Bum sniffing

[Luna&Moon]

Hi! We are new here, thank you for having us. I have two 5 month old girl piggies who we have had since they were 12 weeks old. Over the last few days one of my piggies (Luna) has started rumbling a lot and sniffing my other piggie (Moon’s) bum at every opportunity. This seems to be annoying Moon a lot as she keeps chasing Luna away and kicking out at her. We’ve tried to separate them for a short while to give Moon a break but Luna just cries until she is reunited with her.
Is this normal behaviour or do you think the sanctuary may have got it wrong and Luna is actually a boy? Moon has never shown this behaviour. Thanks you :-)

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! We are new here, thank you for having us. I have two 5 month old girl piggies who we have had since they were 12 weeks old. Over the last few days one of my piggies (Luna) has started rumbling a lot and sniffing my other piggie (Moon’s) bum at every opportunity. This seems to be annoying Moon a lot as she keeps chasing Luna away and kicking out at her. We’ve tried to separate them for a short while to give Moon a break but Luna just cries until she is reunited with her.
Is this normal behaviour or do you think the sanctuary may have got it wrong and Luna is actually a boy? Moon has never shown this behaviour. Thanks you :-)

Hi and welcome!

Please always double check the gender of any new guinea pigs. Mis-sexing is sadly anything but uncommon.
Our illustrated sexing guide tells you exactly where and how to check.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Sexing Guide

Sows bum sniff and rumblestrut during bonding or when they are experiencing a stronger season; they will also mount each other. Your girls are now teenagers and are at the age when their hormones are usually stronger. Because it is not usually leading to fall-outs, this is much less known than the boar teenage months.
Sow Behaviour
When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

All these guides are part of our new owners information and help package, which addresses specifically all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about, from settling in and making friends (including a spot of piggy whispering), understanding behaviour, care, diet, housing (including safe and unsafe toys and accessories), learning what is normal and what not and how to spot illness early on and what to can do to be prepared for it.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[Luna&Moon]

Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words and information. We have an appointment with the vet in two weeks time for nail clipping so I’m going to ask them to check both then to make sure we have two females as I’ve tried to check Luna a couple of times but she just squirms and squeaks likes she’s in pain and I don’t want to hurt her.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words and information. We have an appointment with the vet in two weeks time for nail clipping so I’m going to ask them to check both then to make sure we have two females as I’ve tried to check Luna a couple of times but she just squirms and squeaks likes she’s in pain and I don’t want to hurt her.

Use our piggy whispering tips to assert your authority and tell your little ones that you love them. With you as the top piggy, they will behave better when you tell them and not try to get away with playing the big drama card, as especially youngsters can do. You are not hurting them, the screaming is a very effective preventative.
You may also find it much easier to sex and health check a wiggly baby once weekly if one of you is holding them and the other is doing the checking.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips