Why Is She Doing This?

[AnythingFairy]

I don't know why but my older guinea pig Mika never seems to let my younger one Nosho drink from the water. Every time Nosho tries to drink, Mika comes up and starts barbering her backside and Nosho is starting to go bald in that area because Mika does nothing but barber her in that one spot when she tries to drink until Nosho runs away. Mika is doing nothing but hurting Nosho and I'm really tired of Nosho not being able to get anything to drink and Mika always hurting her by biting her bald spot she put on her. What does this mean? Why is she doing this? How do I get her to stop?!

[guineapigluver1]

How many water bottles do you have? If you only have one, you should try getting a second one, and see if she stops. I don't know why she is doing that though....

[AnythingFairy]

we have 2 water bottles but for some reason they ONLY drink from 1 of them. we're trying to encourage them to drink from the other as well but they're not.

[guineapigluver1]

Have you checked to see if the other one is working properly? It may not be working right, and that may be why they are only drinking from the one.

[guinealovee]

Also if they are both working properly then try moving the locations of the water bottles.

[cavyinhawaii]

Originally Posted by AnythingFairy

we have 2 water bottles but for some reason they ONLY drink from 1 of them. we're trying to encourage them to drink from the other as well but they're not.

Are they the same color? Mine like the green one and not the clear one.
You might need 2 exactally the same.

[AnythingFairy]

it's continuing to get worse, mika continues to barber nosho that she squeals when she does it, and mika's chasing nosho all over the cage, the only times she's able to eat is when i give them hay, mika is being too dominant, what do i do to get her to stop?

[steve_and_pigs]

How did you introduce them?
How long have they been together?
When did this start?
How big is the cage?
Is there a second level/loft?
What is their diet?

I don't know the answer, but if you provide more details, someone may be able to help. It sounds like Nosho can't get away from Mika, so she can't eat/drink in an area where Mika can't see her. I don't know if barbering as part of establishing dominance is the same as habitual barbering, which is often not cureable.

Guinea Lynx :: Hair Loss

Is Nosho a lot smaller than Mika? If yes, divide off an area of the cage and create an opening that only Nosho can fit through because of her size. Put food and a water bottle inside this special Nosho area. She will be able to go in there to eat/drink, or just get away from Mika.

If Nosho has an open wound, you need to seperate them. I don't know if all wounds require vet attention, but I'm guessing yes. Perhaps somebody can comment.

[guineapigluver1]

Originally Posted by AnythingFairy

the only times she's able to eat is when i give them hay

What do you mean when you give them hay? They should have unlimited hay.