just 1, I’ll get rid of it. I wish petco would’ve told me this, they actually told me not to pair them at all but i figured that was misinformation because i know they’re social animals. Buying pets from petco was my first mistake lol

 

[Piggies&buns]

Okay thank you. Do you think i should just get a cage with 12 square feet, and add a divider so they can still interact? One of the hides has multiple exits, another has just 1, I’ll get rid of it. I wish petco would’ve told me this, they actually told me not to pair them at all but i figured that was misinformation because i know they’re social animals. Buying pets from petco was my first mistake lol

Piggies who cannot live together must live with a divider between them so they cant get to each other but can still interact through the bars.
However you can’t add a divider in a 12 square foot cage now because that will mean each half is only 6 square feet which is too small and doesn’t meet welfare requirements. Each piggy needs a minimum of 8 square feet in their own cage now they cannot live together.
The easiest thing now would be to simply buy a second Midwest cage. Put the two cages next to each other and put one piggy in each cage.

Now the piggies cannot live in the same cage, then it doesn’t matter if you only have hides with one exit. They will not be able to fight with each other in the hide given they can’t be in the same cage.

You did the right thing in trying to bond them, but the issue is two piggies must have compatibility for a bond to work. There is always a risk they won’t be compatible when buying piggies rather than rescuing a bonded pair.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

Ah i got you, i definitely should’ve rescued a pair that would’ve been smart. Thanks so much for your help again I’m gonna get another cage right now. Can they still have floor time together?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ah i got you, i definitely should’ve rescued a pair that would’ve been smart. Thanks so much for your help again I’m gonna get another cage right now. Can they still have floor time together?

No floor time together. If two piggies don’t like each other then putting them together for floor time will be hugely stressful for them and risks further fights occurring. They need to be kept separate at all times.

 

[Swissgreys]

I also just wanted to offer you some support.
You are doing great job dealing with all of this and taking the advice on board.
It's so hard when you trust a pet store and end up in a less than perfect situation, but well done for making the best of it.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

No floor time together. If two piggies don’t like each other then putting them together for floor time will be hugely stressful for them and risks further fights occurring. They need to be kept separate at all times.

Aw man. Makes me so sad i loved seeing their bond until they ruined it lol. I really appreciate all your help thank you so much for your guidance and for replying so quickly ♡

 

[Oinkpiggies]

I also just wanted to offer you some support.
You are doing great job dealing with all of this and taking the advice on board.
It's so hard when you trust a pet store and end up in a less than perfect situation, but well done for making the best of it.

I also just wanted to offer you some support.
You are doing great job dealing with all of this and taking the advice on board.
It's so hard when you trust a pet store and end up in a less than perfect situation, but well done for making the best of it.

Aw thank you. Yeah I never trust pet stores anymore especially petco. They’re so insistant in their “advice” i just nod along lol. Misinformation is everywhere. So far I have gotten fish, a hamster, and the piggies from there and everytime I’m told false info. I always want what’s best for them to thrive so I’m thankful i found this forum everyone replied so quickly and I’m glad because it was an urgent situation.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

No floor time together. If two piggies don’t like each other then putting them together for floor time will be hugely stressful for them and risks further fights occurring. They need to be kept separate at all times.

Oh my gosh i hate bothering you again but something weird just happened and i want to know your thoughts if you don’t mind. I went to see the Guinea pigs and usually when i walk up to them they sniff my hand, but the aggressor was acting scared and ran to hide. Just like when i first got him. I relocated him to a playpen because of the fighting still. He has no wounds though, both never drew blood as far as i can see (they won’t let me pick them up though so i can’t see their whole body)

 

[Swissgreys]

Oh my gosh i hate bothering you again but something weird just happened and i want to know your thoughts if you don’t mind. I went to see the Guinea pigs and usually when i walk up to them they sniff my hand, but the aggressor was acting scared and ran to hide. Just like when i first got him. I relocated him to a playpen because of the fighting still. He has no wounds though, both never drew blood as far as i can see (they won’t let me pick them up though so i can’t see their whole body)

So is the aggressor in a new cage (playpen)?
If so he will be feeling a bit nervous about the change of set up, and it might take him a while to settle.
Make sure he has several hides, and also consider covering part of his new cage with a sheet or blanket to help him feel more secure.

 

[Oinkpiggies]

So is the aggressor in a new cage (playpen)?
If so he will be feeling a bit nervous about the change of set up, and it might take him a while to settle.
Make sure he has several hides, and also consider covering part of his new cage with a sheet or blanket to help him feel more secure.

Hi thank you, yes he was in the playpen all night temporarily until the new cage came. I did put some blanket in there he just seemed so nervous even before i moved him to the playpen. He’s in the new cage now, they both started like crying for each other but then when they found each other they started chattering at each other lol it was so confusing.

 

[Piggies&buns]

When piggies have had to be separated, their behaviours between the bars don’t necessarily indicate anything positive ie they don’t want to go back together, any laying against bars, chewing bars etc is a way of marking territory, being annoyed with each other etc

 

[Oinkpiggies]

When piggies have had to be separated, their behaviours between the bars don’t necessarily indicate anything positive ie they don’t want to go back together, any laying against bars, chewing bars etc is a way of marking territory, being annoyed with each other etc

Really how interesting i thought he wanted to see him so he was chewing to escape lol. They seem much happier and less afraid now that i have separated them still rumble strutting and purring but just happy they can’t attack each other lol.