Why do guinea pigs teeth chatter?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joey&Gizmo

Joey&Gizmo

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
South Wales UK.
What does this mean?
My two boys have been together for a year now and live happily, sharing food and sleeping side by side. But sometimes they teeth chatter to one another sometimes they go weeks without doing it and then all of a sudden they do it, they dont lunge at each-other and the teeth chattering only lasts a few seconds. Its mainly Joey the dominant one doing it and Gizmo either ignores him or does one back and carries on eating or whatever he id doing. They aren't brothers and i think they are two this month.

Does Joey do this to remind Gizmo he is the 'boss'? :{
I do worry about little things and like i said they dont fight and Joey runs to Gizmo for comfort as he is rather shy still, despite handling daily etc. I'm currently in the progress of making a c&c cage for them to have more space. (They currently have a nero 4)
 
I can't answer why they do it I'm afraid, but my girls do this occassionally too.

I'm pretty certain it's not an agressive noise, as they can do it when they laid out chilling and not even next to each other. Whoever makes the noise generally gets ignored by the other who will carry on with whatever they're doing.

Both Pippa (who is more dominant) and Willow have done it, but I've not idea why! :))
 
Oops...posted at the same time as you Wiebke!

Maybe is is a dominance thing then :{ Hmm... weird, it doesn't seem to fit with my girls behaviour when they're doing it
 
So it is just Joey being 'bossy' to Gizmo and telling him hes still boss? Thats a relief as they are pretty happy otherwise and Joey will cry for Gizmo when he is alone in the cage.
Cant wait to make my c&c cage, I'm counting the days.
 
Teeth chattering is a no contact way of signalling potential aggression. If this fails to have the desired effect the next stage is physical aggression, the risk then is that either or both pigs can be physically hurt.
 
My cookie will do this sometimes, when she's out having cuddles, she'll suddenly start chattering her teeth and its like what have i done to you LOL
 
My cookie will do this sometimes, when she's out having cuddles, she'll suddenly start chattering her teeth and its like what have i done to you LOL, my cookie is very bossy LOL
 
alcesterpigs said:
Teeth chattering is a no contact way of signalling potential aggression. If this fails to have the desired effect the next stage is physical aggression, the risk then is that either or both pigs can be physically hurt.
Click to expand...

Even though they teeth chatter on occasions they dont show any physical aggression towards each other and carry on like normal. They do not fight and seem to only teeth chatter when Gizmo goes to lie in Joey's bed, after he has moved they are fine. (They both have a favorite corner in their cage which they always sleep.)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top