New aggression

[Arno&Seymour]

We have 2 males. Seymour is around 18 months and Arno is around 12 months. They have a large enclosure inside and a big run outside. Both been living happily together all this time.
We went away for 3 nights and friend took care of them at her place. I was worried there may be issues as they were in a smaller cage, but both had covered seperate areas to go to and my friend took them out regularly, gave them attention and let them run around. There were no issues whilst there.
Now I've got them home, they've started fighting immediately. I've not seen anything like it before. Arno is definately the more aggressive one.
I've sectioned off the enclosure to give them both their own space and stop the fighting. I cleaned the enclosure the day before we left, so there was still a 24hrs before they went to my friends and a familiar smell for when they got back.

My question is what to do next? I was frighrened they might get injured. I got bitten splitting them up and Arno appears still very agro and wanting to get to Seymour.
Thanks for any replies.

 

[Arno&Seymour]

We have 2 males. Seymour is around 18 months and Arno is around 12 months. They have a large enclosure inside and a big run outside. Both been living happily together all this time.
We went away for 3 nights and friend took care of them at her place. I was worried there may be issues as they were in a smaller cage, but both had covered seperate areas to go to and my friend took them out regularly, gave them attention and let them run around. There were no issues whilst there.
Now I've got them home, they've started fighting immediately. I've not seen anything like it before. Arno is definately the more aggressive one.
I've sectioned off the enclosure to give them both their own space and stop the fighting. I cleaned the enclosure the day before we left, so there was still a 24hrs before they went to my friends and a familiar smell for when they got back.

My question is what to do next? I was frighrened they might get injured. I got bitten splitting them up and Arno appears still very agro and wanting to get to Seymour.
Thanks for any replies.

Sorry, new to forum so may have posted in the wrong place.

 

[Piggies&buns]

A change in location will cause them to need to reestablish their relationship and territories. This usually only causes an increase in dominance not fighting. If it’s only dominance then you do not need to separate them - they must sort things out for themselves. If you separate them, you interrupt everything.
Sometimes though a move can cause underlying problems to come to the surface.
If you are seeing aggression and full on fur ball fighting (which is different to dominance), then that is concerning and may mean they need to be permanently separated as their bond may be breaking down

Bonds In Trouble

 

[Arno&Seymour]

Ok, thanks. That is worrying. This was proper fighting rather than normal dominance behaviour. Should I leave them to calm and try them together again, maybe tomorrow?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok, thanks. That is worrying. This was proper fighting rather than normal dominance behaviour. Should I leave them to calm and try them together again, maybe tomorrow?

If they are having full on fights, then I am afraid reintroduction is not recommended. A full on fight usually breaks a bond sadly and if you were to try to put them together again, then it is highly likely a further fight would occur.
If they were just a bit tense, then a few days apart and then carrying out a neutral territory reintroduction can be carried out. This gives them the decision as to whether they want to stay together - if they go back together without issue, then things will likely be fine. If they break into fight again, then it is clear they no longer want to stay together.
As I said though, if a full on fight had already occurred, then sadly it would not be worth trying a reintroduction. They would need to live as neighbours in side by side cages going forward.

 

[Arno&Seymour]

Thank-you. Thats a real shame. I'll try and introduce, otherwise, they can be kept seperately. I always thought though they might get a bit dpressed being alone. That's why we got Arno when our other piggie died as Seymour seemed so low.
Just have to see. Thanks for yoyr help.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank-you. Thats a real shame. I'll try and introduce, otherwise, they can be kept seperately. I always thought though they might get a bit dpressed being alone. That's why we got Arno when our other piggie died as Seymour seemed so low.
Just have to see. Thanks for yoyr help.

Do be prepared to step in with oven gloves if you do attempt a reintroduction. To reiterate, if the fight was a very serious one and aggression severe, then it would not be worth trying to reintroduce as it is most likely going to be fail straight away and separating them during a fight is dangerous for you and for them. Such a fight makes it very clear that they do not want to be together any longer.

Ensure any reintroduction is only done on neutral territory - never in the cage of either piggy as that will be seen as territory invasion and will cause an immediate fight.

Yes they do get depressed alone but when they live side by side that stops loneliness. Separated piggies need to live next door to each other and they will still have full interaction (sight, smell and sound) through the bars which is sufficient companionship when they cannot live in the same cage together.

Keep us posted. I hope all goes well

 

[weepweeps]

That’s such a shame. It’s so sad when they decide they don’t want to live together anymore.

 

[Arno&Seymour]

Well, they had some time apart and I reintroduced them on neutral ground in the front room with loads of space.
There was lots of teeth chattering and dancing about, but no actual contact/fighting.
I then put them back in the same enclosure with 2 different places for hay/pellets/fresh food so they could avoid each other.
I'm happy to say that they appear to have returned to some sort of harmonious relationship, though still a little wary of each other.
Heres hoping it lasts but it seems likely that they'll be ok living together again.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Siikibam]

Do keep a very close eye on them. Expect the worst and hope for the best. I’ve got my