Meganroseanna
New Born Pup
I have two male guinea pigs who were getting on fine until about four weeks ago when they started loudly teeth chattering at each other. It then progressed into one of them occasionally lunging at the other, before they both ran off. Usually when they're like this it's when they're having floor time, however, I sometimes hear the teeth chattering when they're in the cage together. Generally, they just run away from each other and they never actually fight. Unfortunately today I heard a lot off noise coming from their cage and I found them both having a fight. There was quite a bit of fur strewn across the cage and one of the pigs has had a large clump of fur pulled out and you can see his skin. It doesn't appear to be bleeding but it does look quite red, although I'm not sure if that's just the colour of their skin or if it's sore from having hair pulled out. Besides that, I've found no other injuries on either of the pigs, although one is long haired so it's difficult to inspect him.
I've separated them now because I don't want either of them to come to any harm. I have separated them before for a few hours and once for a day but they always squeak at each other as though they're missing each other; so, I've always put them back together again because I don't want them to get lonely.
I'm not really sure what to do with them now. Should I keep them permanently separated for their own safety or should I just give them a few days of separation?
As a side note, I've had them for four months so they're approximately 5 months old. One of the pigs was bought a week later than the other but was from the same litter. The pig who was hurt used to be the submissive pig, however, I think he's starting to assert some dominance and that's why they're fighting.
I've separated them now because I don't want either of them to come to any harm. I have separated them before for a few hours and once for a day but they always squeak at each other as though they're missing each other; so, I've always put them back together again because I don't want them to get lonely.
I'm not really sure what to do with them now. Should I keep them permanently separated for their own safety or should I just give them a few days of separation?
As a side note, I've had them for four months so they're approximately 5 months old. One of the pigs was bought a week later than the other but was from the same litter. The pig who was hurt used to be the submissive pig, however, I think he's starting to assert some dominance and that's why they're fighting.