Why do my guinea pigs chase each other around the cage?

Guinea pigs are ground roaming animals that need a lot of space to run around in! Zooming around and barging into each other is play, popcorning madly is an expression of joy, especially in young piggies.

How long does it take for male guinea pigs to get along?

You should keep your guinea pigs separate from one another in a different room for the first two to three weeks. You will need to have the new guinea checked out by a vet during this time to ensure they are healthy. Do not let them have physical contact until this time period is up.

Will male guinea pigs who fight ever get along?

Yes, as long the cage is big enough for two cavies. Guinea Pigs are social animals and housing them together can prevent loneliness. When they first meet or move in together they may need to assert dominance. It’s rare that fights break out and even rarer that two male Pigs aren’t compatible but it does happen.

Why are my male guinea pigs fighting?

Usually, fights break out because the cage is not big enough, they have been paired incorrectly, a guinea pig is sick or injured, or they are bored. You can prevent your guinea pigs from fighting by making sure their cage is big enough, and they have lots of things to keep them busy.

How long does male guinea pig dominance last?

If guinea pigs are fighting for dominance, it usually goes on for two or three days. Sometimes it can take longer, but as soon as a hierarchy is established, their behaviour should go back to normal.

Why are my two male guinea pigs chasing each other?

Guinea pigs are incredibly social animals. This is something really important to understand because guinea pigs are not as happy when they are alone. This behavior can make it hard to tell if your guinea pigs are playing or fighting. Light chasing, humping and sniffing each other is considered playing.

Why are my male guinea pigs mounting each other?

Another common behavior is humping. The dominant guinea pig usually mounts the one they are trying to dominate. The mounting is never sexual and should not worry you. It just means that they are trying to mark their territory by showing the weaker one that they are in charge.

Is it normal for guinea pigs to chase each other?

But don’t forget about the dominance social game that might happen between guinea pigs. Chasing each other, lifting their head high and butt sniffing isn’t aggressive behavior by itself but in some cases, it can turn overly violent. You need to let this natural process happen as long as there is no blood or injury.

How do you know if two male guinea pigs like each other?

You can tell your guinea pigs are bonded when they groom each other and happily share food. There will also be a lot of cuddling and playing between bonded guinea pigs. When guinea pigs try to establish dominance their aggression towards each other can seem like it goes on for too long.

Do male guinea pigs get along with each other?

They should get along fine but they will look to establish dominance by biting the younger male. Put them together but keep an eye on them and if they fight, put them in separate cages on more neutral territory. If guinea pig males live together it is much better if they are from the same litter.

Do you have to separate guinea pigs when fighting?

Occasionally, the fighting is extreme and they must be permanently separated. Again, remember this can happen with ANY guinea pig pair, male/male or female/female. While minimum cage size requirements for two guinea pigs is 7.5 square feet (or a 2×3 grid cage), we recommend a 10.5 square-foot cage (or a 2×4 grid cage).

How big of a cage do you need for 2 guinea pigs?

While minimum cage size requirements for two guinea pigs is 7.5 square feet (or a 2×3 grid cage), we recommend a 10.5 square-foot cage (or a 2×4 grid cage). Even one guinea pig needs 7.5 square feet.

How long should you keep two guinea pigs together?

Putting two guinea pigs together who have never met each other If they are coming from two different places then these things need to be considered. 1. For at least 2 weeks, keep them separate. Put them in separate cages next to each other so they cant see each other but can hear and smell each other.