Dominance Question about 2 girls in split cage - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**krystia** · #1 06-15-09, 04:52 pm

We have two girls who live in a split cage (3x4, so each has a 2x3). This is because when they lived together, one of the pigs would harass and bully the other pig at all times, so that the older pig lost visible weight because she wasn't able to eat. Eventually our vet told us we had to keep them separate for the older pig's good. Currently they live in a split cage, where they can see each other, and they enjoy it much better than being alone. It's not optimal, though, and eventually we want them move in together again. They get along very nicely, like best friends, as long as the "harassing" pig is unable to get to the other pig's food and hay, and is unable to bite or nip the other pig. We're still trying to find a solution to this.

Because we have two boys who live in a different room, we're constructing a semi-permanent "floor time" area that's far away from all the cages. We were wondering whether the girls could still play together on the floor (it's much bigger than the cages) because they'd have enough space to run around without dealing with each other, or if that would be too stressful and they should be taken out separately. Which do you think is better? The younger pig is very nice to the older pig, except when she feels her territory is being challenged. If it helps: we think she's so pushy because she came from a bad background where she was housed with many males, plus she had a litter in the shelter before we took her in.

Also, I've heard it's stressful for pigs to live in split-cages, but our girls seem to enjoy it, and the "bullied" pig has come out of her shell entirely since the change in cage divisions (where before she stayed inside her house until the other pig inevitably shoved her out). Is this true? We think they're happier this way, but we'd hate to accidentally be doing the wrong thing. Thank you!

**Peggysu** · #2 06-15-09, 04:57 pm

Being in separate cages and being able to smell and see one another is fine. When you had them together did you have two of everything. Two food dishes, cozies, hidey houses, hay racks all in separate places so that they could get away from eachother. I have two hay racks on separate sides of the cage and my girls would not share if they had to. Did you separate because there was blood or because the other wasn't getting enough to eat?

**krystia** · #3 06-15-09, 08:20 pm

We had two of everything except hay racks, but they were in a 2x4 back then. We built the 3x4 so they could have a split cage arrangement. The girls were originally separated because one pig wasn't being allowed to eat (she'd be chased away from all the food and the hideys) although they showed signs of continued aggression as well for the month or so they were together. Unlike when we originally paired our boys together, the aggression remained constant and mostly involved nipping and chasing, with all the noises that come with such behavior.

Do you think the added cage space might help?

**PiggieMom** · #4 06-15-09, 08:47 pm

More cage space definitely helps, the bigger the better.

**akstrohm** · #5 06-15-09, 08:49 pm

More cage space and having at least two of everything (including hay racks) should help. I would try introducing them again and hope for the best. If it doesn't work, I would do floor time separately.

**krystia** · #6 06-18-09, 11:28 am

Thank you for your help!

**TheJiraks** · #7 06-18-09, 11:44 am

Krystia, I'm in the same boat with my two boys. They had a 2x5 cage and multiples of everything, but still they couldn't be together without some fighting going on. After one lost a piece of his ear we said enough is enough and separated them. Now they both have 2x4 cages next to each other. I think this is the way to go. It would be more stressful for the pigs (and the humans!) if they were together and always were fighting and nipping. But more often than not when we walk into their room, they are laying side by side where the cages meet! They like to play by running and popcorning around their cages and meeting back at the divider. They will do this over and over for maybe 10 minutes, so you know they're having a blast. When it comes to floor time, we also do that separately. As much fun as you think they'd have together by how they act in their cages, as soon as that divider is gone and they can get to each other, it's all raised hackles, chattering teeth, and those yawns that say, "Look how much bigger my teeth are than yours!" So we just keep them separate, but within eyesight of each other. Also, their cages are one grid height off the ground so a lot of times when one is out, the other will lay down in his cage and watch. It's funny.

So anyway, my long boring story is just to say that separate cages can be the best option sometimes, and being separate might just be LESS stressful than being together. Hope that helps!

P.S. Like akstrohm says, keep trying to reintroduce them. We try every few weeks with ours hoping they will mature and settle the dominance issue. If they fight, keep them apart for now and try again in a few weeks. Good luck!