I think I made a mistake

HumanWithFurryPotats

HumanWithFurryPotats

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So I got a New Guinea Pig about a week ago, and I was not aware that you should separate two guinea pigs for 2-3 weeks. I put them in the same cage, and they were fine for a couple of days, but today I heard my older chattering her teeth at my new one. Afraid a fight might ensue I put a wall in their cage to separate them. What should I do now? Is it still possible to separate them for 2-3 weeks or am I too late?
 
I did not seperate them. However, you did make a mistake. I recommend introducin them on a nuetral territory meaning a territory where no guiena pig has been before. The best thing you can do now is to do the introduction now. Put some food in the introduction area.
 
I did that at the shelter I went to, sat there for a few minuets and they got along fine.
 
my younger Guinea Pig broke in to my older ones side of the cage! I wasn't supervising them! I don't know if they fought or something but something happened, because their igloo was toppled over. I am so worried.
 
They may have just ‘redecorated’, as piggies like to do. Did you see any cuts or scrapes on either of them?

Being fine for a few minutes at the shelter isn’t enough. You should try and reintroduce them in a neutral area - no smells of either pig can be in that area. No hides. A pile of hay and veggies and you need many hours to spare to make sure it’s going well.

Before you can put them back in the cage, you need to clean it thoroughly so it doesn’t smell of either of them.

Make sure you have two of everything, and that the hides have two exits.

You should only separate if blood has been drawn or one piggy is really being bullied.

There’s plenty of info in the link below.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
 
HumanWithFurryPotats said:
So I got a New Guinea Pig about a week ago, and I was not aware that you should separate two guinea pigs for 2-3 weeks. I put them in the same cage, and they were fine for a couple of days, but today I heard my older chattering her teeth at my new one. Afraid a fight might ensue I put a wall in their cage to separate them. What should I do now? Is it still possible to separate them for 2-3 weeks or am I too late?
Click to expand...

Hi!

It is too late for any quarantine - that has nothing to do with bonding, but is a safety measure to prevent a new guinea pig potentially carrying contagious health problems if it comes from a background where this possible. Once guinea pigs have been in contact with an ill or new guinea pig, then you either have to quarantine all piggies in contact or waive it and treat all in the case of skin infections/parasites.
We recommend to drop a quarantine in babies and youngsters and rather risk having to treat both companions because their need of company is overwhelming and they don't generally deal well with being on their own at all.
Read here about our quaranting advice: Importance Of Quarantine

Please always introduce any guinea pigs on neutral ground so the new one is not seen as an intruder. However, it is too late to do it now because you are already in the ca. two week post-bonding dominance stage where the newly existing hierarchy is consolidated.
Take the time to read our bonding guide and follow the tips, as the guide still applies; you are in the last phase. Please be aware that there are two different teeth chatterings: a low one that expresses displeasure and a strong one which issues a warning. Neither will necessarily lead to a fight. It all depends whether your old sow has really accepted your newbie or not and whether they have bonded as a pair or not.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Bonds In Trouble
 
HumanWithFurryPotats said:
So I should reintroduce them? Would it still work?
Click to expand...

Please FULLY read the guides that we have prepared.
When you are ready, set up a neutral pen as described and put them in together. If it works (and who knows until you try) then after a few hours put them into a newly cleaned cage with no igloos or anything that does not have 2 entrances and exits so no one can get trapped.
There are no immediate or quick answers. You need to do your homework, set it up, observe and then decide if it’s going to work.
 
Thanks everyone for their help, I will try it out tonight and tell you the results. I appreciate your help a lot and hope my two piggies can get along.
 
One more question, how do you remove the guinea pig’s scent? Do you just replace it with something stronger or just clean the cage and it will go away?
 
I highly recommend the bonding guides.
I had them open the whole time I was bonding piggies last year.
Not only did the guide save my sanity but I’m sure that following them helped ensure a successful bonding.
Lots of help and support from forum members too I should add.
Hope things go well for you
 
Clean the cage thoroughly and change the bedding completely. Also wash any (washable) hides.
 
Ok everyone, the introduction took about 3 hours and I would like to know if it was “successful”. Lily, the newbie, was staying behind Alexa, my older one, and sniffing her bum and sides, while Alexa was eating and cleaning herself. After a little bit they began to separate, then came back together. Throughout the introduction, they were making this sound, almost like they were talking to each other. Lily also chattered her teeth a bit, mostly at me entering the room, but at times at Alexa. Right now they are still in the neutral zone and Lily stood behind Alexa for a while while Alexa was eating, and them eventually moved. I would also like to mention that in their “first introduction” at the shelter Lily groomed Alexa, and Alexa didn’t seem to care much. The shelter worker said that Lily was interested but not too much. Are they OK now? Should I keep them separate still? Was the introduction a “success” or will I need to do more?
 
Also I did not witness the “chin raising” part, but I feel that Lily is the dominant one, as she did nibble on Alexa’s ear and Alexa didn’t really care.
 
Ok so I put them in the newly cleaned cage for a minute or two, and then Lily started to follow Alexa, then she started chattering at Alexa. Alexa backed off and Lily followed her, then she looked like she pounced on her, even though there was no damage done. Alexa went back in a corner and started squeaking in a high pitch. Scared for her I picked up Alexa and put her in a separate cage. Is this normal? Should I let it happen?
Alexa is obviously submissive to Lily but Lily is chattering at her, which worries me. Should I keep them separate?
 
It’s normal behaviour. If there were no bites or blood drawn leave them to it. You can’t keep separating them. They have to sometimes assert dominance in a new environment, which the cleaned out cage counts as. More often than not the dominance behaviour will settle down. Just keep an eye on them but don’t separate unless really necessary.

I’m not sure what you will do now in terms of putting Alexa back in the cage. The (submissive) squeaks she’s making are very normal.
 
ok, I put Alexa back and the norma behavior is still going on so it's ok. Is it fine to leave them like this for the night?
 
Yes it's fine. How was the night?
 
All is well, Lily and Alexa did get chattering at each other, then Alexa squealed, but that’s normal right?
 
I just wanted to ask is a guinea pig screaming out of fear normal, because Alexa has been doing it, and I am scared that she is telling me that Lily is hurting her.
 
Alexa is just telling Lily that she knows Lily is boss.
It’s quite frightening the first time you hear a piggy squealing like that but so long as they are not fighting and blood is not being drawn this is normal behaviour.
The piggies understand what they’re doing.
Bonding is stressful for us but hang on in there.
It takes up to 2 weeks for a bonding to settle.
 
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