what is the difference between a"narky nip" and a more serious bite?

[teacosy]

I have adopted two boys one 8 months(son) and one 12 months(dad)from a rescue and they got on fine there. Anyway now they are not getting on. We have had one proper fight with bundle of fur and teeth engaged and had to throw towel on top of them to separate .Took advice and let them settle down and now yesterday I noticed a bite just above one of their eyes .
How do you tell if a bite is a narky nip or a proper bite?
Thanks

 

[lauralucy]

i would say as blood has been drawn and they are obviously not happy that it is a serious bite.

how big is there cage? boys do better in a 5ft by 2ft cage or bigger.

how long have you had them?

 

[teacosy]

Have had them for 2 months now.They have a 120cm ferplast indoor cage with 2 extra "shelves" of about 20cm each.I was advised that this was a good size .They also get some time in an outside run in the garden when the weather is good but actually that is when they seem to fight- when they are out there.
Dad pig used to be boss but after I gave them a bath (about a month ago) in proper gp bath stuff Son pig decided he was now boss and he is the main agressor now.
Mostly they are ok ( apart from the fighting) but they treat each other like a very bad smell-they never sleep or relax near each other.
I am thinking of getting an outdoor cage for the summer months for them but have held off for now to see what happens with their behaviour as to what would be best to get.Also any new territory seems to set off fighting so I didn't want to confuse the issue with that either.

 

[Niki]

I would keep your boys separate. They have made their feelings towards one another quite clear & a fur-ball isn't good.
The run is new territory & hierachy has to be re-established, this is the likely reason why they start out there & the son is also growing up, it's only natural for him to challenge for leadership. The problems come when you the challenged boar doesn't want to give up his position.

You say they're mostly ok except for when they're fighting but the fact they are fighting says they are not ok; in a stable relationship there is no fighting.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Sometimes guinea pigs can have a fight but then they settle down and are ok.

When I introduced a new male once, him and my younger male weren't really getting along. But then they settled down. Then I noticed a small cut on one of them, so they had had a fight, but by that time were already friends so I didn't separate them.

So I think it's good to give them one more chance. If they are fighting in the run and not the cage, then maybe avoid putting them in the run for a while? I dunno . . . the cage you have is a pretty good size. For boys sometimes they need a bit more, but that cage is still good

If they fight again, with big bites that are bleeding, then I would separate them. But personally I'd give them one more chance.

 

[Piggss]

they can get very small cuts *** scab but dont really breed but thats sortin the pecking order but when they blood its probably best to keep them living alone

 

[Niki]

Sometimes guinea pigs can have a fight but then they settle down and are ok.

If they fight again, with big bites that are bleeding, then I would separate them. But personally I'd give them one more chance.

I'm sorry but i have to disagree. The wounds don't have to be "bleeding" the fact these 2 boys ended up in a ball of fur says it all.
Where do you draw the line before you class it as a big bite that is bleeding? Allow a lip to be sliced, an ear to be ripped? A nail to be bitten back to the toe?
When 2 pigs fight & by fight i mean as these 2 have done they should be separated.
I don't mean the odd "tiff" where there may be ONE nip wound, teeth chattering, nose-offs or rumble strutting. . In these instances i would observe & watch to see whether it escalates.

I would rather prevent wounds than have to treat them.
Having said all this they may re-bond at a later date but in my experience (& i can only speak about my experiences) they don't.

 

[mellyb]

I'm sorry but i have to disagree. The wounds don't have to be "bleeding" the fact these 2 boys ended up in a ball of fur says it all.
Where do you draw the line before you class it as a big bite that is bleeding? Allow a lip to be sliced, an ear to be ripped? A nail to be bitten back to the toe?
When 2 pigs fight & by fight i mean as these 2 have done they should be separated.
I don't mean the odd "tiff" where there may be ONE nip wound, teeth chattering, nose-offs or rumble strutting. . In these instances i would observe & watch to see whether it escalates.

I would rather prevent wounds than have to treat them.
Having said all this they may re-bond at a later date but in my experience (& i can only speak about my experiences) they don't.

My boys have gone back to the rescue from where I got them for their behaviour to be monitered as they started falling out. And I agree with you 100%, I didn't want either of them seriously hurt so decided to deal with it now before it got nasty

 

[rainbowstarsx]

I have adopted two boys one 8 months(son) and one 12 months(dad)from a rescue and they got on fine there. Anyway now they are not getting on. We have had one proper fight with bundle of fur and teeth engaged and had to throw towel on top of them to separate .Took advice and let them settle down and now yesterday I noticed a bite just above one of their eyes .
How do you tell if a bite is a narky nip or a proper bite?
Thanks

Hi there

I just want to pop in here and give you some of my experience.
I had 4 boars, living together in a two tier cage and everything was great, they got along amazing.
One day out of the blue, all hell broke loose.

After a lot of running around, chasing and lots and LOTS of tension, I eventually got to the cause that the 3 boys where bully 1.
Damon (the attacked GP) ended up covered in scratches and I took him to the vets to be checked out. The vet told me not to worry as they were probably just "playing".
So I put Damon back in. All was fine until the next day, and hell broke loose again. Damon ended up having a huge piece tore from his face, and more scratches, and the boys were going beserk.
I ended up having to rehome the 3 boys and I've kept Damon here with me, and he is much happier.

My advice for you, would be to separate them, now.
Once a little blood has been drawn, then that is it. Game over. It could have ended so much more badly for me, and for that I would hate for this to happen to you.