Help with new GP's

[Fluffles]

Hi

We've just got 2 lovely new pigs from a local pet shop and we are told they are around 10 weeks old. We bought 2 males, one slightly bigger than the other and they seemed happy enough when we brought them home on Sunday.

The larger pig is constantly chasing the smaller pig, purring, attempting to mount him (or her!) and I wondered if this was normal behaviour for a young male or whether the pigs have been sexed wrong. The other big rebuffs him at every chance.

Sorry if this sounds naive but I can't find reference to this behaviour anywhere.

Thanks

 

[Lizzie]

It's called 'rumble-strutting' or just 'rumbling' and it's perfectly normal for young boars - but since you got them from a pet shop I'd just check their sex anyway.

They're just trying to sort out who's boss, it should all calm down within a few days.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Definitely check they are both boars
As Lizzie says, it's normal behaviour to sort out their dominance as long as the other piggy is happy to be the more submissive.
Hope they settle and sort out who is the boss p

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

It is always adviseable to check your new piggies gender upon arrival.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm

However, mounting and rumblestrutting are part and parcel of normal guinea pig dominance behaviour. Both genders do it, although it is more pronounced in boars. Guinea pigs live in herds and a hierarchy is essential to their social life. In new territory, the hierarchy needs to be established first.
Here is more about boar behaviour: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

Please make sure that you have a big enough cage/hutch. Unfortunately, pet shops are not always forthcoming about recommending the proper sizes. Two guinea pigs need a minimum of 2x4 ft as per RSPCA recommendation, but 2x5 ft would be much better for boars. You would also profit from having everything in twos, bowls, water bottles, hay racks and hideys, each item placed as far from the other item as possible. That way, the dominant boar can't go possessive and it will remove one of the most likely situations that can spark fights.

 

[Fluffles]

Thanks everyone, seems to be calming down and we've checked the sex which looks OK, so I think you're right.

Funnily enough they've both established their 'places' in the hutch which is 2 storey and quite large so they have plenty of space. There are 2 hidey places which they either share or have one each. So far so good!

Thanks again.

 

[Rosierum]

Good to know they are settling. The rumbling and mounting can be alarming at first but it is all normal. Welcome to the forum.