Guinea pigs bonded?

[Zuzu&Arabelle]

Hi! I recently got two female Guinea pigs and when I adopted them they told me that they were a bonded pair. But I’ve noticed since we got them they fight sometimes. The fighting is not violent but sometimes I wonder if it’s normal for them to do this after being bonded.

 

[Tnoz]

Hi how long have you had your piggies? How old are they?

 

[Piggies&buns]

When you say fighting you need to be sure that you mean fighting and not dominance.
Dominance is very normal - rumbling, chasing, mounting, spraying urine. It’s something which they will do throughout their lives, and particularly when they are in season (which occurs approximately every two weeks)
Actual fighting is not normal and is bond breaking.

A full on fight in sows less common than in boars, but it can still happen. If there was to be a full on fight, it warrants immediate and permanent separation.
Sometimes sows in a dysfunctional relationship will bully the underpig - there can be a subtle line between normal dominance and bullying but it’s when chasing becomes so relentless that the underpig is constantly chased from hides, never allowed to rest. The underpig loses weight through being chased away from food all the time. Underpig becomes withdrawn and depressed.

The guides below explain behaviours further.

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

 

[Zuzu&Arabelle]

It is more like dominance so I don’t think I need to worry much…
They are 1 years old.

 

[Zuzu&Arabelle]

When you say fighting you need to be sure that you mean fighting and not dominance.
Dominance is very normal - rumbling, chasing, mounting, spraying urine. It’s something which they will do throughout their lives, and particularly when they are in season (which occurs approximately every two weeks)
Actual fighting is not normal and is bond breaking.

A full on fight in sows less common than in boars, but it can still happen. If there was to be a full on fight, it warrants immediate and permanent separation.
Sometimes sows in a dysfunctional relationship will bully the underpig - there can be a subtle line between normal dominance and bullying but it’s when chasing becomes so relentless that the underpig is constantly chased from hides, never allowed to rest. The underpig loses weight through being chased away from food all the time. Underpig becomes withdrawn and depressed.

The guides below explain behaviours further.

Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Thank you for your information. It was really helpful.