Warning signs to separate?

[Mr5c]

Hi All we have 2 brothers a year old

Both been ok normal dominance behaviour but at Christmas they were at boarding for a few nights and can only assume a fight happened as when we collected one had a nipped ear and the other a cut nose.

When they returned home fine no issues

Today we have them out and noticed the boy ( that had the nipped ear) now has a cut on his side ( a bite)

Again they seem ok together and we haven’t heard a fight

Is it time to separate them? I don’t want to ignore these if the next time it’s more serious!

 

[Siikibam]

Unfortunately a change of environment can sometimes bring issues to the surface. How are they in general during the time you can observe them?

Perhaps keep a close eye on them for a while and see how they behave. But those do sound like worrying signs.

Was the bite with tooth marks or a cut? How extensive was it?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.
If bites and wounds have occurred, then it’s possible there are problems between them.

Can you tell us,
how big is their cage?
do all hides have two exits?
Are their weights stable?

 

[weepweeps]

Hello. I’m sorry your boars are having issues since they were boarded. I would suggest hides with two exits so they can’t trap each other in them. Also two bottles and bowls. Scatter feed veggies in two places and also two or more piles of hay. When I clean out my boars I always leave a bit of dirty hay in with them so it always smells of both of them. I hope their bond can be salvaged.

 

[Mr5c]

Unfortunately a change of environment can sometimes bring issues to the surface. How are they in general during the time you can observe them?

Perhaps keep a close eye on them for a while and see how they behave. But those do sound like worrying signs.

Was the bite with tooth marks or a cut? How extensive was it?

They have been home a month from board cut attached this is new

 

[Mr5c]

I’m sorry to hear this.
If bites and wounds have occurred, then it’s possible there are problems between them.

Can you tell us,
how big is their cage?
do all hides have two exits?
Are their weights stable?

Yes the cage is 120 x 60
Yes 2 of everything bowls hay etc
No hides to be able to trap inside
Weight normal

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes the cage is 120 x 60
Yes 2 of everything bowls hay etc
No hides to be able to trap inside
Weight normal

Ah, the cage size could be a problem. A boar pair need considerably more space and lack of space can cause tension. The cage size needs for two boars is 180x60cm (150x60cm as a minimum).

 

[Mr5c]

Hello. I’m sorry your boars are having issues since they were boarded. I would suggest hides with two exits so they can’t trap each other in them. Also two bottles and bowls. Scatter feed veggies in two places and also two or more piles of hay. When I clean out my boars I always leave a bit of dirty hay in with them so it always smells of both of them. I hope their bond can be salvaged.

Thank you they have 2 of everything and exits so nowhere to trap eachother

 

[Mr5c]

Ah, the cage size could be a problem. A boar pair need considerably more space and lack of space can cause tension. The cage size needs for two boars is 180x60cm (150x60cm as a minimum).

It’s 200cm by 60 sorry! X

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s 200cm by 60 sorry! X

That’s good!
Then we can say they do have enough space, so if there are problems in their relationship then it is most likely going to be a compatibility issue rather than tension caused by lack of space (although, often giving more space will not solve a problem anyway). Occasionally it happens that they get right to the end of their teens and suddenly fall out. The change of environment and being at the boarders may have been the catalyst.

You will need to keep a close eye on them and be prepared to separate (if that happens, each piggy will need 120x60cm minimum). The injuries are concerning.

Bonds In Trouble
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your problems

Can you follow the tips in this guide here to work out whether their bond is still viable or not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next? (comprehensive teenage version)
Bonds In Trouble (All other piggies version)

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see also chapter 3)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours


Change of surroundings does unfortunately trigger a renewed hierarchy sort-out and that can sadly occasionally lead to a fall-out even in adults. Yours are in the late teenage/just coming out of it.

Once serious bites have happened, piggies usually won't go back with each other. Where exactly is that last bite located on the body? It is not quite clear from the picture.

 

[Mr5c]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your problems

Can you follow the tips in this guide here to work out whether their bond is still viable or not?
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next? (comprehensive teenage version)
Bonds In Trouble (All other piggies version)

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see also chapter 3)
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours


Change of surroundings does unfortunately trigger a renewed hierarchy sort-out and that can sadly occasionally lead to a fall-out even in adults. Yours are in the late teenage/just coming out of it.

Once serious bites have happened, piggies usually won't go back with each other. Where exactly is that last bite located on the body? It is not quite clear from the picture.

The tan stripe is across his shoulders so just below his right leg

 

[Mr5c]

The tan stripe is across his shoulders so just below his right leg

Sorry above his leg

 

[Wiebke]

The tan stripe is across his shoulders so just below his right leg

I would recommed to do a two day temporary separation with a formal re-intro on neutral ground outside the cage so you can evaluate the bond when they meet again.
The two day gap will also give you time to evaluate whether the new areas are from bites or whether they could be caused by a stress related mange mites outbreak and are self inflicted.
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

It is impossible for me to tell but you should be able to see whether the affected areas are getting worse over the next two days (which would argue for skin parasites) and how much grudge potential/the will to be together your boars are showing when they had time to calm down before meeting again - the latter is the best way to get an honest opinion out of a species you cannot ask directly about how they feel about things and what is exactly going on. If in any doubt, please have your boys vet checked.

PLEASE take the time to read the information links in this thread in the meantime. they contain all the practical details that we can't repeat in every new thread (especially as they have taken me several days to write in some cases).