Behavioral Change in Guinea Pig

Cherry Berry

Cherry Berry

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello lovely Guinea Pig parents,

My Berry has started behaving a bit different. He has suddenly started chewing a lot of things like his Hidey Houses, food bowls etc. I know that Guinea Pig teeth grow always and they need to chew.

However, this is sudden and he is teeth-chattering often too. He is arguing a lot with Cherry and trying to sit on him continuously. Although he did sleep cuddling him today. Cherry is a bit annoyed because of this behaviour.

Are things normal or do I need to take him to the vet?
 
I’ve just looked back on your posts to get their age.
It sounds as if they may be getting towards their teens - hormones are starting, testicles starting to descend and this is when they generally get a bit more difficult and grumpy!
Teeth chattering is a normal dominance behaviour as it the sitting on him (mounting). This is what guinea pigs do (their entire lives as it is a dominance behaviour) and is normal as part of establishing their relationship and hierarchy.
The key factor is that cherry let’s him do it and accepts that Berry is dominant. If cherry fights back, doesn’t submit and wants to be dominant as well, then this is where their relationship will fail and they will need to be separated. However, at this point, you aren’t reporting any warning signs.
 
Last edited:
Piggies&buns said:
I’ve just looked back on your posts to get their age.
It sounds as if they may be getting towards their teens.
Teeth chattering is a normal dominance behaviour as it the sitting on him (mounting). This is what guinea pigs do (their entire lives as it is a dominance behaviour) and is normal as part of establishing their relationship and hierarchy.
The key factor is that cherry let’s him do it and accepts that Berry is dominant. If cherry fights back, doesn’t submit and wants to be dominant as well, then this is where their relationship will fail and they will need to be separated. However, at this point, you aren’t reporting any warning signs.
Click to expand...
Cherry normally allows Berry to do what he wants. He is never the first one to argue as of now. But when Berry tries to sit on him and kinda tries to press him. Cherry protested a few times as Berry did hit his nose. I guess nose punching is normal too.

Today morning Berry didn't let Cherry go in any hidey house, drink water or eat for sometime. Later, they were sleeping cuddling each other.
 
Cherry protested how? By squealing by any chance? If so, then it isn’t a protest, the squealing is submission - he accepts that Berry is in charge. That is what you need to happen.

Nose punching? They will do nose offs as a form of squaring up to see who is dominant.

As I Say it is normal dominance behaviour and you will see a lot of it over the coming months. But, if Berry is stopping him from eating, chasing him from hideys and mounting and exerting his dominance excessively for a long time (and I don’t just mean for an hour or so here and there) and to the point where cherry becomes subdued, depressed, loses weight etc, then that is when it moves away from being normal behaviour and goes into bullying. If that were to happen you have to step in (usually permanent separation after that)

Please do read the links I am going to put in below. They will help you understand what is normal teenage behaviour .

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
 
Piggies&buns said:
Cherry protested how? By squealing by any chance? If so, then it isn’t a protest, the squealing is submission - he accepts that Berry is in charge. That is what you need to happen.

Nose punching? They will do nose offs as a form of squaring up to see who is dominant.

As I Say it is normal dominance behaviour and you will see a lot of it over the coming months. But, if Berry is stopping him from eating, chasing him from hideys and mounting and exerting his dominance excessively for a long time (and I don’t just mean for an hour or so here and there) and to the point where cherry becomes subdued, depressed, loses weight etc, then that is when it moves away from being normal behaviour and goes into bullying. If that were to happen you have to step in (usually permanent separation after that)

Please do read the links I am going to put in below. They will help you understand what is normal teenage behaviour .

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Click to expand...
Cherry protested as in tried to escape when Berry was sitting on him.

Yeah they kinda hit each other's nose.

Berry didn't let go Cherry into Hidey House, eat for few minutes. Then as I mentioned they were sleeping in one hidey house cuddling.

Thanks for the links.
 
It all sounds fine for now then, don’t worry but do keep an eye on things.
 
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