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Guinea pigs are affectionate and docile animals that make excellent pets. Look around you and you will be mesmerized by their delightful activities and movement in every direction. Having a little fun and food also makes them content. The converse is true: when one or both of the animals become annoyed or irritated with each other, they may begin to fight. To understand why guinea pigs attack one another, it is necessary to first understand why they do so.The territorial nature of guinea pigs means that they will become aggressive if their cagemates attempt to intrude upon their territory. Food, water, and other resources may be withheld by some guinea pigs, which may result in a fight between them. Another major source of conflict among guinea pigs is the need to establish and maintain dominance in the cage..In order to maintain dominance and aggression amongst themselves, guinea pigs form bonds with one another.To distinguish between play and attack, they should discuss the reasons for fights. Throughout this article, we will discuss your guinea pig’s overall behavior.

 

Are guinea pigs aggressive?

Generally speaking, guinea pigs are not aggressive in any way shape or form. Guinea pigs are popular as household pets due to their gentle nature. There is no evidence of aggression in them because they are content.

Their happiness is based on what they have, and you can leave them to play with their toys for hours on end without worrying.

When they feel threatened by something, their behavior and activities will shift abruptly and significantly. Due to their status as prey animals, these animals are constantly concerned about their own well-being.

Keep an eye out for their bite, as it can be very painful! Intense fighting can break out between them, and they can even mutilate one another. It is important to remember that most of the time, there is a reason for such fights, and that it is important to recognize that.

Why are my guinea pigs suddenly fighting?

The bite of a guinea pig is frequently interpreted as aggression, but this is not always the case. When guinea pigs are fighting with one another, they can tear the fur off of their companions. They are extremely vicious in their fights once they begin to show signs of aggressiveness.

Guinea pigs are extremely concerned about the security of their territory. When they perceive an invasion of their territory by another guinea pig, they will become aggressive and fight to the death to protect their territory.

Apart from that, guinea pigs living in a communal home engage in a battle to establish who is the dominant one. They behave in a hierarchical manner among themselves, just as other animals do.

There will be one guinea pig in charge of a group of guinea pigs. The leader requests to be groomed by the other guinea pigs and will be the first to be offered food. As a result, it is clear that each of the guinea pigs wants to be the one in charge. As a result, there are fights among the guinea pigs.

If the guinea pigs are kept in a cage, they may become aggressive toward the humans. They become dissatisfied under such circumstances.

Consequently, their energy is not being utilized due to a lack of activities. They are unable to express themselves in their natural state. Fighting between guinea pigs who are forced to share a common space is common in such situations.

When male guinea pigs compete with one another for the attention of a female counterpart, they can get into fights among themselves.

Female guinea pigs, in particular, are compelled to reproduce as a result of hormonal changes. The unneutered male guinea pigs will act aggressively in order to attract a female guinea pig. When a male guinea pig is attacked, it results in a fierce battle among the other males.

Guinea pigs attack as a means of defending themselves. Because it is suffering from some sort of pain, your guinea pig won’t show any signs of weakness. They attack others in order to cover up their mistakes and demonstrate their strength.

Is it normal for guinea pigs to bite each other?

Guinea pigs are known to bite each other when they are playing. During a fight, you must be able to distinguish between a nip and a bite.

They nip at each other in order to gain attention or when they are on stage.

The biting, on the other hand, could become dangerous if you come across one of them attempting to dominate the other.

In the course of their fights, they have been known to pull each other’s fur out.

You must exercise caution if you attempt to intervene in such fights because the participants may become aggressive towards you or even bite your hand if you bring it into the fray.

Should I separate my guinea pigs if they are fighting?

When a fight breaks out for the first time, it is natural to think about separating the guinea pigs so that they do not hurt each other. Guinea pigs, on the other hand, are social animals who prefer to be in groups. They are content when they have a mate, and they thrive when they are in a group.

Guinea pig is always happy to be in the company of another animal. They do not like to be alone for long periods of time. They will become bored and stressed as a result of this. Depression is frequently the result of this. You could still try to offer your services as a companion; they are in need of a guinea pig for their experiments.

They should be kept in pairs as much as possible at all times. You should take the necessary precautions to keep any potential conflict between them at bay. Even if you are keeping a guinea pig on your own, you should make sure to give it enough attention.

Try to keep your busy schedule confined to the house. The guinea pig will not be lonely and will be able to interact with us in some way.

As a result, it is preferable to allow them to resolve their own disputes. If things start to get heated, you may need to step in and stop them, but in most cases, they will figure out their place in the cage and settle their own fights.

How do I stop my guinea pigs from fighting?

The following are six suggestions for keeping your Guinea Pigs from fighting.

The root of the fight between the guineas must be understood in order to avoid future conflicts between them. Following that, only you will be able to find a solution to the problem.

The following are some of the factors that contribute to the aggressive behavior of the guinea pigs:

  1. Territorial behavior
  2. Trying to prove dominance
  3. Change in hormones
  4. Lack of play and exercise
  5. Boredom, stress, and depression
  6. Suffering from diseases

Dealing with territorial behavior

Guinea pigs should not be forced to share a space with each other unless they are extremely close in their bond. It is preferable if the two guinea pigs are on friendly terms with one another. Once they have formed a bond with their partner, they become extremely attached to them.

Maintain two separate cages for the guinea pigs to allow them to develop a bond with one another. They will gradually become accustomed to one another. They will be able to distinguish between each other based on the smell.

Following their neutering, you can relocate both guinea pigs to a new location that is neutral to both of them. It will be a new environment for both of them, as neither has ever visited this location before.

Both guinea pigs may act as if they are strangers to one another and ignore one another. Ignoring each other is preferable to having a fight between the two of them.

After a period of time, observe their activities and return them to their place of origin. You should keep repeating this activity until they begin to interact with one another in a friendly manner. Keep an eye out for the following signs of a growing bond between them:

  1. Cuddle together
  2. They start playing along and sharing toys
  3. Grooming

Once they start grooming each other, you will believe they are bonded firmly. Even if wires separate guinea pigs, they will sleep near the cage walls.

When to separate guinea pigs

Keep an eye out for any negative signs that may appear. If you continue to do any of the following, the guinea pigs should be separated:

  1. Rumbling and growling
  2. Chasing and mounting
  3. Biting or barbering
  4. Fighting

Guinea pigs form a bond with one another and remain friends for the rest of their lives. They are inseparable from one another. They will be kept together in a separate enclosure.

You should put them in a new enclosure that is large enough for both of them. If you decide to keep them in the old house, you may need to re-establish your family’s bond.

Once the guinea pigs have formed a bond, do not separate them until they begin to fight with one another. If you see them fighting, you must separate them so that they do not injure each other further.

Spaying/neutering your guinea pigs

Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity at a young age of 3-5 months, depending on the species. In addition, hormone fluctuations and mood swings occur as a result. Among other things, they are concerned with their own personality. As a result, spaying them becomes essential in order to control their behavioral variations.

During this time, female guinea pigs become more aggressive and territorial in their behavior. They are more sensitive to changes in hormone levels. It is their policy not to allow any unwelcome intrusion into their personal space.

After mating has taken place, you may notice some changes in the behavior of the male and female Guinea pigs toward one another.

Even after the mating has been completed, the female guinea pig will remain aggressive toward the male guinea pig. It is not acceptable for the female guinea to be disturbed while the babies are being breastfed.

Even if a male has been neutered, he will exhibit signs of hormonal change. When they are frustrated, they will attempt to hump over anything in order to find relief.

Although the guinea pig is incapable of reproducing, the hormones it produces will cause it to do so. Guinea pig mounting on others can also be interpreted as an act of dominance.

Neutered males engage in similar behaviors, albeit to a lesser extent than unneutered males.

Guinea pigs of the same gender will fight ferociously if they are kept together in the same enclosure without being neutered. Even if you do not spay your guinea pigs, you can keep two of the same gender together as long as there is no competition between the two of them.

It is recommended to keep guinea pigs in pairs of the opposite sexe to ensure a healthy environment. Even if they are of the opposite sexe, they should be spayed or neutered. An unspayed female may become aggressive toward a male who attempts to mount on her, if the male is not spayed as well.

When kept in mixed pairs, male guinea pigs attempt to assert dominance at first and will even deny female guinea pigs access to the resources they require. However, when kept in a mixed pairing, female guinea pigs eventually learn to exert control over the situation.

To begin with, a spayed female guinea pig will tolerate male guinea pigs climbing up and on top of her. Slowly but steadily, the male guinea pig will be returned to his rightful place. From this point on, they begin to form bonds with one another and eventually become friends.

Provide a large enough cage

Guinea pigs enjoy running around, hopping, and leaping for joy. They are genuinely interested in everything around them and want to learn about everything.

If you confine your guinea pig to a small cage, he will become bored and irritable because he will not have enough space to move around.

The guinea pigs need a cage with a minimum area of approximately 8 square feet to live comfortably. Your guinea pigs will require a play area at least the size of your bed to keep them entertained.

Additionally, physical activity is necessary to keep guinea pigs engaged in some activity and in good health. It is necessary to engage in physical activity for at least 5-6 hours per day. Otherwise, because of their inquisitiveness, it is difficult to keep them contained.

If the guinea pigs are not given enough space, they may become irritable and begin to fight over insignificant matters such as food.

If left unattended, they may get themselves into a lot of difficulty. Guinea pigs have been known to chew live wire or other potentially hazardous materials.

Even when they are in your backyard, they are at risk of becoming separated from you or being attacked by other animals. As a result, you must keep a close eye on them.

Also read: How big should a guinea pig cage be?

Keeping them stimulated

Guinea pigs require a lot of stimulation to keep them entertained. They quickly become disinterested. Guinea pigs are not able to sit still unless they are ill.

There aren’t enough activities to keep you entertained. Has been shown to be a common source of depression and frustration. The presence of such conditions contributes to guinea pig aggressive behavior.

Guinea pigs should have a wide variety of toys to play with. They enjoy hiding and playing in the shadows. They are intrigued by anything new that they come across. You can accomplish this by placing cardboard boxes, chew toys, and other items in their enclosure.

When kept in the cage of guinea pigs, wooden toys provide two distinct advantages. Guinea pigs will have a lot of fun with these toys, and chewing on them will help to keep their teeth in good shape.

Instead of placing food directly on the dish tray, guinea pigs should be placed somewhere else. Pellets can be hidden so that the animals have to look around for food. They will rely on their senses to locate their food source. That will keep them occupied in a fun and enjoyable manner.

Even better is the idea of hiding the food around the perimeter of the cage. Because feed should account for the majority of the food consumed by guinea pigs, this will be beneficial in both directions. They will be given extra food items in the hay as a reward for their efforts.

Regular health checkup

Guinea pigs require regular physical examinations and examinations. Visit your veterinarian once a year, or more frequently if possible.

Examining the guinea pig’s vital signs allows the veterinarian to determine the animal’s health and well-being. To ensure that your pet is not suffering from any disease, you should do this regularly. A sick guinea pig will become aggressive if it is suffering from any illness.

You must take the guinea pigs to a veterinarian who is experienced in dealing with them. There aren’t many guinea pig veterinarians who specialize in exotic animals. As a result, you may need to locate one.

Consult with your insurance provider to see if there is coverage for the guinea pigs’ health problems. It is worthwhile to do so because the medical expenses associated with the treatment of guinea pigs can be extremely expensive.

Also check: List of 200+Vet for your guinea pigs

Is my guinea pig fighting or playing?

Signs that your Guinea Pigs are fighting and need to be separated from one another

Guinea pigs are frequently misunderstood to be fighting when they are actually just playing. They will bite each other and get into petty fights, but this is all part of the game they are playing. They form strong bonds amongst themselves.

When a guinea is interested in mating, it will nip at the ground. When you notice a spayed male nipping or attempting to mount on another guinea pig, call your veterinarian. Instead of approaching each other for mating, they do so to assert dominance over the other. Such acts should be dealt with with caution.

Guinea pigs themselves are usually able to resolve minor disagreements through play. It is considered safe as long as they do not exhibit aggressive behavior. The following are examples of guinea pigs’ uninhibited behavior:

  1. Nipping each other but causing any severe damage or drawing blood.
  2. Mounting on each other with no sharp reactions
  3. Moving around each other
  4. Touching nose
  5. Moving behind each other

Guinea pigs following each other is a common occurrence among those who are closely bonded. However, whenever they are not playing, keep an eye out for the fact that they are not aggressively chasing each other.

What does it mean when your guinea pigs are chasing each other?

When guinea pigs chase each other, it indicates that something is wrong between the two of them. It is possible for guinea pigs who have formed close bonds to become estranged. Chasing does not imply that the submissive guinea pig is pursuing or pursuing the dominant guinea pig.

The chasing will be done with a certain amount of aggression and with the intent to harm others.

When bonded guinea pigs fight with each other, there could be a variety of factors at play. In some cases, a sick Guinea pig will act aggressively towards its own mate, which is not natural for the animal.

One who is submissive to authority will work hard to rise to the position of leader. That is a good sign of healthy competition. When stressed, guinea pigs can become antagonistic toward one another.

When you notice guinea pigs chasing each other, you can divert their attention by making a loud noise in the vicinity of the animals. Separate them and place them in different cages that are close to one another.

Keep an eye on their activities after they have been separated from the others. If they continue to fight their way through the space between the wires, you will need to permanently separate the two.

Guinea pigs have exceptionally sharp memories when it comes to their adversaries. They have not forgotten their fighting partner, and it is difficult to form a bond with the two guinea pigs. You should experiment with the technique described earlier at least once. However, after a fight, bonded guinea pigs only rarely re-bond after the fight.

Guinea pigs are generally gentle and docile animals. However, it is in their nature to defend their territory against any unwanted intruders or visitors.

Guinea pigs should be allowed to form a bond before they are kept together indefinitely, as this is necessary for a lifelong friendship to develop. Consequently, do not keep two or more newly acquired guinea pigs in the same enclosure. Aside from that, other fights are typically fought for the preservation of their social order.