HELP! Big Problem!!!

**cjguineapiglvr** · #1 12-22-04, 11:12 am

OK here it goes. My two boys have been living in the same cage since they were babies (they're brothers). But lately they have been fighting and I don't know why! Nickel has scratches on his nose mouth area which I noticed yesterday. I have to ask my dad to make an appointment at the vet's but I fear that it will take a little while because of the holidays! I took Nickel out of the cage and put him in another cage (store bought cage) with food water and timothy hay. The bottom is a towel folded over twice. Since the cage is so small I'm gonna let him out for alot of floor time. I was thinking that since they had been together for so long and they used to snuggle and be really really close that some time alone would be good for them. Also since I have two C&C cages put together with a divider (one side for the boys and one side for my girl) that after I clean the cages this weekend I'll put the boys in the girls side and the girl in the boys side. I'm really inexperienced at fighting males and I was wondering if you guys could make any suggestions! Like what I could do to help Nickel get better (yes I'm taking him to the vet) and any suggestions on why they're fighting and how I can help them!!! Thanks so much and sorry for the long post!
-Kayla

**Piglet** · #2 12-22-04, 11:21 am

Maybe they are having a dominance issue? Could they be fighting over the girl?

**cjguineapiglvr** · #3 12-22-04, 11:23 am

Yeah maybe but I've had them in the cage on the side of the girl for a little while and they haven't been fighting. This is like the first time and last night was the first time I've EVER heard them chatter their teeth!

**DocDolittle** · #4 12-22-04, 11:50 am

Are they just going through puberty now?

**cjguineapiglvr** · #5 12-22-04, 12:25 pm

Umm I'm not sure... I have no idea when guinea pigs go through puberty, maybe, that could definatly be a reason but like I said before I've never had two boars that fight. Thanks thou!
-Kayla

**DocDolittle** · #6 12-22-04, 02:30 pm

Are they 2-4 months old right now? When males reach puberty at the same time, it might get messy.

**cjguineapiglvr** · #7 12-22-04, 02:48 pm

I think that they are older then that but Im not positive. They weigh about two pounds so I don't think theyre babies!

**Piglet** · #8 12-22-04, 04:31 pm

The weaker one may be wanting to become the dominant one

**My Baby Mu** · #9 12-22-04, 06:29 pm

Males sometimes if you put them together when they are young and keep them together when they get older they won't have the same friendship and dominace and all that.

**GPSlave** · #10 12-22-04, 08:57 pm

Rudy and Bear Bear were the exact same. They were born together, along with a sister, and were inseparable until about age 8 mos or so. Same symptoms as yours - squabbling, chittering and the like. Eventually they got separate cages and that was that. I think it is a dominance thing, along with the fact that I think they just got tired of each other.

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