Behavior: Should I keep my Piggies seperated or not?

[Gizzie]

I love my piggies!!!
I purchased a piggie for my grandson at a pet store (didn't know better at that time!) Then, read that they enjoy being with other piggies, so went back the next day & got another one. I quaranteened for two weeks and tried the introduction from reading your forums. (Thank God I found this wonderful place!!! It has been SO HELPFUL!) It did not go well. Mounting, strutting, "yawning" and then a ball of fur with a chunk of ear missing.
Tried other introductions, and the same thing happends each time...no more bitten ears, but blood is drawn. Even tried the bath suggestion, hoping they would bond; no avail. I have them in a 2X5 cavy cage now, seperated by 2 grids down the center. They "visit" each other, but still don't seems to appreciate each other. Both piggies are very dominate with each other, scenting the grids between each other, and making noises at each other that don't sound to be pleasent. BUT, they do seem to get along OK seperated...and check on each other frequently. They are wonderful piggies individually, a bit skiddish in their cage, but once we take them out, they're the sweetest and most affectionate little creatures God could provide. Should we continue to introduce them outside the cage, or let dominate piggies lie?? Thank you for your help!!!

[akstrohm]

How old are they? If they're 6 months to a year they might just be going through puberty. In that case, you could try reintroducing them on netural territory in a few months. But don't keep reintroducing them over and over--the more you do it, the less likely they are to get along.

How did you introduce them before? Did they get along outside of the cage or start fightining right away? If you had them in the same cage, did you have multiples of everything? Did anything in particular cause a problem?

If you keep them separated, you should make sure that each pig has at least a 2x3 section.

[Gizzie]

When I first brought them home they were in seperate cages for quaranteen. They would gnaw at the cages as if they were trying to get to one another and chatter a bit.
When I finally introduced them, my grandson & I placed them on the floor on a clean blanket with each of us on a seperate end of the blanket. They both nosed around a bit and didn't leave our side much. about 20 min. later, they explored the area and found each other. That is when it turned into a furry ball with strutting, chattering, mounting and finally a piece of Gizzie's ear was missing and a bit of blood. Each time
(3x) we tried the introduction, (once after a combined bath) the results were the same. According to the Pet store, one piggie is 6 months, the other is about 4 months....and yes, we did have multiples of everything...hidey house, a carrot for each and two seperate laps to run to.

[akstrohm]

For future reference, quarantine should be done in a separate room behind a closed door for a full three weeks.

I would leave them in the divided cage. But do try to expand it so each pig has at least a 2x3 section.

[Gizzie]

Thank you! Thank you for your suggestions, your helpfulness and mostly your concern!