Jesse's pigs
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi, so as you’ve seen from my recent updates the boys are now in new C and C cages (one each on top of each other- I’ll attach a picture).
Both used to be happily bonded until Steve started having his flare ups of cystitis and bloating. I believe it was Steve’s illness that caused the bond shift as Steve was the dominant boar in the partnership but obviously when poorly Bellamy saw his opportunity.
I’ve attempted several rebonding sessions, none of which have ever ended in blood being drawn because I don’t let it escalate. I’m not an expert with bonding yet. This will only be my second time bonding piggies (I had Mo and Steve and now Steve and Bellamy) but I’ve read all the information on here and I don’t believe it’s a functional bond. As soon as I put them in the neutral area they will sometimes enjoy some food together but then it is just constant (and I mean constant) teeth chattering, fluffing up, raising heads, yawning (mostly on Bellamy’s side) and trembling- all of which I take to be aggressive/threatening behaviours. They try to get to one another but as both are doing this I don’t let them lock on- I’m too afraid one will get hurt. Is this wrong and they need to be allowed to confront one another? It’s just neither backs down. Can I also add that as soon as I then remove one they both instantaneously calm down and stop
Now, if I am correct and their bond is failed then I need to start looking at adopting new boars to pair as due to the space in my room I cannot have cages side by side only stacked as i have done. I could if I put them outside but I’m not keen on the idea of doing that especially with Steve’s problems that I have to be on top of.
If I do get new boars to bond my question is what do I do about Steve? Is it likely that when Steve gets poorly again the bond is again just going to fail as I don’t want to keep bringing piggies home and having to separate them all. But I also don’t want Steve lonely.
Thank you for your help.
Both used to be happily bonded until Steve started having his flare ups of cystitis and bloating. I believe it was Steve’s illness that caused the bond shift as Steve was the dominant boar in the partnership but obviously when poorly Bellamy saw his opportunity.
I’ve attempted several rebonding sessions, none of which have ever ended in blood being drawn because I don’t let it escalate. I’m not an expert with bonding yet. This will only be my second time bonding piggies (I had Mo and Steve and now Steve and Bellamy) but I’ve read all the information on here and I don’t believe it’s a functional bond. As soon as I put them in the neutral area they will sometimes enjoy some food together but then it is just constant (and I mean constant) teeth chattering, fluffing up, raising heads, yawning (mostly on Bellamy’s side) and trembling- all of which I take to be aggressive/threatening behaviours. They try to get to one another but as both are doing this I don’t let them lock on- I’m too afraid one will get hurt. Is this wrong and they need to be allowed to confront one another? It’s just neither backs down. Can I also add that as soon as I then remove one they both instantaneously calm down and stop
Now, if I am correct and their bond is failed then I need to start looking at adopting new boars to pair as due to the space in my room I cannot have cages side by side only stacked as i have done. I could if I put them outside but I’m not keen on the idea of doing that especially with Steve’s problems that I have to be on top of.
If I do get new boars to bond my question is what do I do about Steve? Is it likely that when Steve gets poorly again the bond is again just going to fail as I don’t want to keep bringing piggies home and having to separate them all. But I also don’t want Steve lonely.
Thank you for your help.
