Guinea pig biting!

Connor123

Connor123

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have 2 guinea pigs, squeak and fluff. Squeaks has been pretty aggressive lately ever since we got fluff. Squeaks loves being pet and will usually never bite. But sometimes squeaks will stand over fluff (fluff is smaller) and will repetitively nip fluff ever 30 second about, and when I try to pet fluff, sqeaks will bite fluff. In addition to this behavior, she will bite me if I pet her! Then when sqeaks gets off of fluffs head, she will act kind towards me but will occasionally nip at fluff. I’m pretty sure fluff is always scared because she is always making a whimpering sound and I think is getting bit during the night because I hear high pitch whimpering. I want to make this behavior stop and I’m not to sure how.
 
It sounds like they are working through some dominance.
How old are they? Hoe long have they been together? Did you read the bonding guides and introduce them on neutral territory?
 
Guineautopia said:
It sounds like they are working through some dominance.
How old are they? Hoe long have they been together? Did you read the bonding guides and introduce them on neutral territory?
Click to expand...
They are around 8 weeks old, we’ve had sqeaks for a week, and fluff for 3 days now. They met in neutral territory, when they first met they got along very well, both having a relaxed purr and playing. Dominance issues started after the first few hours. How long will it take for all of this to sort itself out?
 
It can last a few weeks while they sort out who is in charge.
Did the issues start when you put them back into squeaks cage that she had been living in?
Have a read of the bonding guides, they are excellent :nod:
Behaviour and Bonding
 
Another thing you have to do is see to the dominant pig first. Whether it’s feeding, petting or picking up. The whimpering sound is submission. As long as there are no proper bites (blood) they have to sort it out 🤷🏽‍♀️
 
I’ve had my guinea pigs for a few weeks. Although sqeakes, keeps attacking fluffly for no reason. Sqeaks also attacks me and 3 times I’ve bled. Me and my mom are considering taking her back to the store to get a more comparable one. I don’t want an aggressive piggy but I feel like taking it back is a wrong decision, but I still agree with my mom. I’ve tried to give it fruit and veggie salads, lettuce, spinach, everything! The other Guiana pig, fluffy is very nice, she accepts the fruit and veggies salads, barely bites, and loves to sit with me and relax. We believe that fluffy was abused before we got her because of missing hair and her lack of socialization, we don’t want that to keep happening to her. I always hear fluffy whimpering whether it’s during the night or in the middle of the day. She does it when she’s being held because sqeaks randomly bites her. Enough Is enough and it’s time to act. Any ideas before we take her back?
 
I’ve tried to bond with her too, nothing works.
 
Hi @Connor123 I have merged your two threads so that all the advice on this one issue is in one place for. I don't think the behaviour is due to a lack of socialization or abuse as with time she would be getting better. Did you ever have her vet checked for any underlying health problems that could be causing her pain?
 
I’m assuming they are both sows (female). If any piggy makes whimpering sounds, has hair loss and hates to be handled I would take them to a vet. It sounds like they need a check to see if there is anything wrong from a health point of view.
 
My girls sometimes take a nip out of each other (they have been together since birth, they're still sussing out who's the boss) and Pops has been known to turn and take a nip of me if she's a bit skittish or feels nervous - yours are only young so it may be she feels threatened or scared and bites because of this. However I agree with everyone else, if she has hair missing and is biting it may be that she is in pain and this is why she's biting (her way of telling you to please get off her because it hurts!). I would take them to the vet. As you haven't had them very long, the pet store should pay your vet bills if the piggies have any illnesses. :)
 
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