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Original poster

Fighting guinea pigs .... please help!!

40 replies

frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 18:00

We've had our 2 lovely female guinea pigs for 7 weeks now. They're in an indoor hutch and have been lovely together, no problems at all. Today we put them in a new outdoor hutch. Within half an hour they were squealing like mad, I went over and they were fighting each other Sad
Nasty, up on their back legs biting each other, real fighting. We separated them and have now reintroduced them back together in their old indoor hutch. They stay at opposite ends to each other but every now and then keep fighting. They clatter their teeth then the fight starts. What can I do? They were absolutely fine til then went outside, now they can't stay together Sad

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fastdaytears · 23/08/2015 18:03

New hutch will very often cause this. It's new territory and a chance for the pecking order to change. They will get through it though. I would completely clean the cage so there's no smell and give them two bowls of food for a while. I've had a lot of GPs and never had two girls who can't get past this. Cake

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 18:08

Thanks fast ... I'm worried about leaving them to it though. They are biting each other, horrible teeth chattering at each other, then lunge! They've had squabbles before but this is nothing like that. I've read a few websites and they say they must be separated - I agree with this as I think they'll just end up killing each other, they were so aggressive Sad
But I don't want to keep them separated.

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fastdaytears · 23/08/2015 18:13

I totally understand. Have you tried them in an outside run, and or in a cage with some sort of grill separating them temporarily so they can still see each other? Those have both helped me.

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 18:17

I've put them back in their original indoor cage, hoping the familiar surroundings would help them calm down again. I put a lovely 'picnic' in for them hoping food would take their mind off each other. They're ok for 10-15 minutes then start teeth chattering and fighting again Sad
I intervene as I don't want to leave them to it for fear of what they may do to each other. 1 already has blood on her nose where the other has bitten her. I'm hoping they settle before we go to bed tonight, if not, I fully expect only 1 to be here tomorrow Sad

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fastdaytears · 23/08/2015 18:22

I honestly don't think I've ever heard of a guinea pig killing another one. Their teeth are very chattery but not very sharp. Can you use a baking rack or something to keep them apart overnight and then they'll probably be friends again tomorrow.

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 18:29

This is the first time we've had guinea pigs (and they're the most adorable things ever!). I know hamsters (and no doubt other animals) will fight to the death. I don't want to come down in the morning to find a dead or very injured guinea pig Sad
They're back in the cage together again now, lets see how long it lasts this time. Fingers crossed.
I appreciate your time and help fast

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Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 18:38

So they've started again now. They chatter their teeth aggressively, go for each other then both run away and cower in different corners. Hopefully they'll do this then settle completely.

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sanfairyanne · 23/08/2015 20:16

girls will settle back down. it is mostly show (noise) and they wont kill each other! i have had 2 males fight and one almost kill the other but they were 2 unrelated males not brought up together Sad
separate everything helps eg 2 bowls 2 sleeping/hidey holes 2 hayracks

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 20:31

Thanks san ...
They've squabbled before but this is different. They're aggressive and nasty, teeth chattering, biting and attacking. Sad
It's only happened since I tried them in their new outdoor hutch Sad
But they're back inside now in their original indoor cage. They've never used their hay rack, I just put oodles of hay on the bottom - they eat it, sleep on some, and play and hide under it .. they're soo cute.
I've put lots of hay in, one stays under that and the other one stays in the house. She comes out of her house, they fight then she goes back. I can't say there's one worse than the other ... they both seem to attack/defend the same as each other Sad
They've trashed their food, water and salad/veg picnic.
I just want them back to their old selves. Sad

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sanfairyanne · 23/08/2015 20:33

they need to decide who is 'top dog' so to speak, then they will settle back down. are they still young?
a good way to get them friends again is to wash and blow dry them both. a shared trauma draws them together Grin

fastdaytears · 23/08/2015 20:35

YY to the wash. Always calms them down (I imagine them getting together to complain about their meanie owners)

sanfairyanne · 23/08/2015 20:36

Grin Grin

magicpuppy · 23/08/2015 20:37

We have two females and we've had regular squabbles something like this but not as aggressive. Definitely no blood ever drawn. The dominant one seems to be moody (hormones?) for a few days at a time when she will chase the other and chatter and grumble at her.

I think the pecking order is established though and the other one doesn't challenge her very much so maybe this is why it isn't so aggressive.

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 20:41

Lol at shared trauma! Grin
I think it was the trauma of being put outside that started them in the first place! We've had them for 7 weeks and they were only 6 weeks when we got them so they're still young. They've never really tried to be 'top dog' .. I'm wondering if 1 got a fright/startled outside, flipped like a loonly, scared the other one then both just were so het up and frightened they just fought?
They've just been so lovely together until I put them outside.

We've had loads of animals (fish, turtles, hamsters, cats, rabbits, beardies) but never guinea pigs. I just LOVE their squeaks, chatter, gremlin purr Grin so to see them attack each other is just devastating! Sad

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magicpuppy · 23/08/2015 20:43

I hate seeing it too but these days I leave them to it and everything settles down again after a couple of days and they are best buddies again.

Ours are a year old and apart from a couple of trial attempts at outdoors they are indoor piggies.

They are terrified in the outdoor run. Wimps!

sanfairyanne · 23/08/2015 20:44

aww they are still only tiny babies Smile cute Grin Grin they will definitely settle back down! girls can be moody. mine always bully one horrendously, the horrors! i find the best is adding a neutered boy to the herd - the menfolk are kinder to the bullied girly. lots of neutered boars in shelters if you eventually go down that road, but dont worry these 2 will sort it out

Devilishpyjamas · 23/08/2015 20:50

My cats do this when they've been to the vets - they smell wrong to each other.

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 20:51

Thanks everyone, I really hope they sort themselves out! They were the best of buddies til I tried to get them some fresh air in a lovely new hutch! Their squabbles only ever consist of one nudging and chasing the other one, then she does it back to the first one, so they've each been equal. My gut feeling is it's not one trying to be top dog. San I'm frightened to add another one after today! Grin
So, how do I wash them? Do they tend to like it?

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godsavethequeeeen · 23/08/2015 20:56

Grin meanie owners.

shampoo and parsley while wrapped in a towel might help.

Fluffy24 · 23/08/2015 20:58

Are they definitely female (sorry)? I've only ever had bickering with females but two males, once they get older, can be really nasty.

Floralnomad · 23/08/2015 21:06

My mum had 2 female indoor piggies that started fighting at about 6 months ,one ended up with a very nasty wound that became an abcess and ended up costing over £500 and about 4weeks of intensive treatment to get rid of -.Ended up keeping them separate but in adjoining cages as they never seemed to see eye to eye .

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 21:29

Oh! I was told they were both female!
They haven't bickered until today when I put them in a new hutch outside .. I'm convinced that's what's started it ...

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Fluffy24 · 23/08/2015 21:39

They're quite easy to sex, just put gentle pressure, down and in, with your thumb on its tummy at the base of the 'opening' and if it's a boar his penis will pop out - I bet you can get a video on YouTube.

fastdaytears · 23/08/2015 21:39

Yep- by that age there's no ambiguity so you can put your mind at rest very quickly

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 23/08/2015 21:59

Ok, I'll check tomorrow. Don't want to start prodding around while they're still aggressive sensitive with each other.
But even if it turns out they're both male or one of each ... it's putting them outside that's started this ... or could it be coincidence?

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