Falling out?

[lexi468]

Hello!
Long time no post!

I have a question about my two boars that are bonded.
They have been bonded for about a year now, Mocho and Mocha. Mocho was rescued to be a cage mate for Mocha after my first guinea pig passed away. Although Mocha was submissive with his previous cage mate, he is dominant over Mocho, and annoyingly so. Lately I often hear loud submissive squealing from the pet room where they live. One time I even caught Mocha with some of Mochos hair in his mouth. Although he has never drawn blood, I just get worried about how annoying he is to Mocho. He isn't incessant with humping or chasing, just very dominant over Mocho. They live in a 7x2 c&c cage with two food bowls, three water bottles, and two hay racks. So they don't seem to argue too much. And usually when I find them they are sleeping, but don't seem to spend much time together. Thoughts?

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Hello!
Long time no post!

I have a question about my two boars that are bonded.
They have been bonded for about a year now, Mocho and Mocha. Mocho was rescued to be a cage mate for Mocha after my first guinea pig passed away. Although Mocha was submissive with his previous cage mate, he is dominant over Mocho, and annoyingly so. Lately I often hear loud submissive squealing from the pet room where they live. One time I even caught Mocha with some of Mochos hair in his mouth. Although he has never drawn blood, I just get worried about how annoying he is to Mocho. He isn't incessant with humping or chasing, just very dominant over Mocho. They live in a 7x2 c&c cage with two food bowls, three water bottles, and two hay racks. So they don't seem to argue too much. And usually when I find them they are sleeping, but don't seem to spend much time together. Thoughts?

My Steve (white piggy in photo) was the submissive one in the pair and Mo (the ginger one in my photo) the dominant. After Mo's passing, I brought another piggy home and now it is Steve whom is the dominant one- probably because the new piggy is younger so more easily dominated.

Now, your pair doesn't seem to be showing anything worrying and you are correct about separating if blood is drawn. The hair pulling (barbering) is something Steve does to Bellamy which I had never seen before. It is just another way of asserting dominance over the submissive cage mate and I would t stress unless it is done too much (I. E to the point the piggy is bald or clearly hurting). Luckily Steve only seems to do this on the odd occasion and as Bellamy is longhaired I can't really tell par the odd chunk of fur I find in the cage.

Guinea pigs aren't cuddly animals despite needing companionship so it isnt a bad thing that they don't seem to always be together. My boys are the same and often do their own thing, but will follow and play together during floor time or fall asleep next to each other on the odd occasion.

So yes! I wouldn't worry. It sounds like the bond is still OK with your boys.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree with above. It doesn’t sound like you need to be concerned about this. I have two boars who rumble, chase and then get on with life! They are perfectly happy together but aren’t cuddly with each other. They choose separate beds when in their hutch but will play together in their pen.
You always need to watch their bond to ensure it is still in tact and always have a plan b of how to house them both should their bond fail, but from what you are describing, everything sounds ok.

 

[lexi468]

Thank you guys! Super reassuring