Dominance or Fighting? Please help.

[YouRuisha]

I recently got two female baby guinea pigs (~7 weeks). I've had then for about a week and I'm having trouble deciding if they are paired well and are doing dominance situation or actually fighting because they haven't been paired well. I've seen some signs of dominance and some signs of fighting and some signs of playfulness so I'm really confused. The piggies will be popcorning and running around but when one bumps into the others space they both rear up a bit and stare at each other and this generally leads to nipping and chasing. Sometimes the nipping is light and sometimes they look like a fur ball. However there are never any injuries, and no blood. They can't share a hiding space (normal). But they share food very well. I've seen them eating out of the same food bowl and playing with toys together. I know this can't be about food, space, or having enough hiding spots because the cage is 10 Sq feet, there is pellets and fresh hay all the time, and veggies provided 2 times a day. They also have plenty of chew toys to play around with. So I really can't tell what the problem is or if there is a problem. They also popcorn and have the zoomies a bunch which doesn't happen unless they're happy. They also chat at each other quite often and can both eat treats out of my hand just fine. Please help, I don't want to have to choose one to go back to the shelter unless they are truly fighting and unhappy. I love them both so much.

PS when I first got them they napped into the same box on the way home, they even put their little feet out.

 

[My Piggies]

This seems like normal dominance behaviour to me, although I'm not an expert. As long as they don't injure or draw blood, they should be fine. If you see a full on "cat fight", this usually indicates that they aren't a good match and should be separated immediately. I adopted a neutered male, Oscar, for my two females Daisy and Violet a couple of months ago. Daisy and Oscar did the same thing you're describing for a 2-3 weeks before they settled down, but never had full on fights or drew blood. They now sleep together and show affection.

Have a look at these threads:
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonds In Trouble

 

[YouRuisha]

This seems like normal dominance behaviour to me, although I'm not an expert. As long as they don't injure or draw blood, they should be fine. If you see a full on "cat fight", this usually indicates that they aren't a good match and should be separated immediately. I adopted a neutered male, Oscar, for my two females Daisy and Violet a couple of months ago. Daisy and Oscar did the same thing you're describing for a 2-3 weeks before they settled down, but never had full on fights or drew blood. They now sleep together and show affection.

Have a look at these threads:
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Bonds In Trouble

Thank you, what would you consider a full on "cat fight"? Something that draws blood?

 

[Piggies&buns]

They will need to re establish their relationship in a new environment which takes about two weeks. If you have only had them for a week then they are still in that process. It does sound like dominance at this stage but you use the word 'fur ball'. That is something to keep an eye on. If you see them rolling around in a fur ball then that is likely a fight and could spell the end.

Please ensure they do not have pellets constantly - the only food they should have constantly is hay. Pellets are the least important and least healthy part of the diet. They should be kept strictly limited to one tablespoon per pig per day.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[My Piggies]

Thank you, what would you consider a full on "cat fight"? Something that draws blood?

When they lock together and fight in a ball (terrible wording - not sure how to explain it, there's some videos on the forum). This is serious and means they need to be immediately separated.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you, what would you consider a full on "cat fight"? Something that draws blood?

Anything where they are rolling around in a frenzied ball of fluff, anything that is aggressive, means they are not compatible and cannot remain together any longer.

Dominance is mild chasing, teeth chattering, rumbling and mounting. This is normal.

This guide explains the behaviours more clearly and their order from normal to bond breaking
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[YouRuisha]

Anything where they are rolling around in a frenzied ball of fluff, anything that is aggressive, means they are not compatible and cannot remain together any longer.

Dominance is mild chasing, teeth chattering, rumbling and mounting. This is normal.

This guide explains the behaviours more clearly and their order from normal to bond breaking
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

Google Image Result for https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S1FHrE1Zy1g/maxresdefault.jpg
So this is a video I found online. My piggies are never this aggressive, when they're facing off their paws never leave the ground. The only thing that is slightly similar is about th 1:30 to 1:45 mark with the circling and then the scuffle but never ever that violent. And like I said there's never been blood or anyone flipped over and they're about equal size and weight. So if this is a normal fight I would say no they aren't but wanted other opinions.

 

[Siikibam]

I think if there’s that kind of rolling around then it’s not a good sign. I would separate now and they can live as neighbours. You don’t have to wait for them to draw blood before separating. Sows also don’t tend to have fur ball rolling confrontations.

Out of curiosity, how long has they been together when you brought them home?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[YouRuisha]

I think if there’s that kind of rolling around then it’s not a good sign. I would separate now and they can live as neighbours. You don’t have to wait for them to draw blood before separating. Sows also don’t tend to have fur ball rolling confrontations.

Out of curiosity, how long has they been together when you brought them home?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

They had 3 weeks with their mom, and then 3 weeks at the shelter where they lived with a bunch of other sows, for another 3ish weeks. Then I've had them for 1 week