I have had the two boys over a year now and there has always clearly been a dominant one and an introverted one. The dominant one has frequently got a bit too frisky with the other, but recently I have had to separate them several times a day as he just will not leave him alone. We can't afford to have him castrated and housing them separately is not really an option. The only other thought I have is to re-home the frisky one, but then I feel like the other one will miss him terribly. The have always been together and when the quiet one is on his own he is too scared to run about in the run and will just sit there doing nothing until I get him back in his hutch, at which point he runs straight in his den and hides. Tonight I have had to separate them in the hutch with a big plastic box as a last resort, but he is still going crazy trying to get to him! Any suggestions? Is re-homing my only option? How would my quiet one be by himself? xx
No Idea What To Do With My Boys!
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jay3ttp
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi I am by no means an expert and I have had a few fighting piggies but what you are describing sounds normal and to bh honest my boys do it alot, the worst part for me is the clattering about when i am trying to sit quietly (my piggies are indoors). As long as there is no blood I think they are fine, just make sure you have two of everything, such as water bottles, bowls etc. I have a couple that live side by side but they are certainly happier with a friend 
It used to seem like normal behaviour but lately he has really stepped it up and has actually been - and sorry if this is way too much info - but he is humping him until he ejaculates over him. Not nice cleaning guinea pig semen out of thick fur...
Julesie
Senior Guinea Pig
To be honest, with you splitting them up and putting them back together so often that is only making the problem worse. The dominant boy has to keep reasserting his dominance which is making it worse. Though a dominant boar can look horrible to us humans when its pestering the submissive one, you have to leave them to it. Unless he actually physically attacks the other piggie and they end up fighting with blood shed or the submissive one is blocked from going into any hidies or blocked from food or drink (you should have two of everything anyway) the piggies should be fine together.
Neutering will not change your dominant piggies behaviour at all, all it does is make it so he can't get a sow pregnant and as its two boars that doesn't matter anyway.
My advice is to leave them together to sort out the dominant/submissive pairing.
Also what size is the cage? If the cage is too small this can be upsetting them as boars need lots of space.
Neutering will not change your dominant piggies behaviour at all, all it does is make it so he can't get a sow pregnant and as its two boars that doesn't matter anyway.
My advice is to leave them together to sort out the dominant/submissive pairing.
Also what size is the cage? If the cage is too small this can be upsetting them as boars need lots of space.
Julesie
Senior Guinea Pig
Ahh I had another piggy do this to one too. I understand. I had to cut out the semen as my piggy was long haired and it was horrible.
How is the submissive one reacting to this? Does he look like he's trying to get away or fight? I ended up splitting my two boys up because they end up teeth chatting and almost fighting when the horny one ejaculated all over Romano and Romano only had the option of fighting back.
Yes he is long haired too and it is so hard to get it out. He has always been very meek and just run away but now he is clearly getting fed up and has started trying to bite him back which is very out of character for him. My toddler loves to go and play with them first thing in the morning, but I have to check them over first so he doesn't put his hand in anything gross! So do you think there is any way back from that or is separation the only answer?
MerryPip
Adult Guinea Pig
Julsie is right, the more you split them up and reintroduce them, the more confused they are getting and the more often they have to re-establish their hierarchy.
Boys will rumble, they will hump and yes sometimes things get a bit naughty and a clean up is required
These things are all fairly normal. Try reading these threads and see if they help you understand what's going on.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?28949-Boars!-Simple-Dominance-Displays-or-Fighting
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?76162-Boars-A-guide-to-successful-companionship
It's important that boars work out who's boss. They need plenty of space to make sure they can get away from each other and have some peace. Having two of everything avoids the need for confrontation over food, water bottles and hidey-holes. A pair of boars need at least a 120cm cage but preferably larger, the more space they have the more chance they have to work out their differences and learn to live with each other.
The time to split a pair is when one is being bullied to the point they are losing weight and there is an impact on health or when blood has been drawn and it is impossible to re-establish a bond. Teeth chattering and 'yawning' are behaviours that signify trouble but one of your lads seems so submissive it's unlikely that it will get to that stage.
They are still young but they should becoming towards the end of their hormonal teenage months where they do the most of their arguing. Paws crossed they get on better soon. x
Boys will rumble, they will hump and yes sometimes things get a bit naughty and a clean up is required
These things are all fairly normal. Try reading these threads and see if they help you understand what's going on.http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?28949-Boars!-Simple-Dominance-Displays-or-Fighting
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?76162-Boars-A-guide-to-successful-companionship
It's important that boars work out who's boss. They need plenty of space to make sure they can get away from each other and have some peace. Having two of everything avoids the need for confrontation over food, water bottles and hidey-holes. A pair of boars need at least a 120cm cage but preferably larger, the more space they have the more chance they have to work out their differences and learn to live with each other.
The time to split a pair is when one is being bullied to the point they are losing weight and there is an impact on health or when blood has been drawn and it is impossible to re-establish a bond. Teeth chattering and 'yawning' are behaviours that signify trouble but one of your lads seems so submissive it's unlikely that it will get to that stage.
They are still young but they should becoming towards the end of their hormonal teenage months where they do the most of their arguing. Paws crossed they get on better soon. x
MerryPip
Adult Guinea Pig
Sorry you replied again while I was typing
If the little one is biting back then yes you probably need to separate...... I had a similar situation and ended up with a vet bill for nasty bites as the bottom pig finally got fed up and turned on the other one. Now they are both living with new partners (one not in my home anymore as I didn't have enough space for another pair)
If you do separate and can't keep both boys I would suggest speaking to a good, reputable rescue who would be able to help you rehome one safely and assist you in finding a compatible friend for the remaining lad. It's a hard thing to do but it may be the happiest solution for everyone. I have been there and it's not nice but now to have calm, happy pigs, it was worth it.
If you tell us where you are we can recommend a rescue to help and advise you
If the little one is biting back then yes you probably need to separate...... I had a similar situation and ended up with a vet bill for nasty bites as the bottom pig finally got fed up and turned on the other one. Now they are both living with new partners (one not in my home anymore as I didn't have enough space for another pair)
If you do separate and can't keep both boys I would suggest speaking to a good, reputable rescue who would be able to help you rehome one safely and assist you in finding a compatible friend for the remaining lad. It's a hard thing to do but it may be the happiest solution for everyone. I have been there and it's not nice but now to have calm, happy pigs, it was worth it.
If you tell us where you are we can recommend a rescue to help and advise you
Thank you, that's really helpful and I will have a read of the links. I'm in Hampshire. Feel awful even considering it but not sure what else to do. Their hutch is quite large - they do have an outdoor one that is bigger but they have always been indoors during the autumn/winter and I don't think they would cope with the cold when it arrives. They are three, I re homed them from a friend when they were about 18 months.
MerryPip
Adult Guinea Pig
If they are three then they should be well past their most hormonal stage but obviously they are not a happy pair who like each others company :{
The following map gives the best and most highly recommended rescues in the UK but there are others, not on the map that are good. Please take a personal recommendation of a rescue first as not all of them are worth trying.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=209994852075231951564.0004b8fd9391b4257d8eb&msa=0
I hope that helps....
The following map gives the best and most highly recommended rescues in the UK but there are others, not on the map that are good. Please take a personal recommendation of a rescue first as not all of them are worth trying.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=209994852075231951564.0004b8fd9391b4257d8eb&msa=0
I hope that helps....
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