Hello, someone recently gave me their 5 year old piggie and ik they do better in pairs so i got him a friend. He is 9 months old and i introduced them after quarantine. The problem is i dont know if they are actually getting along or not. They can eat next to each other and stay in their own corners of the cage but a lot of times they will chase each other around and try to mount each other. The younger one sometimes wiggles his bum and "purrs" which i know is dominance display, and other times they will lick/nibble each other on the mouth. Is this normal or should i separate them?
Boar bonding
- Thread starter Ghostie
- Start date
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Please only separate if blood is drawn. The chasing humping and mounting is all part of their sorting out the dominance hierarchy. This can continue for two weeks after they’ve moved into their permanent housing. Is either of them behaving submissively?
Make sure they have enough space (140 x 60cm minimum), and two of everything. The younger boar is in the throws of the teenage years (4-14 months) so he’s more likely to test the relationship and try to be top-pig. But hopefully the bond will make it through the next months unscathed. Also try and make sure that all hides have two exits, so they can’t be trapped by the other pig.
Have a read through the threads linked below for more detail on what is and isn’t normal.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Bonds In Trouble
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Make sure they have enough space (140 x 60cm minimum), and two of everything. The younger boar is in the throws of the teenage years (4-14 months) so he’s more likely to test the relationship and try to be top-pig. But hopefully the bond will make it through the next months unscathed. Also try and make sure that all hides have two exits, so they can’t be trapped by the other pig.
Have a read through the threads linked below for more detail on what is and isn’t normal.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Bonds In Trouble
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
The older one (Buddy) nibbled on the younger one's (Pipkin) ear and Pipkin let out a squeak which i understand from one of the links you've attached is a submissive thing. They have both also cleaned themselves next to the other and layed down together. The cage is 116cm by 116cm, so they do not necessarily have to interact with the other if they don't want to. Thanks for the advice! Hopefully this works out
