Hi everyone. I just recently adopted (three days ago) two piggies. The previous owner had no information on them and their living conditions were not very good. From what I could tell these are two boys. One is quite a bit bigger than the other and seems to always bully the smaller one. That’s where I really need help. It no longer seems like a playful behavior but he’s really out to get him. One can be in the opposite corner and the bully will wake up after a quick nap and head straight for him. You can see it in his walk that he is about mess him up. No blood has been drawn yet but the smaller guy is always stressed out and can’t make a noise or a move without the other mounting him and grabbing at his neck for no reason. I thought maybe they just need to sort things out and establish dominance but I don’t think that’s the case any more. It causes me stress knowing one is always in fear. Things seem to worsen around 10pm and then after about an hour I cave in and separate them for the night. I can’t keep doing this though so I’m thinking finding a home for one might be the best route. Please help with any advice on how to make them get along. They have plenty of space and lots of hiding spots except the little one is not allowed to use any of them because of the bully. I also have two feeders and waters so they don’t have any more reasons to fight over.
New owner desperate for help.
Welcome to the forum
A new environment will cause them to go into a period of reestablishing their relationship and during this time you do see increased dominance. If two piggies are compatible, then things will not escalate beyond normal mounting and rumbling. They will settle back down in a few days and everything will be ok.
If they are not compatible, and were never compatible, then the move can make those incompatibilities come to light even more so. If if looks like things aren’t good between them, then you don’t need to wait for them to fight to call it a day on their relationship.
However, what you cannot do is just separate for them for the night and put them back together and separate again. This amount of separation and reintroduction causes stress to them both and will further destabilise the relationship.
If you carry out a trial separation to test their bond then it is a one time event. You separate, and see how the underpig behaves (the dominance will always be upset by a separation so it’s not that ones reaction you watch). If the underpig perks up when separated then it is likely the bond is broken and they should not be put back together. If you feel you can try a reintroduction, then it must be done just once and always on neutral territory (you cannot just put a piggy back into the cage of the other piggy, or just remove a divider) . The answer will then come almost straight away upon reintroduction - if things escalate almost straight away then their relationship is over and they need to be permanently separated and not be put back together again.
While having a large cage (180x60cm is recommended for a boar pair) means they can have territory each, multiple items etc means they have no reason to argue it isn’t the be all and end all. If they simply aren’t compatible, don’t like each other and clear bullying is occurring, then nothing is going to change that and the only option is sadly to permanently separate them.
They can live in separate but side by side cages as neighbours permanently. This will enable interaction through the bars only so they don’t get lonely.
If you choose to give one up, then surrendering to a rescue centre is best. They will ensure that piggy is bonded with another and rehomed properly.
You will then need to find a suitable character compatible companion for the piggy you keep. Again, this is best done via the assistance of a rescue centre if possible. If you don’t have an option for this kind of rescue dating and need to bring home a piggy on spec (from a pet shop for example), then again there is a risk that the two won’t be compatible and you would still need to have a plan b in case any bonding with a new piggy failed and they too have to live in separate cages.
The guides below explain further
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Bonds In Trouble
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A new environment will cause them to go into a period of reestablishing their relationship and during this time you do see increased dominance. If two piggies are compatible, then things will not escalate beyond normal mounting and rumbling. They will settle back down in a few days and everything will be ok.
If they are not compatible, and were never compatible, then the move can make those incompatibilities come to light even more so. If if looks like things aren’t good between them, then you don’t need to wait for them to fight to call it a day on their relationship.
However, what you cannot do is just separate for them for the night and put them back together and separate again. This amount of separation and reintroduction causes stress to them both and will further destabilise the relationship.
If you carry out a trial separation to test their bond then it is a one time event. You separate, and see how the underpig behaves (the dominance will always be upset by a separation so it’s not that ones reaction you watch). If the underpig perks up when separated then it is likely the bond is broken and they should not be put back together. If you feel you can try a reintroduction, then it must be done just once and always on neutral territory (you cannot just put a piggy back into the cage of the other piggy, or just remove a divider) . The answer will then come almost straight away upon reintroduction - if things escalate almost straight away then their relationship is over and they need to be permanently separated and not be put back together again.
While having a large cage (180x60cm is recommended for a boar pair) means they can have territory each, multiple items etc means they have no reason to argue it isn’t the be all and end all. If they simply aren’t compatible, don’t like each other and clear bullying is occurring, then nothing is going to change that and the only option is sadly to permanently separate them.
They can live in separate but side by side cages as neighbours permanently. This will enable interaction through the bars only so they don’t get lonely.
If you choose to give one up, then surrendering to a rescue centre is best. They will ensure that piggy is bonded with another and rehomed properly.
You will then need to find a suitable character compatible companion for the piggy you keep. Again, this is best done via the assistance of a rescue centre if possible. If you don’t have an option for this kind of rescue dating and need to bring home a piggy on spec (from a pet shop for example), then again there is a risk that the two won’t be compatible and you would still need to have a plan b in case any bonding with a new piggy failed and they too have to live in separate cages.
The guides below explain further
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Bonds In Trouble
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
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Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Welcome to the forum
I am so sorry you have this situation with your boars. I agree with Piggies&buns a new cage and any change in environment can unbalance their bond and it may take a little time for them to re establish themselves and settle down. Your “bully” (only through our eyes) is obviously reasserting himself as top piggie. If you keep separating them on a night then they have to start all over again from scratch and it’s a never ending circle.
I would very closely observe them over a couple of days if you can and see exactly what “the bully” is doing and see if the under piggie is eating and is able to get respite from the top piggie. Mounting and chasing is quite normal behaviour but only to a point where the under piggie can eat and sleep. The hard part is working out what’s acceptable normal boar behaviour and what is excessive and at what point you may need to separate.
It will either go two ways, settle down or escalate into a fight we’re blood is drawn.
If you read those links above then you should be able to make a decision.
You could try a trial separation and have them living side by side and see if the under piggie is happier, able to eat and move around unhindered. You would expect that from a human perspective but it’s not always the case, they often try to get back with their companion. If you do the trial separation you would then need to do a proper re-introduction though which again can be very stressful especially for you
Your other alternative would be to find a really good rescue that does boar bonding, surrender one and find a comparable mate for the other
I am so sorry you have this situation with your boars. I agree with Piggies&buns a new cage and any change in environment can unbalance their bond and it may take a little time for them to re establish themselves and settle down. Your “bully” (only through our eyes) is obviously reasserting himself as top piggie. If you keep separating them on a night then they have to start all over again from scratch and it’s a never ending circle.
I would very closely observe them over a couple of days if you can and see exactly what “the bully” is doing and see if the under piggie is eating and is able to get respite from the top piggie. Mounting and chasing is quite normal behaviour but only to a point where the under piggie can eat and sleep. The hard part is working out what’s acceptable normal boar behaviour and what is excessive and at what point you may need to separate.
It will either go two ways, settle down or escalate into a fight we’re blood is drawn.
If you read those links above then you should be able to make a decision.
You could try a trial separation and have them living side by side and see if the under piggie is happier, able to eat and move around unhindered. You would expect that from a human perspective but it’s not always the case, they often try to get back with their companion. If you do the trial separation you would then need to do a proper re-introduction though which again can be very stressful especially for you
Your other alternative would be to find a really good rescue that does boar bonding, surrender one and find a comparable mate for the other
Thank you so much for your response. I guess I will give them couple days without separating at night and hope things work themselves out.
Thank you so much. It makes sense that separating and reintroducing every time might be even more stressful on them. I will let them be for couple days and hope for the best. Thanks again. And thank you for the links.
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