Help. My Pig Bites

[Darian]

Hello

I bought my second guinea pig in August. The same day I got Lucky I took him to the vet after finding out He had mites. I understand it was stressful for him but while we were there he bit me hard, drawing blood and all. During the months I've had him he chatters his teeth at me if I come near the cage and he has bitten me like four and five more times. I have another guinea pig who is completely opposite and I've had him almost a whole year. The newer pig, Lucky, even beats up on my other nicer pig. I don't know what to do because even when I try to pet lucky he will bite and I'm scared my three year old will reach down to pet and get bit. I don't know if I should try to interact with him more but I'm at my wits end and am unsure what to do. If I should find another home or what because I don't want him to go home with someone else to bite them

 

[RosieMaia]

Biting can be a response to pain, discomfort or stress. I believe a 3-year old shouldn't interact with piggies without supervision though, whether the piggies bite or not - could you make a roof for your cage? It may be that the pig is still shy and scared - it sometimes can take a while before they relax with you.

The forum has excellent care guides, here are a selected few that may be helpful for you:
" Biting" And What You Can Do
Children And Guinea Pigs - A Guide For Parents
Children And Guinea Pigs - Age Appropriate Interaction And Responsibilities.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

I noticed you mentioned that Lucky fights and dominates your other piggy. Are they two boars? If so, how large is your cage? Do they fight regularly, drawing blood etc? The in-cage dynamics can impact a piggy's relationship with the humans, too.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello

I bought my second guinea pig in August. The same day I got Lucky I took him to the vet after finding out He had mites. I understand it was stressful for him but while we were there he bit me hard, drawing blood and all. During the months I've had him he chatters his teeth at me if I come near the cage and he has bitten me like four and five more times. I have another guinea pig who is completely opposite and I've had him almost a whole year. The newer pig, Lucky, even beats up on my other nicer pig. I don't know what to do because even when I try to pet lucky he will bite and I'm scared my three year old will reach down to pet and get bit. I don't know if I should try to interact with him more but I'm at my wits end and am unsure what to do. If I should find another home or what because I don't want him to go home with someone else to bite them

Hi!

@RosieMaia has given you the links to our guides on the various aspects that can play into your problem and offer tips on how to deal with it.

Guinea pigs bite hard in defence as a reflex when they feel threatened as happened at the vets. Lucky is obviously a rather plucky soul. If he is just tweaking you, then you can work around that with patience and understanding, using our piggy whispering tips by telling Lucky first and foreost that he loved and welcome; then you can establish friendly dominance over thim. That should take care of the tweaking.
Please make sure that your 3 year old cannot get at the guinea pigs without supervision at any time anyway. Not just because of Lucky defence biting but also the danger of the guinea pigs being injured when they jump blindly to get away from a groping and squeezing child.

Can you please tell us how big your cage is and what age your two boars are. Please be aware that guinea pigs are prey animals that have virtually no human interaction before they are being sold as pets.
How have you introduced your boys? Have you just stuck them together in the cage which makes the newbie an intruder and puts any relationship on a bad footing straight away.
This guide here explains social behaviours in guinea pigs and will help you to understand what is going on between your two boys: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

If your two boys are currently between 4-14 months old, they are right in the middle of their teenage months where they suffer from huge spikes of testosterone, which tests any boar relationship. As long as they are not fighting, you'd better not intervene. Make sure that each boar has got his own hidey with two exits (so no boy can get stuck), bowl and water bottle, and access to unlimited hay that cannot be blocked.
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?