Hate each other

[06matben]

My two male guinea pigs used to live together and get on okay with each other. A couple weeks ago they had two fights and one (Derek) got bitten twice. The vet suggested neutering them and I then found out that neutering won’t solve the problem.i tried reintroducing them in a neutral area and they taught again within a minute.
What do I do? I don’t want to rehome either of them and I just don’t see them getting on in the future?

 

[Wiebke]

My two male guinea pigs used to live together and get on okay with each other. A couple weeks ago they had two fights and one (Derek) got bitten twice. The vet suggested neutering them and I then found out that neutering won’t solve the problem.i tried reintroducing them in a neutral area and they taught again within a minute.
What do I do? I don’t want to rehome either of them and I just don’t see them getting on in the future?

Hi! Your longer term options depend very much on what is available in your area in term of rescue and vet access.

I assume that your boys are around 4-6 months old? That is the time when the worst of the teenage hormone spikes and most of the fights/fall-outs happen. Unfortunately most boars are shop bought babies that have been chosen for looks and not whether they are actually best friends. Shops also sell cages that are too small, not allowing the boys to get away from each other as they would inside the larger group they are wired to live in; that all contributes to fights once the testicles descend and the testosterone is at an all time high.

Please take the time to read this guide here; it will hopefully help you understand what has happened, but it lists all the possible options with their pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision as to what will work best for you.
The easiest option is to keep them in adjoining cages with interaction through the bars, so they can still be bonded, but each have their own patch.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

We may be able to help you more if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to allow us to tailor any recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. We have members from all over the world. PLease click on your username on the top bar, go to account details and then to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

 

[06matben]

Thank you they are about 6/7 months old now. I live in Cambridgeshire England

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you they are about 6/7 months old now. I live in Cambridgeshire England

So they are at the age when testosterone is at an all time high.

Can you please add your location to your details so we can always point you to local services and members from your area can give you tips. I jump between so many different posts in a day that I rarely can remember in the longer term. It is the price we have to pay for being a lively forum and doing our best to answer all questions as promptly as we can in our free time!
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/

 

[06matben]

I’ve done that now

 

[Wiebke]

I’ve done that now

Have you managed to read the guide? You can either keep your boys alongside each other with interaction through the bars, try to bond each with a new boarmate or have each neutered to live with a sow after a 6 weeks post-op wait.
Wood Green in Godmanchester or Heathlands are likely your closest good standard guinea pig rescues.

If you opt for the last, see whether you can have your boys neutered at the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. They have plenty of experience in guinea pig neutering and as close to a 100% success rate as any vet or surgeon vcan reasonably get; it is well worth the journey! I would strongly recommend not to use a vet who is not exactly familiar with guinea pigs (I have found that one out the hard way and nearly lost a boar of mine). The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
Cross gender bondings are the most stable of piggy bonds once initial acceptance has happened; so each boy can live with a sow after a 6 weeks post-op wait (only then will he be 100%)