Please Help Asap

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Galaxy&nibbles

Galaxy&nibbles

Adult Guinea Pig
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Please help. I am fairly new to guinea pigs and I have adopted 2 more boars today. The shop said they have just been neutered because of this but I have bought them b k and they are just not getting on. One just pounced/lunged at the other. I'm stuck with what to do. What size cage does a single piggy need please? It's getting late so need to know ASAP! Thank you
 
Thank you for your reply. I am devastated! One minute they are happy next to each other the next teeth chattering and deep purring?! I don't know if it's a normal dominance thing or about to fight. Would a bath tomorrow maybe help do you think? I've read a bath can help as it gets rid of the smells?
 
:agr: My boys used to squabble when they entered a new environment. Keep an eye on them and see if they figure it out. Sometimes separating them and putting them back together can make the situation worse.
 
You can try a bonding bath. Please do not panic as they may still be able to live together. Are they both in a space you are bonding them in?
 
More details here on what to look out for in their behaviour:https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/

Watch them for the warning signs listed there. Have towels or a dustpan ready to separate them if needed, but let them work it out if none of the real dangers show.

I have one young pig in with an older boar and the youngster is often testing dominance, and always does so in a new environment. It can take them a couple of days to settle again.
 
Are these your only guinea pigs or are ther others close by especialy females. The boars may fight if they smell females close by. Neutering of guinea pigs doesn't alter their agressive behaviour like it does with rabbits. If they draw blood then it would normally be the end of trying to bond them x
 
Thank you. I already have 2 boars above them but no females.
I'm upset as all I wanted to do was give another 2 piggies a happy and healthy home and life and I feel I hve failed them. I already new there was a dominance problem but was told the neutering should solve this and they've been fine since having it done. Ill keep my fingers tightly crossed its just because of the new environment. If there's serious problems over night, if I just half the cage for the night will that be ok? It won't be the correct size but it would be my only option for the night.
 
Sadly pet shops are clueless about guinea pigs and is why this forum recommends only getting piggies from rescues. I think you should just wait and see how they will get along as separating them means it will all start again once you put them back together tomorrow. If they need to stay in a divided cage over night then they will cope. It's only for the one night.

I do think you are being very hard on yourself though. This is not your fault at all but the pet shops fault for giving poor advice. You just wanted piggies to love.
 
Sorry, I must have been thinking of someone else! Don't panic just yet - its difficult to watch boars having it out over dominance but as long as no real threatening behaviour happens it could settle. Neutering doesn't change the dominance behaviours in guinea pigs unfortunately.
 
Don't be so hard on yourself! You're doing your absolute best. You should feel good about having them. They could have gone to someone that didn't have a clue about guinea pigs and made no effort to try and solve the problem.

I think they're lucky boys coming to you. :)
 
Thank you for all your replies. They have been absolutely fine since I first posted. The thing that bothered me was the way one pounced at the other! Oh I thought that adopting them from the pet shop (through a separate adoption group) would be the same as from an actual rescue.
So could I be right in saying that this could all be over the new environment? And they are just re establishing who is the boss? And unless they properly 'lay in to' each other or constantly teeth bugging each other they can stay together as it is just a dominance thing? Sorry for all the questions I just want what's best for them x
 
Please don't be sorry for asking questions. That is what we are here for. Yes, you are right. They should be just establishing dominance in the new environment.

Sadly pets at home adoption is not the same as a rescue as they do not do bonding or support. They also lack knowledge hence telling you neutering makes a difference.
 
I had two boys that always displayed dominance behavior when going out into the run and again when they went back into their cage. They soon settled down once all was re-established. Just keep an eye on them as this may be the case with them too.
 
Thank you so much. I will be keeping my fingers very tightly crossed that its just over a new environment! I'm gutted to find out that pets at home 'adoption' section is actually still part of them. I genuinely thought it was a proper rescue/adoption part!
 
I think they work with the RSPCA and the money goes to charity but they are not like a real rescue. I'm sure I heard most of their animals came from the shop too but I could be wrong.
 
Yes, a lot of the ones in the 'adoption centre' are left over from previous stock basically. Still sold with the same lack of knowledge and inappropriate cages/hutches :( Don't be disheartened @Galaxy&nibbles though - at the end of the day two more piggies have gone to a loving home where their new slave is giving them the best care they can have. More than many pets get!
 
I can't thank you all enough for all your replies. Thank you ever so much it has really chilled me out, I'm still keeping an eye in them, I've noticed there is still a lot of deep purring and some teeth chattering, it seems blade keeps pestering Nicholas (coming across as a bully lol) I've watched a couple of youtube videos so I can see the difference and from what I've seen I think it's a sorting out dominance thing!
 
piggyfan said:
Sadly pet shops are clueless about guinea pigs and is why this forum recommends only getting piggies from rescues. I think you should just wait and see how they will get along as separating them means it will all start again once you put them back together tomorrow. If they need to stay in a divided cage over night then they will cope. It's only for the one night.

I do think you are being very hard on yourself though. This is not your fault at all but the pet shops fault for giving poor advice. You just wanted piggies to love.
Click to expand...

Hey me and hubby feel the same way. We got given advise from the internet and you all are saying different.... I laughed at one of the staff the other day. Because he was saying not to listen to people on youtube as you don't know what they have done before making the video. But then he was telling me what to do... But then he said he had no experience. I know confused. I'm a tad worried.

What is completely the right thing to do... Even here people are saying different.
 
Rebecca100 said:
Hey me and hubby feel the same way. We got given advise from the internet and you all are saying different.... I laughed at one of the staff the other day. Because he was saying not to listen to people on youtube as you don't know what they have done before making the video. But then he was telling me what to do... But then he said he had no experience. I know confused. I'm a tad worried.

What is completely the right thing to do... Even here people are saying different.
Click to expand...
Are you asking me what the right thing to do is? I'm not sure what you mean?
 
Some PetsatHome stores( so I have read somewhere) will be providing safe and quiet areas for local Rspca centres to put details of available animals and for members of the public to meet some of these animals. I suspect this will mainly involve cats and dogs! I do wish I could creep into these stores and plant stickers reading " get your guinea pig from a local rescue" onto their glass pen fronts when nobody is looking.
 
AuntyC said:
Some PetsatHome stores( so I have read somewhere) will be providing safe and quiet areas for local Rspca centres to put details of available animals and for members of the public to meet some of these animals. I suspect this will mainly involve cats and dogs! I do wish I could creep into these stores and plant stickers reading " get your guinea pig from a local rescue" onto their glass pen fronts when nobody is looking.
Click to expand...
That would be great.
 
piggyfan said:
I'm so sorry for not understanding. I do want to help you though.
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It is ok. I find it hard to explain what I am thinking. I need one person to know everything haha

I can't put my real feelings down as it is unfair. But I just need to know fleece and how? If not I'll just stay with wood shavings lol

And I know there is loads of different areas and sections. But I can't find the right help. I feel even more confused. Sorry don't put this is on you its not your fault. I read peoples stuff and I comment then things get muddled up. Lol
 
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