Tonight one of my boys went nuts!

[Wheekie]

When I left for work, everything was normal...when I came home, my Cotton was crazy! My poor Sunshine can't even get to his food without Cotton jumping or humping him...even his face! When Sunshine runs into his house, Cotton walks around the house in circles, then lays down outside his door as if to make sure he can't get by him. The only place Sunshine could get away from him is to go into this little fleecy tent that they have that's only big enough for one, but it didn't stop Cotton from trying to get in there 'at him'! This happened once before and it stopped, so I know this to will pass...and I know not to separate them unless there's blood and all that. But I'd like somebody with some insight to guinea pig minds to tell me...what's this all about anyway? Sunshine is usually my dominant piggie, so was this Cotton trying to become the dominant pig or was it hormonal or what? (They have a big 3x5 C&C Cage and have been cagemates for over a year and usually get along just fine!) Help please!

[GuineaAddict]

Maybe Cotton just decided enough was enough, it was his turn to be dominant or something. I've had two of my girl guinea pigs play this situation out. I'd just let it go and start worrying if somebody starts drawing blood or one is losing weight due to not eating. Maybe Cotton just decided he was going to uber annoying that day.

[paula.m.moore]

Do you have females in the room? Two of my boys do this exact thing when the girls are in heat. It goes on about 6-8 hours every other week or so. Chompsky won't let his brother Oppenheimer leave the hay bin without mounting him and squawking at him like a banshee. It drives me crazy but it's pretty normal dominance behavior and they aren't hurting each other.
If you don't have girls in the room it still sounds pretty normal as long as there's no blood.

Just make sure they can both get food and water and I think your boys will settle. Chompsky doesn't prevent Oppenheimer from drinking water or eating but sometimes I give Oppenheimer his veggies while he "hides" in the hay bin so he doesn't have to get down and deal with his brother.

Good luck to you.

[Wheekie]

I did just let it go and today they're fine! After I stopped worrying and just watched, it was actually funny! It was just Cotton trying to take over the dominant position. Sunshine put up with Cotton's antics for hours, but it only took one time where he turned around and chased him,as if saying 'I'm still the boss!' and Cotton settled right down and crept back to his house. Now I feel bad for him! (There aren't any females around...they're both about 3yrs. old...I've had them both since they were 6 weeks old and they've never been around any girls.)