Is this normal behaviour....licking genitals.

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constantine

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Hi all,
We are after a bit of advice, we have just got two girls that are 9 weeks old. They have both been ok for a week but in the last couple of days one (Spike)has constantly (and I mean almost non stop) been licking the others (Gizmo)genitalia/anus. It has got to the point were sometimes Gizmo seems to be crying to be left alone or she will try to get as far away from Spike as possible only to be followed and licked.
many thanks
 
Ummm....first of all...double check their sexes, you can find some pics to help you online :)
 
That does sound suspicous, as PerfectPiggies has mentioned, I would really check the sexes, and soon, as you might find that you have more than just two soon. I have kept rodents for years, but piggies have to be the most difficult rodents to sex properly. It sounds suspiciously like you could have a male there. My boys do that to each other.
 
Thanks for the quick answers, I have checked them and they do look female, I have also had them checked by a vet (but as they are young it can be hard to sex them). I have just checked again and Gizmos area is begining to look a bit chapped. Should I separate them while I am in work?
 
i wouldn't if i were you, once you seperate guinea pig it's like introducing them all over again when you put them back together
 
thanks maisydaisystar, I will just keep checking them and try to keep Spike at one end of the cage so Gizmo can get some rest as everytime she tries to sleep Spike starts with the licking.
 
i would just keep a close eye on them and keep checking, they are still very young, and it can be difficult to tell, do they look identical down below? can you show us some pictures maybe?
if you want to give gizmo some rest is there any way you can put a divide in the cage?
 
I am in work at the moment but as soon as I get in tonight I will post some pics. From what I can tell they do look the same. They are different breeds as Gizmo is a teddy and Spike is a white crested so I don't mind if they are a boy and a girl as they shouldn't be related (I assume). The other option would be to buy a bigger cage that can be seperated down the middle to allow Gizmo some peace.
Again thanks for all your help.
 
If they are both sows, you can seperate them and reintroduce with little/no problems usually. If you have any doubts they are different sexes I would seperate them immediately :)

It does sound to me like they could have been missexed. And you really dont want to end up with babies, especially inbred ones, so its best to seperate them until you know for sure either :)

The easier method i find is that if they have a Y shape, its a female, if there is a dot, its a male.

If you do post pics then we will be able to tell you. I could tell my babies apart from 2 days old, and at 9 weeks it should be very easy to tell the difference! O0
 
when i put aflie who is 4months in with my 4 baby boys who are now 7 weeks old aflie use to lick there bums all day long all the time for about a weeksbut he hardly ever dose it now and mine are all boys

but aflie was on his own for a few months when i put him in with the baby boys

but my 4 girls who i have to give have never done it and my other 2 girls who live togther havent either

but my 2 girls who live togther who are 19months meggie keeps tryign to make a babies with holly and holly dont like it

but i would make sure that there are both girls becouse you never know
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum :)
Sorry i can't give advice, i've only had boars but your piggies sound gorgeous, mmm love to see some piccies real soon i hope :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Gizmo is a teddy and Spike is a white crested so I don't mind if they are a boy and a girl as they shouldn't be related (I assume).
Click to expand...

They could still be related :)
 
Thanks for all the warm support and replys O0 O0
I will get some pics up of them and their bits tonight (fingers crossed now that they are both sows as I would hate to seperate them).
 
I'm sure it will be okay, whatever happens... :) ;)

Even if they are missexed, you could get the boar neutered in a few weeks and he will be back with the girly, try not to worry until you know for sure, although i do still think seperating them until you do know is a good idea :) O0
 
OK firstly everyone meet Gizmo

https://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/ashawcross/Gizmo.jpg

everyone meet Spike

https://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/ashawcross/Spike.jpg

Now for the rude bit (under 18's look away :))

Gizmos bits

https://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/ashawcross/GizmosBits.jpg

Spikes bits

https://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/ashawcross/SpikesBits.jpg

If you need any different type of pics please let me know.
Are they both girls? :(

We had separated them for a couple of hours and as soon as we put them back together Spike was licking Gizmo non stop to which Gizmo kept running away or kicking out.
Any suggestions are very welcome.
 
I hope someone comes along who can answer you soon.
I'm totally useless at sexing piggies I have got to say they all look the same to me :embarassed:
 
spike is def a girl I think (second pic) but gizmo (first pic) looks like it could be a boar to me :-\ I cant really tell because its quite dark... Can you get a better pic of gizmos private area please?

Maybe start a new thread saying 'can you help sex these please' and then lots of people will probably reply and give you their opinion :)

This might help you? http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm :)
 
PerfectPiggies said:
spike is def a girl I think (second pic) but gizmo (first pic) looks like it could be a boar to me :-\ I cant really tell because its quite dark... Can you get a better pic of gizmos private area please?

Maybe start a new thread saying 'can you help sex these please' and then lots of people will probably reply and give you their opinion :)

This might help you? http://www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the site perfectpiggies, good info and looks like they are both girls. :)
 
Just wanted to thank everyone for their help and advice O0 O0
We have stopped the antibiotics now and Spike is not licking Gismos bits as much as she was so we think it may have been an infection. :)
 
PerfectPiggies said:
Gizmo is a teddy and Spike is a white crested so I don't mind if they are a boy and a girl as they shouldn't be related (I assume).
Click to expand...

They could still be related :)
Click to expand...
Too true! I was amazed when my black Abysinnian gave birth to a smooth haired agouti, a brown Abysinnian and a Rex type of bundle of fluff. Lovely surprise though.
 
Sometimes they lick each others bits cause they need to get rid of the others sent ( or so they think they are)
 
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