Please Help...

[DopeyJo]

Hi all

We were blessed with two young guinea pigs just over a week ago and for the first few days everything was fine (they're both boys) but over the last evening and today they've started acting very territorial and fighting/nipping at each other with lots of low growly noises. What can I do? They're both very young (10weeks and 13weeks) and we really don't have the space to separate unless absolutely necessary.

To add: Yesterday we took them to the vet for a general check up and they found they have fur-mites and treated them both with drops. Could this be the cause? Could it have affected their ability to smell each other / irritated them etc?

 

[DM030819]

Pigs are quite hierarchical so they'll be working out who is boss, which is normal. There's no reason to intervene usually unless they start fighting properly and blood is drawn.

 

[PiggieWiggi]

Personally I would recommend you got sows instead of boars, as male guinea pigs are normaly territorial and aggresive, and as soon as it's breeding season they will be fighting even if theres no females around.

 

[DM030819]

That's not really true as I've only ever had boars and the fighting depends mostly on personality. I have two perfectly bonded boys but one of them previously fought terribly with another of my boys.

Age is an added issue but again it's personality which determines if they have fighting in their blood. I've had a few pigs that wouldn't have a clue about fighting.

 

[Crystella]

Here are several good threads on boars and bonding that could help. Not sure about the mites but I'm sure one of the better knowing people will add their thoughts.
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Please do have a good read of them and hope they help you out.

 

[VickiA]

Personally I would recommend you got sows instead of boars, as male guinea pigs are normaly territorial and aggresive, and as soon as it's breeding season they will be fighting even if theres no females around.

There are many members on here who successfully keeep very happy and contented pairs of boars. It is not true that they are normally territorial and aggressive -in fact many sows can display those behaviours, too.

@DopeyJo your piggies are sorting out the hierarchy. This is normal. Please read the threads @Crystella has listed. In every happy pair of piggies one has to be the alpha pig and the other has to be the under pig. That is piggy life. Unless there are any full on fights with blood drawn then you have no need to consider separating.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Make sure all your hidey have 2 entrances, so one can't trap the other.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

We were blessed with two young guinea pigs just over a week ago and for the first few days everything was fine (they're both boys) but over the last evening and today they've started acting very territorial and fighting/nipping at each other with lots of low growly noises. What can I do? They're both very young (10weeks and 13weeks) and we really don't have the space to separate unless absolutely necessary.

To add: Yesterday we took them to the vet for a general check up and they found they have fur-mites and treated them both with drops. Could this be the cause? Could it have affected their ability to smell each other / irritated them etc?

You may find these guides here helpful. Your Boys have now settled in and are currently re-establishing their hierarchy in their new surroundings. At ca. 3-4 months old, boars hit the big teenage hormones as soon as their testicles start descending and the suffer from strong testosterone spikes.
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?