When/if to separate?

[toodledoodler]

Hello fellow piggie-lovers, I recently posted a thread alike this one, but things have changed since then. My two 12-week-old and 13-week-old guinea pigs just do not seem to get along. Freddie (dominant) just won't leave Wilbur alone sometimes. I also notice that WIlbur gets a bit annoyed when Freddie is popcorning all over the place and being excited, this is often what prompts his chattering. Their roles of submissive/dominant are very clear and there's never been any fighting on that front, but today, Wilbur was just sitting peacefully and got chased away a few times (as he does very commonly), but Freddie just wouldn't stop, Wilbur started chattering his teeth very loudly and purring, Freddie yawned, and lunged right towards poor Wilbur's bottom. There wasn't, and hasn't, been a fight – Wilbur just escapes and if he is lucky, Freddie will just let up and go do something else. They still like to be around each other, are 100% fine sharing food (even though I give them separate plates) and even share snuggle sacs (which I ONLY use during floor time – it has come to my attention that exit-less hideys are a no-go for my pigs). They chatter silently and butt-wiggle accompanied by purring countless times per day, but this is the first time I have seen a lunge and a yawn. They went back to normal almost immediately, this lasted a total of about 3-5 minutes and ended right after the lunge. What is this? Is it hormones? I'm a full-time university student but nearly all my current classes are optional to go to, can I go to my classes and leave them alone? I am TERRIFIED Freddie will attack Wilbur and seriously injure him while I'm not home. So my questions are: 1. When do I know if I need to separate them? 2. Can I leave them to go to class (90 minutes/day) or is it wiser to stay home to watch them?
Luckily, if it were to come down to that, I have the space and funds to separate them so they can live next to each other while still seeing and hearing each other without issue. Their current cage is a 5x2 C&C cage (180 x 77 cm), for reference. I have read EVERYTHING there is to find about this, but I'm still not clear on if I can leave them alone and if there needs to be blood for them to be best off as neighbours. I am so worried about my little boys, they're my world and I just want them to be happy and safe

 

[Wiebke]

Hello fellow piggie-lovers, I recently posted a thread alike this one, but things have changed since then. My two 12-week-old and 13-week-old guinea pigs just do not seem to get along. Freddie (dominant) just won't leave Wilbur alone sometimes. I also notice that WIlbur gets a bit annoyed when Freddie is popcorning all over the place and being excited, this is often what prompts his chattering. Their roles of submissive/dominant are very clear and there's never been any fighting on that front, but today, Wilbur was just sitting peacefully and got chased away a few times (as he does very commonly), but Freddie just wouldn't stop, Wilbur started chattering his teeth very loudly and purring, Freddie yawned, and lunged right towards poor Wilbur's bottom. There wasn't, and hasn't, been a fight – Wilbur just escapes and if he is lucky, Freddie will just let up and go do something else. They still like to be around each other, are 100% fine sharing food (even though I give them separate plates) and even share snuggle sacs (which I ONLY use during floor time – it has come to my attention that exit-less hideys are a no-go for my pigs). They chatter silently and butt-wiggle accompanied by purring countless times per day, but this is the first time I have seen a lunge and a yawn. They went back to normal almost immediately, this lasted a total of about 3-5 minutes and ended right after the lunge. What is this? Is it hormones? I'm a full-time university student but nearly all my current classes are optional to go to, can I go to my classes and leave them alone? I am TERRIFIED Freddie will attack Wilbur and seriously injure him while I'm not home. So my questions are: 1. When do I know if I need to separate them? 2. Can I leave them to go to class (90 minutes/day) or is it wiser to stay home to watch them?
Luckily, if it were to come down to that, I have the space and funds to separate them so they can live next to each other while still seeing and hearing each other without issue. Their current cage is a 5x2 C&C cage (180 x 77 cm), for reference. I have read EVERYTHING there is to find about this, but I'm still not clear on if I can leave them alone and if there needs to be blood for them to be best off as neighbours. I am so worried about my little boys, they're my world and I just want them to be happy and safe

Hi
Your boys are slowly coming up to teenage. You have to see how it goes when the real first hormone spikes hit.

Lunging and yawning are both defensive behaviours; they are very strongly worded 'stay out of my space' gestures.
The message was obviously received! Which is means it is still on the level of a squabble but not a fight and your boys still want to be together and get on.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs