Guinea Pigs suddenly started fighting :(

[emmaalana]

I have 2 male guinea pigs (had them both since January this year). They have gotten on great as they came as a pair until yesterday!

All of a sudden last night they started fighting and one had a bloody ear and a bite to the face which was bleeding. We separated them in separate cages for the night as just before we went to bed they started fighting again. This morning we put them in the play area and then back together and they had another big fight

Does anybody know why this is happening - (I have a very distraught child to explain to aswell)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sadly bonds can fail, they can hit their teens and they both have their own ideas on dominance and are not compatible. Since yours have now had a bloody fight, I am afraid they will never be able to live together again or have any time in physical contact. Please put them in separate cages but next to each other so they can still communicate through the bars so they don’t get lonely.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[emmaalana]

Thank you Piggies & Buns I thought that might be the case its just so sad as they have been brilliant together until now.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It is sad when it happens. Character compatibility is key and if you get them as youngsters, then what happens down the line is unknown. How old are they?

I appreciate it has only just happened so you won’t have had time to think about any longer term. They will be fine living next to each other as they will still be able to communicate through the bars.
Should you consider bonding them with another piggy, then do go about it the right way. If they are teens, then neutering them and bonding them each with a female would be the safest thing to do.

 

[emmaalana]

They are about 9 months old now. We have a spare cage (luckily as we upgraded a while ago) so they have been separated and seem to be instantly more relaxed, although we will struggle with space for two cages.

 

[Wiebke]

They are about 9 months old now. We have a spare cage (luckily as we upgraded a while ago) so they have been separated and seem to be instantly more relaxed, although we will struggle with space for two cages.

I am very sorry; a fall-out is always such a gutting experience!

But it sounds like you have made the right decision if both boars were instantly happier when in their own space. 9 months are one of the trickier phases of the teenage months.

Any long term cage solutions depend on whether you want to keep them as singles with interaction through the bars (in which case they need somewhere to meet and interact through the bars for mutual stimulation) or whether you want to try and rescue date your boys for a new mate or neuter and bond with a sow each; which means you could consider having the second cage above the other.
The teenage guide will take you through the various pros and cons.

Take your time to do your research and think things through.

 

[Inky and cookie]

I hiya I am also in the same situation as you. It’s so disappointing. I now have mine in 2x3 c&c cages in an L Shape so they can “talk” to each other for now.

 

[emmaalana]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I’ll have to have a think about best setup for them