Not sure if a problem - fighting and laying around more than usual!

[GPGma]

I am a relatively new piggie caretaker - 5 months - for my daughters 2 piggies, who are 3yr old. Over the past two days I have noticed an increase in aggression between the two and they seem to be laying around more than usual. I know health can change rapidly and am unsure if this is behavior I should be concerned about. They seem to be eating normally and their weight is the same as last week. I also separated them last night because it was getting close to full out battle. More than just establishing (or restablishing) dominance. I just don’t know if this is something I should be concerned about or within normal behavior range.

 

[Piggies&buns]

When you say aggression, what has been happening? Sometimes the hierarchy changes. Sometimes it can be a sign of a health issue so a vet check may be in order (which can change who is dominant). Can you tell who instigating the aggression?
The advice is to not separate them unless a full on blood drawing fight has occurred. When you reintroduce them to each other again it is likely you will now see some dominance behaviour as they will need to reestablish the hierarchy.

 

[Wiebke]

I am a relatively new piggie caretaker - 5 months - for my daughters 2 piggies, who are 3yr old. Over the past two days I have noticed an increase in aggression between the two and they seem to be laying around more than usual. I know health can change rapidly and am unsure if this is behavior I should be concerned about. They seem to be eating normally and their weight is the same as last week. I also separated them last night because it was getting close to full out battle. More than just establishing (or restablishing) dominance. I just don’t know if this is something I should be concerned about or within normal behavior range.

The behaviour is generally within the normal range. Check them for mites (both mange and hay mites) as an itchy skin can make piggies irritable.
Make sure that you weigh them at least once weekly to monitor their food intake; any loss more than 50g in less than a week or a gradual loss of 100g in a matter of weeks or months should be seen by a vet.

Older piggies tend to sleep more the older they get, especially during the darker months of the years.

 

[GPGma]

Thank you I will check for mites. I hadn’t thought of it. And you described it perfectly - they seem irritable. They seemed to have had one bad day and I panicked because I had never seen them get that physical. They will mount, chase, etc. but the hair raised and teeth chattering was something new.