Snappy Guinea

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rjg

rjg

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Hello

I have two Sheltie Guineas, and they are brothers. They are 9 months old, live outside in a big house (5*6ft). I try to get them out every evening for 30 minutes for lap time, or at least every other day.
They both have VERY different tempers.
One is much braver than the other and much more layed back with regards to pretty much everything - having lap time and eating. However his brother is very grumpy, chatters his teeth during lap time and has just started snapping at his brother. Its quite a loud snap with a quick head movement, not actually biting though. It sounds really horrible! Even though this happens the calmer brother still goes up to him afterwards or snuggles up to him, I don't know why maybe for comfort.
What does the snapping mean? When I rehomed them (at 9 weeks old) I was told that they might fight but as they are brothers its doubtful... is this beginning of a sad ending? I hope not.
Any advice on what it means, how I can control it / calm him would be much appreciated.
Thank you x
 
I believe this is just them warning each other, because they may feel like they haven't get enough space maybe?
I have to agree. The noise is really quite worrying, but as long as there is no actual biting, then do not loose hope yet. I hope someone else has better advice than I have, but maybe when you get them out for laptop time together ensure you have plenty of space for them to trot around on you.
 
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The snapping is mild dominance behaviour; you see it more often with sows. It is just a demonstration of power, just letting the other piggy feel the teeth without hurting it. In sows, I call it "throwing her weight around".
 
Would you say he is trying to start a fight or just warning? I'm worried their fighting when I'm not around!
Thanks
 
rjg said:
Would you say he is trying to start a fight or just warning? I'm worried their fighting when I'm not around!
Thanks
Click to expand...

It is MILD dominance behaviour and just a warning, not a threat. Your submissive boy's behaviour clearly shows that - he wouldn't and snuggle up if the two were at loggerheads. ;)

Whether baby boar pairs make it through the teenage months, is a question of how well their adult personalities mesh, not whether they are brothers or not. If you have got two dominant brothers, they are bound to clash the same as any other pairing. Thankfully, more than half of the baby pairs make it to adulthood together.
 
It's just showing dominance... girl pigs will do it too. My Linney was the queen of this... she would intermittently just bite her sister in the neck, just because. No harm done, though I imagine it could be a problem if both were equally dominant and neither would back down.
 
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Thank you! I will keep an eye on him and give them more room during lap time. Trouble is no matter how much room they have, they always snuggle up even after a warning snap!
Thank you :)
 
rjg said:
Thank you! I will keep an eye on him and give them more room during lap time. Trouble is no matter how much room they have, they always snuggle up even after a warning snap!
Thank you :)
Click to expand...

The warning snap is just there to remind the underboy not to presume that just because the dominant brother is a snuggler that he is also a pushover! ;)
Enjoy your two extremely peaceful boys and don't worry!
 
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