Ralph and Patch bond in trouble!?

[LucyB1234]

I've been watching my Guinea Cam today. The boys have had serious tussles for dominance which have escalated into Patch lunging at Ralph on more than one occasion. Neither is injured however they don't appear happy with each other. I have videos but I don't know how to upload them?

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, sorry they are not getting along. I think you have to load videos onto YouTube then copy the link? @SkyPipDotBernie will be able to help you with this

 

[DMS260820]

If you have a YouTube account. Upload them to that, then once you have, click near it and copy the link. I think it's on share link, and then copy it in a comment here

 

[LucyB1234]

 

[Piggies&buns]

How old are they? Boars between approx 4 and 14 months are in their hormone raging teens and sometimes falls out happen, sometimes irreparably. If their bond is breaking down, then it is important that you watch out for this and make a plan to have them permanently separated.

The links below may help you.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

 

[LucyB1234]

I should give some more background. Their bond is very new. They're both roughly around a year and a half although Patch was a stray so his age is estimated. They were bonded last week at a local rescue. Ralph, the Swiss, was a lone boar I had rehomed. They had a good bonding and apparently showed no dominance or aggression whilst at the rescue. They spent a week there and the rescue were confident they were well bonded.

 

[LucyB1234]

 

[Piggies&buns]

it can take a lot longer than the ‘bonding’ to actually establish a hierarchy, a few weeks. However a successful bonding does not mean a relationship won’t break down. A change in environment can also set off dominance issues ie they are presumably in a new cage, new smells etc.
The second video you have just posted would definitely start to concern me though. If one backs down into a submissive position (loud squealing can be a sign of submission) then they will be establishing hierarchy and that should settle things down, but if this continues and one won’t back down then it would suggest that the relationship is failing.

 

[LucyB1234]

Should I be thinking of separating them?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Should I be thinking of separating them?

How are they at the moment? I would certainly be prepared to separate. Sometimes some time apart and then being reintroduced on neutral ground can help.

 

[LucyB1234]

They are settled currently, I've removed the hides without two entrances. Some chinning off but it deescalated quickly

 

[Piggies&buns]

That’s good. Definitely do keep a close eye on them though and be ready with extra grids for separation as well as being sure of the signs you are watching for. Hopefully that’ll be an end to it and they both know their place in the hierarchy!

 

[LucyB1234]

They're really stinking, I think it may be the testosterone and they're weeing all over the fleexe.. am I going to create more issues changing the fleece?

 

[Piggies&buns]

They are scent marking. Changing out fleece can disrupt them, yes. It can help if you can leave some of their bedding/something that still smells of them in place.