Help please have i done the right thing

L

larnanoomia

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 4, 2025
Messages
121
Reaction score
290
Points
285
Location
Liverpool
Hi
I got given 2 one year old boars
Lived together from my understanding
Don't know much else.
They came with nothing so I purchased 2x 4x2 c&c cages and put them together to form an L shape.

They have 6ft down one side, 4ft across one side and 2ft the other. So a big enough enclosure.

3 water bottles
4 hides
2 fleece corners
2 hay trays
Scatter feed

My biggest pig is the less dominant.

Throughout the 3 weeks of having them I've had the normal rumble strutting from the dominant one. The other one just accepts it. In the last few days things have escalated. The non dominant one is being chased multiple times a day and teeth chatters really loud and puts his fur up to appear bigger.

I've got a ring camera on them and work from home. Anytime the non dominant pig went in any hide he got chased out which always resulted in teeth chattering and raised fur.

For about 3 days he's just sat in the corner. So this morning I've put up a grid to divide them so they both have 4x2 cage each.

I done this due to the escalating behaviour and one becoming withdrawn. My non dominant big is settled but the dominant one is racing back and forth and chewing the cage now.

Things were definitely escalating and getting more frequent. Have I done the right thing? Will it settle? Any advice appreciated as I'm second guessing myself and read conflicting info online
 
Pikachu seems happier, exploring his cage, meanwhile riachu the dominant piggy is still cage biting and showing aggression/anger because he cant get to pikachu. Hes just retreated to his hidey. Is he showing separation anxiety or is he still trying to assert dominance ?
 
larnanoomia said:
Hi
I got given 2 one year old boars
Lived together from my understanding
Don't know much else.
They came with nothing so I purchased 2x 4x2 c&c cages and put them together to form an L shape.

They have 6ft down one side, 4ft across one side and 2ft the other. So a big enough enclosure.

3 water bottles
4 hides
2 fleece corners
2 hay trays
Scatter feed

My biggest pig is the less dominant.

Throughout the 3 weeks of having them I've had the normal rumble strutting from the dominant one. The other one just accepts it. In the last few days things have escalated. The non dominant one is being chased multiple times a day and teeth chatters really loud and puts his fur up to appear bigger.

I've got a ring camera on them and work from home. Anytime the non dominant pig went in any hide he got chased out which always resulted in teeth chattering and raised fur.

For about 3 days he's just sat in the corner. So this morning I've put up a grid to divide them so they both have 4x2 cage each.

I done this due to the escalating behaviour and one becoming withdrawn. My non dominant big is settled but the dominant one is racing back and forth and chewing the cage now.

Things were definitely escalating and getting more frequent. Have I done the right thing? Will it settle? Any advice appreciated as I'm second guessing myself and read conflicting info online
Click to expand...

Hi

You have done the right thing as things were escalating.

It is not all that rare that boar pairs coming from confined/less than ideal care situations into a spacy, caring situation that underlying issues and stresses become visible when sticking it out together is no longer a necessary priority survival mechanism.

Of course, the dominant boar still wants to get at the submissive one. His behaviour is perfectly normal but should settle down. To work out the situation you have to look at the under-boar and see how he reacts - is he suddenly looking a lot perkier when away from his mate? If yes, the bond is dysfunctional. You do not always need bloody fights.

You can conduct a formal re-intro in two days on neutral ground to allow any hormone spikes (which can last into younger adulthood) to dye down again. If they go back together as if nothing has happened, you have a working bond. If the bullying behaviours or any long-held grudges make a comeback within minutes, then you are dealing with dysfunctional partnership. Have a spare grid and oven gloves at the ready when chivving any riled up piggies around as they can instictively react to any sudden movement and defense bite.
Here is the link that applies to all ages and genders: Bonds In Trouble

I am very sorry. You have done a good thing only to seeing it fall apart. It is not your fault.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

You have done the right thing as things were escalating.

It is not all that rare that boar pairs coming from confined/less than ideal care situations into a spacy, caring situation the underlying issues and stresses become visible when sticking it out together is no longer a necessary priority survival mechanism.

Of course, the dominant boar still wants to get at the submissive one. His behaviour is perfectly normal but should settle down. To work out the situation you have to look at the under-boar and see how he reacts - is he suddenly looking a lot perkier when away from his mate? If yes, the bond is dysfunctional. You do not always need bloody fights.

You can conduct a formal re-intro in two days on neutral ground to allow any hormone spikes (which can last into younger adulthood) to dye down again. If they go back together as if nothing has happened, you have a working bond. If the bullying behaviours or any long-held grudges make a comeback within minutes, then you are dealing with dysfunctional partnership. Have a spare grid and oven gloves at the ready when chivving any riled up piggies around as they can instictively react to any sudden movement and defense bite.
Here is the link that applies to all ages and genders: Bonds In Trouble

I am very sorry. You have done a good thing only to seeing it fall apart. It is not your fault.
Click to expand...
Hi thank you very much for your response its greatly appreciated! My non dominant piggy is very relaxed, even just in one morning he isn't hiding away at all. My dominant one just seems very very angry and agitated that he cant get to the other one, and i just heard a yelp i think he bit him on the paw thru the bar. I dont want to stress either of them out
 
I absolutely agree - you have done the right thing.
The dominant one is going to be upset by the separation but you have to ignore it and he will calm down in time

I have two separated boys. They were both dominant and that is why their bond broke down. They were both very upset, after their fight, by the separation but they calmed down within a few days
 
Piggies&buns said:
I absolutely agree - you have done the right thing.
The dominant one is going to be upset by the separation but you have to ignore it and he will calm down in time

I have two separated boys. They were both dominant and that is why their bond broke down. They were both very upset, after their fight, by the separation but they calmed down within a few days
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response. Pikachu isn't very dominant, the first week I'd say he tried to rumble strut back but he stopped. He just seemed to accept the hierarchy but from what I was seeing riachu wouldn't let him rest or accept it and that was causing pikachu to fight back. Thanks again for your response, I've put a grid on the top now as riachu was trying to climb here there and everywhere to get to pikachu
 
larnanoomia said:
Update- things have already settled down considerably and my less dominant piggy has gone into a deep sleep never seen him so relaxed
Click to expand...

I think that speaks for itself...

It is upsetting for you and for the piggies at the time but they will be in the long term happier as a 'can't live together but can't live apart' pair with each their own territory but interaction through the bars.
 
Eeee look at his little feet!
They're lucky you are so diligent and caring. They'll be just fine living as next door neighbours 😊
 
You have definitely done the right thing. I’m sorry that it didn’t work out, but they will be perfectly fine living as neighbours even if they couldn’t live together as cage mates.
 
Hi just a 24 hr update. When ive woke up this morning I can see bite marks on the bars separating the guineas & both guinea pigs have been pulling eachothers fleece liners thru the bars. Pikachu my less dominant piggy is eating hay right now but then he choses to rest by the separaters so he can see riachu 😢 . Does pikachu miss him even though he was being abit of a bully ? I am going to try and reintroduce them on neutral terrority. Can I do this later on tonight or do I have to wait 48hr ? Thank you
 

Attachments

  • 20250719_074035.webp
    20250719_074035.webp
    65.9 KB · Views: 9
Sorry and my other question, if I do reintroduce them and its successful, shall i put them back in the cage as is without the divider and all clean liners etc ? Or leave it scented
 
Chewing the bars and Laying next to the dividers is not necessarily a friendly sign - it can just be territory marking and making sure the other piggy doesn’t try to cross, and not a sign they want to or can be together. Please don’t be fooled by thinking it’s always a friendly gesture.

And also don’t forget that as separated piggies they will still communicate between the bars but it does not mean they are able to share a territory.
I have two separated boys - they are always chatting to each other and popcorn about ‘together’ but they had an awful fight (injuries to both) so no matter how friendly they appear separated they can never be together

You need to wait out the two days. If you rush to reintroduce and the hormones haven’t settled then you are setting them up to fail due to still being riled up.
And you need to be prepared that if the bullying behaviour starts again that that is definitely the end of the road for them and they must stay side by side.


larnanoomia said:
Sorry and my other question, if I do reintroduce them and its successful, shall i put them back in the cage as is without the divider and all clean liners etc ? Or leave it scented
Click to expand...

If you wish to leave the liners in then you can but I would rub each liner on each other so both scents transfer to both halves of the cage. (Divider removed)
Personally I’d prefer to put in fresh liners. They are going to scent mark but I wouldn’t want to take any territorial risks given things have been on the edge.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Chewing the bars and Laying next to the dividers is not necessarily a friendly sign - it can just be territory marking and making sure the other piggy doesn’t try to cross, and not a sign they want to or can be together. Please don’t be fooled by thinking it’s always a friendly gesture.

And also don’t forget that as separated piggies they will still communicate between the bars but it does not mean they are able to share a territory.
I have two separated boys - they are always chatting to each other and popcorn about ‘together’ but they had an awful fight (injuries to both) so no matter how friendly they appear separated they can never be together

You need to wait out the two days. If you rush to reintroduce and the hormones haven’t settled then you are setting them up to fail due to still being riled up.
And you need to be prepared that if the bullying behaviour starts again that that is definitely the end of the road for them and they must stay side by side.




If you wish to leave the liners in then you can but I would rub each liner on each other so both scents transfer to both halves of the cage. (Divider removed)
Personally I’d prefer to put in fresh liners. They are going to scent mark but I wouldn’t want to take any territorial risks given things have been on the edge.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for your response on both questions its greatly appreciated !
 
Update - after 48 hr I set up a neutral playpen and put pikachu and riachu together. They lunged at eachother after about 5 mins, both teeth chattering & both had their fur standing on end. I left them 5/10 mins to see if there was a resolution but ultimately decided to separate before things got any worse.
 
Pikachu my less dominant piggy also started rumble strutting & he has never questioned riachu dominance before
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry to hear that.
Best to keep them separated and side by side permanently now
Click to expand...
Hi

Both the piggys are happy living as neighbours. Sometimes they rumble strut to eachother thru the bars and have even teeth chattered / had hackles up thru the bars to eachother so think its definitely the right decision. Ive had them a month now and started handling them / bringing them out for floor exercise
I have a 6x3 outdoor pen that I'm going to put on the grass. Do you think they can be on the grass together or is that just a no go straight away? I have a Divider in can put in. Just didnt know if they could mix on the grass outside. Thank you
 
larnanoomia said:
Hi

Both the piggys are happy living as neighbours. Sometimes they rumble strut to eachother thru the bars and have even teeth chattered / had hackles up thru the bars to eachother so think its definitely the right decision. Ive had them a month now and started handling them / bringing them out for floor exercise
I have a 6x3 outdoor pen that I'm going to put on the grass. Do you think they can be on the grass together or is that just a no go straight away? I have a Divider in can put in. Just didnt know if they could mix on the grass outside. Thank you
Click to expand...
I’m very sorry that they couldn’t live together, but it’s good that they can live side-by-side. Unfortunately, this means that they can never share the same space at the same time. This includes outdoor pens, indoor runs et cetera. If you are certain that you can safely and securely divide the run with a divider that cannot be broken down then they could go outside on the grass side-by-side. Otherwise, if the run cannot be securely divided it would be an idea to put them out separately, unless you have a separate run that you can use at the same time.
 
larnanoomia said:
Hi

Both the piggys are happy living as neighbours. Sometimes they rumble strut to eachother thru the bars and have even teeth chattered / had hackles up thru the bars to eachother so think its definitely the right decision. Ive had them a month now and started handling them / bringing them out for floor exercise
I have a 6x3 outdoor pen that I'm going to put on the grass. Do you think they can be on the grass together or is that just a no go straight away? I have a Divider in can put in. Just didnt know if they could mix on the grass outside. Thank you
Click to expand...

Hi

Please don't try to mix them outdoors. They will get into trouble straight away again since they are forced to establish a new group in new territory with all the ensuing dominance behaviour - and the inevitable fights if you put them in a situation where they have to go through it all over again. :(

Please accept that they are happier with each having their own space. I understand how hard it is for you to say goodbye to your dream of a couple of snuggly pets living happily together but the spacial separation follows their natural species instincts while still allowing them to interact and provide the companionship they also need. This unfortunately goes for every situation. If you go to the vet, you will have to take two carriers from now on; any run on the lawn will need a divider.

Please make sure that your run is predator safe and has a shady area. Don't leave them outside at over 25 C or in the way of a full sun-heated breeze.

We call these kind of boar pairs (more rarely sow pairs) 'can't live together and can't live apart' pairs since they still share a bond and can become just as upset as a live-in companion when one of them dies.

HUGS
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Please don't try to mix them outdoors. They will get into trouble straight away again since they are forced to establish a new group in new territory with all the ensuing dominance behaviour - and the inevitable fights if you put them in a situation where they have to go through it all over again. :(

Please accept that they are happier with each having their own space. I understand how hard it is for you to say goodbye to your dream of a couple of snuggly pets living happily together but the spacial separation follows their natural species instincts while still allowing them to interact and provide the companionship they also need. This unfortunately goes for every situation. If you go to the vet, you will have to take two carriers from now on; any run on the lawn will need a divider.

Please make sure that your run is predator safe and has a shady area. Don't leave them outside at over 25 C or in the way of a full sun-heated breeze.

We call these kind of boar pairs (more rarely sow pairs) 'can't live together and can't live apart' pairs since they still share a bond and can become just as upset as a live-in companion when one of them dies.

HUGS
Click to expand...
Thank you. That's fine will do thanks for your advice
 
VickiA said:
I’m very sorry that they couldn’t live together, but it’s good that they can live side-by-side. Unfortunately, this means that they can never share the same space at the same time. This includes outdoor pens, indoor runs et cetera. If you are certain that you can safely and securely divide the run with a divider that cannot be broken down then they could go outside on the grass side-by-side. Otherwise, if the run cannot be securely divided it would be an idea to put them out separately, unless you have a separate run that you can use at the same time.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice will keep them separate outdoors x
 
Here are riachu and pikachu enjoying their time as neighbours. They are only newly 1 year old so after our holiday this week we plan on neutering them and getting them a sow each so they won't be too lonely . We have the space for them and would love to see them living in pairs
 

Attachments

  • 20250802_212706.webp
    20250802_212706.webp
    96.4 KB · Views: 9
larnanoomia said:
Here are riachu and pikachu enjoying their time as neighbours. They are only newly 1 year old so after our holiday this week we plan on neutering them and getting them a sow each so they won't be too lonely . We have the space for them and would love to see them living in pairs
Click to expand...

Hi

Here is our neutering information pack if you'll find that helpful. All the best!
A Guide to Boar Neutering Operations (Considerations, Post-op Care & Complications and Success Story)

All my boars neutered - mostly adopted that way but a few I (especially the ones born here to already pregnant sows) I have had neutered myself.
 
larnanoomia said:
Hi
I got given 2 one year old boars
Lived together from my understanding
Don't know much else.
They came with nothing so I purchased 2x 4x2 c&c cages and put them together to form an L shape.

They have 6ft down one side, 4ft across one side and 2ft the other. So a big enough enclosure.

3 water bottles
4 hides
2 fleece corners
2 hay trays
Scatter feed

My biggest pig is the less dominant.

Throughout the 3 weeks of having them I've had the normal rumble strutting from the dominant one. The other one just accepts it. In the last few days things have escalated. The non dominant one is being chased multiple times a day and teeth chatters really loud and puts his fur up to appear bigger.

I've got a ring camera on them and work from home. Anytime the non dominant pig went in any hide he got chased out which always resulted in teeth chattering and raised fur.

For about 3 days he's just sat in the corner. So this morning I've put up a grid to divide them so they both have 4x2 cage each.

I done this due to the escalating behaviour and one becoming withdrawn. My non dominant big is settled but the dominant one is racing back and forth and chewing the cage now.

Things were definitely escalating and getting more frequent. Have I done the right thing? Will it settle? Any advice appreciated as I'm second guessing myself and read conflicting info online
Click to expand...
I feel u, my larger guinea pig is always attacking the smaller
 
They are two beautiful guinea pigs. I'm sure they will be very happy with wives once they are neutered ❤️
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top