Pair of young females recently lost their leader (neutered boar). Teenage trouble or something more serious?

Leahcarlub

Leahcarlub

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 9, 2024
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
Points
140
Location
Lancashire
Hi, just stumbled upon this amazing forum. I've read a few of the guides and searched for similar threads but couldn't find exactly what I needed to ask so apologies if this problem has been discussed before.

My two young females (6 months old) Marshmallow and Maple had been living happily since February with our 2 year old neutered boar Fudge. Unfortunately he passed suddenly a month ago. Since then Maple (slightly larger) has been chittering at Marshmallow and doesn't let her come near. There have been little scuffles with a few strands of hair pulled out but no blood thankfully. Marshmallow immediately runs away and backs down but Maple chases her and seems to ask for trouble. They have their definitive ends of their enclosure and sit as far away from each other as they can. I do feel that Maple is going to be the boss and Marshmallow isn't challenging that and is trying to stay out of her way but Maple seems to go looking for trouble. Could this just be them both going through their teenage times and they could settle as they mature? This is the first time I've had females in the 20+ years of keeping guinea pigs and I was really hoping they'd be easier than boars 😩. It's so sad as the little trio was working well until Fudge passed away.

Could introducing an older female help or another pair? Or should I wait it out and hope they settle down when they've matured?

I don't want to have to separate them (of course I would if they were in danger or Marshmallow was suffering) but I don't want Marshmallow to live in fear of Maple so I'd be very grateful for any suggestions.
 
I’m sorry for your loss.
This guide will help you in working out whether their bond is working or whether they may need to be separated.

Bonds In Trouble

Adding another piggy is not likely to help anything if your two piggies can’t function - a new piggy can’t fix a relationship between two piggies who don’t like each other. They will inevitably form a pair and a single and then the single gets left out.
 
Thank you for your reply and the link. Yes I think maybe aiming for tolerating each other might be the best we can hope for at the moment. They were a little better today and were eating from the same romaine lettuce leaf for a bit. No chasing but head rearing and chittering once Marshmallow got too close. I really hope that as they mature they might just muddle along together. Maybe Marshmallow will get better at keeping her distance and Maple will mellow a little 🤞 Fingers crossed.
 
If they are compatible and like each other then they will be fine.
If there are any hierarchy issues or dislikes then they won’t muddle along and things won’t improve as they get older, the bond will fail. Sows tend to get less tolerant as they age (it’s boars who mellow with age)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top