Constantly fighting

[Kay and Josh]

Hello everyone,
So I have a have a problem. I have had two male guineapigs since May. When I received them they were about 12 weeks old which makes them about 6 months now. They have been getting along and been happy. One has been the obvious dominant Guineapig but they have been playing, popcorning when running in the garden and always calling each other.Then I went on holiday and put them into care for 2 weeks, the Lady did send couple of updates where she said they had had some arguments. When I picket them up they were covered in scratches from fighting each other. On the way home they went into a full blown fight in the carrier where I had to separate them. Now it’s been two weeks since they got home and they are still fighting, although not drawing blood but it’s not pleasant. I have bathed them, I’ve given them more space, they have more than enough food so are not having to fight for space or food but nothing calms them down. They chatter their teeth, the non-dominant is constantly after the dominant one trying to challenge him so they are not at peace. I let them out into the garden where they have massive space to run around every morning for about and hour at least and then after work for two hours so they can get rid of their energy. They go around eating plants and fightin but I haven’t seen the ‘happy popcorning’ or fun behaviour from them since they got back which is so sad. I’ve been reading so much about different ways of settling fighting guineapigs but it doesn’t work. I’m wondering if they simply are not a good match. Although before they got along, but then again they were still young. I read it’s common that when they have change of environment they can start re-establish dominance so believe this whole issue started when they got to the careers house. But surely they should have calmed down by now. If you have any suggestions of what I could do or what could be my solution to this please share as this is just to stressful for us all. Thanks in advance..

 

[Bill & Ted]

Unfortunately they are going through the teenage hormone spikes that come every so often until they become adults and things start to settle down a bit. There is a good advice page about boars, bonding and what to do when things break down. I have two boars and find that things are all fine until changes are made. I think that the boarding has probably upset them, they may have been near a female piggie or put in a cage that has had strange smells which can lead to fights. Your two may need time out for a day or so to calm down and then be reintroduced in neutral territory, this has worked for me on a couple of occasions, once when I was given a beautiful six foot long rabbit hutch which I thought they would love and ended up falling out once inside it and once when they got over excited having a run around the house!
Here’s the link Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides
Read up on the boar section particularly, good luck x

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone,
So I have a have a problem. I have had two male guineapigs since May. When I received them they were about 12 weeks old which makes them about 6 months now. They have been getting along and been happy. One has been the obvious dominant Guineapig but they have been playing, popcorning when running in the garden and always calling each other.Then I went on holiday and put them into care for 2 weeks, the Lady did send couple of updates where she said they had had some arguments. When I picket them up they were covered in scratches from fighting each other. On the way home they went into a full blown fight in the carrier where I had to separate them. Now it’s been two weeks since they got home and they are still fighting, although not drawing blood but it’s not pleasant. I have bathed them, I’ve given them more space, they have more than enough food so are not having to fight for space or food but nothing calms them down. They chatter their teeth, the non-dominant is constantly after the dominant one trying to challenge him so they are not at peace. I let them out into the garden where they have massive space to run around every morning for about and hour at least and then after work for two hours so they can get rid of their energy. They go around eating plants and fightin but I haven’t seen the ‘happy popcorning’ or fun behaviour from them since they got back which is so sad. I’ve been reading so much about different ways of settling fighting guineapigs but it doesn’t work. I’m wondering if they simply are not a good match. Although before they got along, but then again they were still young. I read it’s common that when they have change of environment they can start re-establish dominance so believe this whole issue started when they got to the careers house. But surely they should have calmed down by now. If you have any suggestions of what I could do or what could be my solution to this please share as this is just to stressful for us all. Thanks in advance..

Hi! Your boys are right in the middle of the teenage months.
Please take the time to read this very detailed guide that takes you through the various phases of teenage, what you can do to minimise potential flash points, how to work out whether a relationship is still viable or not and what your options areif there is a fall-out or a fight.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

You may also find this guide here helpful: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Unfortunately, people generally choose babies at the pet shop for looks and not for which piggies are hanging out together even though mutual liking and character compatibility are one of the keys for any successful piggy bond.

 

[Kay and Josh]

Unfortunately they are going through the teenage hormone spikes that come every so often until they become adults and things start to settle down a bit. There is a good advice page about boars, bonding and what to do when things break down. I have two boars and find that things are all fine until changes are made. I think that the boarding has probably upset them, they may have been near a female piggie or put in a cage that has had strange smells which can lead to fights. Your two may need time out for a day or so to calm down and then be reintroduced in neutral territory, this has worked for me on a couple of occasions, once when I was given a beautiful six foot long rabbit hutch which I thought they would love and ended up falling out once inside it and once when they got over excited having a run around the house!
Here’s the link Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides
Read up on the boar section particularly, good luck x

Thank you .. I appreciate your feedback. Gives me hope that the situation will turn around

 

[Kay and Josh]

Hi! Your boys are right in the middle of the teenage months.
Please take the time to read this very detailed guide that takes you through the various phases of teenage, what you can do to minimise potential flash point, how work out whether a relationship is still viable or not and what your options areif there is a fall-out or a fight.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

You may also find this guide here helpful: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Unfortunately, people generally choose babies at the pet shop for looks and not for which piggies are hanging out together even though mutual liking and character compatibility are one of the keys for any successful piggy bond.

I know, I’m so much wiser after these two weeks of reading about the issue. I got mine from a pet shop and the advice i received from them doesn’t match up with what is written here and they don’t advise on their characters for a successful match as they haven’t observed them. After reading one of the articles here is what made me question if they just weren’t a good match. On a plus side, this evening, I saw them laying down, RELAXING, next to each other in the garden.. it’s the first time in the last two weeks there is not tension between them. Thanks for taking your time replying me

 

[Wiebke]

I know, I’m so much wiser after these two weeks of reading about the issue. I got mine from a pet shop and the advice i received from them doesn’t match up with what is written here and they don’t advise on their characters for a successful match as they haven’t observed them. After reading one of the articles here is what made me question if they just weren’t a good match. On a plus side, this evening, I saw them laying down, RELAXING, next to each other in the garden.. it’s the first time in the last two weeks there is not tension between them. Thanks for taking your time replying me

Teenage is very much a time of touch and go that is characterised by sudden strong hormone spikes and periods of pushing the limits. Thankfully, the majority of boar pairs actually make it through, but it is never quite an easy time. Even more so when you are a new owner who is not experienced with the subtle nuances in body language and the feel for dynamics to tell whether a situation is serious or whether your boys are careful to go right up to the line, but are not willing to cross it.

Sadly pet shop staff are generally not known for their knowledge of the animals they sell (with a few notable exceptions); the bottom line is that your repeat custom for maintaining your pets is what brings in the money; the pets themselves are just the cheap lure to win new custom. Sadly welfare recommendations are also something that is not reinforced in shops...

Unlike social media, we have been able (and are still in the process of doing so) to build up a fairly comprehensive body of practical information on a wide range of topics. You can access it best via the shortcut on the top bar in order to find the guides grouped by topic. otherwise they in the area of green background at the start of the Care sections but in a more higgledy piggledy fashion.
We have a new owners collection which specifically addresses all the most common questions and worries; we try our best to really answer the practical details and not just skim over a tricky issue. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

But you are of course always welcome to ask any questions you have along the way.

 

[Kay and Josh]

Thank you for a fantastic forum it has educated me allot!