Help! Food sharing problem.

[Guinea_Piggin]

Per a couple recommendations in an earlier post, I cut back on the amount of pellets I give Oliver and Twizzler. They were originally getting 1/4 cup each, daily...I cut back to 1/8 cup each, daily. Here's the problem. Twizzler not only won't let Oliver have any of the pellets now, but he also sometimes chases him away from the hay! I've tried splitting up the food into 1/8 cup in the morning, and 1/8 cup in the evening, with unlimited hay all day and night, but Twizzler still won't let Oliver get anything. Oliver is more than willing to share the dish with Twizzler, I've seen him move over so they could eat out of the same bowl before.

What do I do? Is Twizzler just that hungry that he needs all those pellets for himself? Or is he just being, well, a pig? He's 3lbs 1ozand Oliver is 2lbs 4oz. Will he eventually get over the "not enough food, all mine!" problem, or am I going to have to intervene somehow? For those that are curious, I do have 2 food dishes in the cage.

[TX_2_Pigs]

Well you might try giving Twizzler some lap time when you put the pellets in the bowl and give Oliver some time to eat some of them before you put Twizzler back in. Or take Oliver out and let give him some outside the cage while Twizzler eats his in the cage.

[Guinea_Piggin]

Thanks TX! I'll give that a try...why is it always the obvious answers?

Of course right after I posted this thread, Twizzler decided it was okay to share. I just don't understand these little balls of fur somedays.

[ctinaw]

My guess is the Twiz realized there was a decrease and maybe his survival skills kicked in . Hey they are animals after all. I think once he realizes that yes the food will keep coming he'll let his bro have some too. I wouldn't sweat it yet.