Guinea Pigs Fighting

[Sarah Taveira]

Hi guys, I have 3 guinea pigs that I’ve had since their first week of life. They are all brothers and grew up together. They have been fighting and chattering their teeth at each other since VERY early on. NOTHING has changed but all of the sudden they have started to actually bight each other and HARD.. one of them bit the other ones nose super badly and now I am taking care of it to ensure is doesn’t get infected but they keep bighting each other’s skin. I always hear that guines pigs will fight to establish who will be the “boss” but mine are about a year and a half and still fight over it. Is this normal behavior? Should I be worried they are suddenly hurting each other? Is it dangerous enough to have to separate them even if they were born and raised together?

 

[Sarah Taveira]

Hi guys, I have 3 guinea pigs that I’ve had since their first week of life. They are all brothers and grew up together. They have been fighting and chattering their teeth at each other since VERY early on. NOTHING has changed but all of the sudden they have started to actually bite each other and HARD.. one of them bit the other ones nose super badly and now I am taking care of it to ensure is doesn’t get infected but they keep biting each other’s skin. I always hear that guines pigs will fight to establish who will be the “boss” and then stop, but mine are about a year and a half and still fight over it. Is this normal behavior? Should I be worried they are suddenly hurting each other? Is it dangerous enough to have to separate them even if they were born and raised together?

 

[Julie Tait]

I unfortunately had to separate my boys who were brothers as once they draw blood I don't think they will be suitable to remain together. My boys lip and ear was hanging off. Upon checking them both over they must have been fighting for a good while. It was heart breaking separating them but they are both much happier....popcorning round again. I tried twice to reunite them but they were I stably unhappy x

 

[Julie Tait]

I unfortunately had to separate my boys who were brothers as once they draw blood I don't think they will be suitable to remain together. My boys lip and ear was hanging off. Upon checking them both over they must have been fighting for a good while. It was heart breaking separating them but they are both much happier....popcorning round again. I tried twice to reunite them but they were I stably unhappy x

Stably? Typing error lol

 

[rome_italy]

unfortunately this is normal and three boars together need a miracle for getting along... Then after some blood the situation becomes serious. They have hormones and need also a large room. A friend of mine had to separate two brothers boars after three years of peace! If you separate the boars they would need a "wife" each... a hard situation, I see...
I have no idea for helping you...

 

[Janice C]

Hi guys, I have 3 guinea pigs that I’ve had since their first week of life. They are all brothers and grew up together. They have been fighting and chattering their teeth at each other since VERY early on. NOTHING has changed but all of the sudden they have started to actually bight each other and HARD.. one of them bit the other ones nose super badly and now I am taking care of it to ensure is doesn’t get infected but they keep bighting each other’s skin. I always hear that guines pigs will fight to establish who will be the “boss” but mine are about a year and a half and still fight over it. Is this normal behavior? Should I be worried they are suddenly hurting each other? Is it dangerous enough to have to separate them even if they were born and raised together?

Please separate immediately! Once they fight and draw blood there is no going back I’m afraid! If there is two who are ok together then you can just remove the one. If they are all equally guilty then they must all live separately. I know this can be hard to work out enough space for them all but must be done ASAP! If you haven’t room for 3 separate spaces please ask a rescue centre to help you. Sorry to be so negative but my boars also started off life together until ages 9 months then had to be separated.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys, I have 3 guinea pigs that I’ve had since their first week of life. They are all brothers and grew up together. They have been fighting and chattering their teeth at each other since VERY early on. NOTHING has changed but all of the sudden they have started to actually bight each other and HARD.. one of them bit the other ones nose super badly and now I am taking care of it to ensure is doesn’t get infected but they keep bighting each other’s skin. I always hear that guines pigs will fight to establish who will be the “boss” but mine are about a year and a half and still fight over it. Is this normal behavior? Should I be worried they are suddenly hurting each other? Is it dangerous enough to have to separate them even if they were born and raised together?

Hi and welcome

Your boys are now in the teenage months. Unfortunately, same age boar trios (related or not doesn't matter) have 90% fall-out rate before they reach a homronally more settled adulthood. Sadly far too many shops and breeders still them in order to make some cheap money.

Please take the time to carefully read this very detailed guide; it deals with all aspects of the teenage months. I hope that you can figure out which two boys still get on best and then find a new solution for the problem boy; you can find all possible option with their various pros/cons discussed in the guide.
If all three do not get on (which does happen), then it is likely best for you to keep them as next door companions with interaction through the bars.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?