Any hope?

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puddinchops

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I got 2 little guinea pigs the week before Christmas. I was told they are both males. I started to question this because the one constantly sways his hips side to side and makes a rumbling sound to the other (I read this can be a mating call? Or is it just him trying to show dominance?) Whenever this happened the other would run at him and chase him away. Yesterday I got home and both were chattering their teeth, by the time I walked over to them they were rolling around attacking each other and there was a small amount of blood in the cage ☹ I separated them immediately and called a vet for advice. They told me to keep them separated overnight, clean out the cage in the morning to remove scent and try to bring them back together. The second I put them back together the went for each other again. They are now in the same enclosure with a perspex divider. Vet appointment booked to check if they are both male. Has anyone had similar and managed to bring them back together? It's not looking good. They also have very different personalities, one is very timid (and looks like he wants a nice slow quiet life!) the other is really confident, vocal and likes to run around.
 
Hello and welcome. I am very sorry but since blood has been drawn, it is very unlikely they will bond together and they should be kept separated from now on. If you have the space and the finances, you could get them each a new friend by dating them at a rescue so they can choose their own friends or if not, have them live next door to each other with a divider separating them so they still have company but can't get to each other.

It is worth noting that both males and females will sway their hips and rumble as a sign of dominant behaviour but yes, it would be worth having them sexed so you know for sure that you have two boys as if one is a female, you will have to put her on pregnancy watch for the next 10 weeks or so
 
puddinchops said:
I got 2 little guinea pigs the week before Christmas. I was told they are both males. I started to question this because the one constantly sways his hips side to side and makes a rumbling sound to the other (I read this can be a mating call? Or is it just him trying to show dominance?) Whenever this happened the other would run at him and chase him away. Yesterday I got home and both were chattering their teeth, by the time I walked over to them they were rolling around attacking each other and there was a small amount of blood in the cage ☹ I separated them immediately and called a vet for advice. They told me to keep them separated overnight, clean out the cage in the morning to remove scent and try to bring them back together. The second I put them back together the went for each other again. They are now in the same enclosure with a perspex divider. Vet appointment booked to check if they are both male. Has anyone had similar and managed to bring them back together? It's not looking good. They also have very different personalities, one is very timid (and looks like he wants a nice slow quiet life!) the other is really confident, vocal and likes to run around.
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Was their cage big enough? I also had guinea pigs who fought to the point of blood being drawn(i separated them after) and now i realize it was just becouse they lived in a way to small cage. If that is the reason then maybe (I'm not sure though, someone else please correct me if I'm wrong) you can make their cage a lot bigger and try to reintroduce them.
 
Hi, thankyou for your reply. Unfortunately we don't have the space to get more.

They are my first guinea pigs. I'd spent so much time reading and researching before getting them but somehow still wasn't prepared for this. I got them from pets at home and was surprised at how quick they handed them over without any details.

I'm so sad they will most likely have to remain separated. 😔
 
mls18 said:
Was their cage big enough? I also had guinea pigs who fought to the point of blood being drawn(i separated them after) and now i realize it was just becouse they lived in a way to small cage. If that is the reason then maybe (I'm not sure though, someone else please correct me if I'm wrong) you can make their cage a lot bigger and try to reintroduce them.
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Hi, yes their enclosure is really big and when they appeared to be a bit grumpy with each other initially I made sure I got 2 of everything so they wouldn't fight over things (I read this could help).
 
puddinchops said:
Hi, yes their enclosure is really big and when they appeared to be a bit grumpy with each other initially I made sure I got 2 of everything so they wouldn't fight over things (I read this could help).
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Oh, how many square feet?
It could be that they just arent compatible🙁 I think you should do what @Claire W said to do and separate them but still have them near each other. I had my guinea pigs separated for a couple of years(unfortunately one of them died from illness but the other one has a new friend now) and they were still very happy.
 
puddinchops said:
I got 2 little guinea pigs the week before Christmas. I was told they are both males. I started to question this because the one constantly sways his hips side to side and makes a rumbling sound to the other (I read this can be a mating call? Or is it just him trying to show dominance?) Whenever this happened the other would run at him and chase him away. Yesterday I got home and both were chattering their teeth, by the time I walked over to them they were rolling around attacking each other and there was a small amount of blood in the cage ☹ I separated them immediately and called a vet for advice. They told me to keep them separated overnight, clean out the cage in the morning to remove scent and try to bring them back together. The second I put them back together the went for each other again. They are now in the same enclosure with a perspex divider. Vet appointment booked to check if they are both male. Has anyone had similar and managed to bring them back together? It's not looking good. They also have very different personalities, one is very timid (and looks like he wants a nice slow quiet life!) the other is really confident, vocal and likes to run around.
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Hi and welcome!

You have likely two boars, but they have sadly had a fall out because they are very much not a character match and have obviously not been able to agree about who should be the leader/
There is nothing you can do to change their personalities or make them like each other. Unfortunately, pet shop or for sale breeder piggies are chosen for looks and not for who they hang out with most; and unlike good welfare standard rescue guinea pigs, they are also not personality matched. Once blood has been drawn in a serious fight, you have had it. :(

Here is our illustrated sexing guide, which we recommend to use with any new guinea pig as soon as you bring them home: Illustrated Sexing Guide

Here is our detailed boar information, which you should find very helpful in working out which way forward is best for you:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next? (incl. all possible options after a fall-out)

Guinea pig behaviours, so you can learn to understand what is going on:
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (Your boys have unfortunately failed in the ca. two weeks post new group estalishment dominance phase, which is the last chapter but the guide contains l more typical boar interactive behaviour with videos).

The access link to our full information resource which you may find very useful as it covers a lot more areas in practical detail and with more in-depth advice than we can necessarily give in any post. You may want to bookmark this link, browse, read and re-read at need: Cage Size Guide

I am very sorry.
 
I’m so sorry to hear about their fight and that they cannot live together any longer. As Wiebke has said, once such a fight has occurred their relationship is over.
A boar pair do need a lot of space - a 12 square foot cage is needed - but a lot of space and two of every item won’t solve a clash in character.
They will now need to each live in a minimum of 8 square feet (120x60cm cage each) so they can interact through the bars only
 
Me again... they have been hidden away most the morning and much of yesterday, I feel like i should be doing more? They aren't popcorning round or zooming round now they are apart 😔

The vet had said about swapping bedding so they can still smell each others scent - should I still be doing this considering they won't be coming back together? I changed some bits round today and they both became very vocal (they sounded happy, but it's still early days and I'm trying to work out what sound means what - but its the same noise they make when they know I'm bringing food so I'm assuming happy) In fact it was the first time today I heard the one make this noise because he's usually just rumbling. It's the other who's very vocal.
 
It’s going to take them a little while to adjust to the bare living arrangements
 
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