New member with question about sexing guinea pigs

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PheeNicks

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Hi there everyone.
I really hope someone can help me...I've studied photos of guinea pigs genitals until I can't see straight anymore!
My children were bought 3 'male' guinea pigs in August from a pet store. We were told they were all males. Everyone got along all nice and happy. My children then bought me a guinea pig from the same store, another male. All living happily in a 6 x 2 C & C cage...until yesterday.
My daughter's guinea pig (Fang) was shooed away from the food, hay & water by the other 3. One of them was parading up and down, rumbling and strutting, doing this funny little dance (rocking from side to side, waggling his bottom about) then he & the others were all mounting the other one (which I know they do to show dominance) but this time Fang was squealing, not happy and trying his/her best to get the heck away from the others. I kept an eye on them and separated them into 2 lots of 2, the gentler of the boars and Fang in a 3 x 2 cage and the other 2 bullies :)) in a 3 x 2.
Fang lay in a pile of hay, refusing her veggies, refusing food, just feeling sorry for him/herself.

We've recently moved them inside, they were in the garage until about 3 weeks ago and I've never seen this behaviour before. I've just cleaned them out, putting them all together again, and the same thing is happening, all of them trying to mount Fang. The 3 boys were fighting last night, which they've also never done before. One cage is on top of the other, which Fang in the cage underneath.

I am now really unsure if Fang is a boy as we were told! S/he doesn't appear to have the big donut around the genitals as the others do. I have tried and tried to make penises pop out on all of them, with no luck.
I'm hoping someone can have a look at the photo and tell me what you think s/he is. I'd really appreciate it :)
 

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Hi I just wanted to tell you that it is never recommended for more then two males to live together. Any more and they fight. If it turns out all yours are male it would be best to split them into two pairs.
 
Oh, no! And they've been getting along so well :( I'll have to separate them...once I find out the sex of the one I'm suspicious about
Thanks
 
all boys!

If they're all getting on with each other, and not drawing blood, then there's no reason why you can't see if this behaviour will settle down with time. Just make sure they've got plenty of space, a couple of food bowls/beds/water bottles, and keep a close eye on them. They may pair off by themselves anyway, make their own little friends...which if they do then need to be split up, will be easier for you - ideally you'd be better off with them making their own friends then you picking who to pair them up with, and then them falling out anyway.

Do you have a picture of the new one's genitals?
 
Squidge said:
all boys!

If they're all getting on with each other, and not drawing blood, then there's no reason why you can't see if this behaviour will settle down with time. Just make sure they've got plenty of space, a couple of food bowls/beds/water bottles, and keep a close eye on them. They may pair off by themselves anyway, make their own little friends...which if they do then need to be split up, will be easier for you - ideally you'd be better off with them making their own friends then you picking who to pair them up with, and then them falling out anyway.

Do you have a picture of the new one's genitals?
Click to expand...


I think the pics are of the same guinea pig. The one the OP is unsure about.

I'd say boy too although I am no way experienced with guinea pig sexing.
 
Yes, sorry, those photos are all of the one I was unsure about. I'm off to check for this 'ridge' thing that I'm supposed to be able to feel, then I'll feel a lot better!
Thanks for the help :)
 
Definitely looks like a boy to me. As mentioned by piggyfan, I would recommend you split them into 2 pairs of 2 boys as chances are they will eventually fall out (probably sooner rather than later as it seems they are reaching the difficult hormonal stage), which may lead to you having 4 single boys that can't be paired up. My advise would be to keep them in the 2 pairs that you have split them into now and make sure they each have a hidey, a water bottle and a food bowl so there is less chance of bullying. Hopefully things will settle down now :)
 
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