Squibbles
Active Member
Cavy Gazer
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
- Posts
- 39
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
- Messages
- 39
Hi everyone! This is my first topic thread on any forum online so I hope that this is correct.
I recently acquired 2 female guinea pigs who I have named Squibbles and Squeaks. Squibbles is 5 months old and Squeaks is 3 months old. I purchased them from a small local pet store. I had been researching guinea pigs for a few days and wanted to look at some supplies in person instead of online.
I had absolutely no intention of buying any supplies and certainly any piggies, but I couldn?t help it. I absolutely fell in love with Squibbles who rode around in my fianc?es hoodie for over an hour while we talked to the store owner. We only purchased Squibbles that day (December 2nd) as I was hoping to locate another Abyssinian and I really wanted to rescue one from a shelter after all of the reading I had done through forums like this one.
We purchased a starter kit from the pet store which I had no intention of keeping that as the primary enclosure but I needed somewhere for her to sleep temporarily. I already knew what type of enclosure I wanted to provide ultimately. I only had to locate the supplies.
Once we got home with her and got everything set up, she looked absolutely miserable and lonely. I felt so terrible for her that we ended up returning to the store the next day and purchasing the 3 month old female Squeaks. I was not too concerned about introductions as they had been housed together so I just assumed it would actually be the best fit for both of them, and we would avoid any type of falling out.
I actually made a joke about Squeaks being the one piggy that Squibbles hated the most out of the group (there were 4 altogether) while we were on our way home with the new addition.
When I put Squeaks in the cage Squibbles really was not happy. She seemed agitated at her presence but there was no alarming behavior between them. The cage was way too small for one piggy much less two so I figured things would get better once I moved them to a larger area.
They only ended up spending 24 hours in that ridiculous starter kit (how is it legal for them to sell these cages?). I cleaned out my entire closet and built them a make shift enclosure the very next day on December 4th. As soon as I placed them in the new temporary set up they seemed extremely happy! Popcorning and running about.
The area was still too small measuring in at roughly 2x5. After a week passed by I rearranged my entire bedroom and after two days of adjustments, I was able to provide an area of 10 square feet. They were thrilled at the final arrangement and so was I.
Everyone has been happy and quiet for the last 2 weeks. I?d never seen any type of dominance displays between the girls until late last night. I was initially concerned but took the the internet and read all about establishing dominance behaviors.
From what I could tell, what they are doing is normal so I just kept my eyes on them all night long. Squeaks began rumble strutting at squibbles and making what I would call a low growling noise or a deep purr possibly teeth chattering? Hard to determine. Squibbles just whined whenever Squeaks got near her. No physical altercations were observed.
The situation is gradually becoming more heated though which is why I am posting this thread. Squeaks will not let Squibbles be. She is constantly harassing her, chasing her, mounting etc. I know that this is normal to a degree but it?s been going on nonstop for about 2 hours and I?m getting really concerned.
They nipped at each other?s noses a few moments ago and Squeaks just will not stop making that threatening sound while Squibbles is continuously whimpering. I have not separated them as I read that one shouldn?t do that unless there is an injury.
I?m really worried though and I really could some feedback. Sorry for such a long post but I felt I had to give some backstory.
Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I recently acquired 2 female guinea pigs who I have named Squibbles and Squeaks. Squibbles is 5 months old and Squeaks is 3 months old. I purchased them from a small local pet store. I had been researching guinea pigs for a few days and wanted to look at some supplies in person instead of online.
I had absolutely no intention of buying any supplies and certainly any piggies, but I couldn?t help it. I absolutely fell in love with Squibbles who rode around in my fianc?es hoodie for over an hour while we talked to the store owner. We only purchased Squibbles that day (December 2nd) as I was hoping to locate another Abyssinian and I really wanted to rescue one from a shelter after all of the reading I had done through forums like this one.
We purchased a starter kit from the pet store which I had no intention of keeping that as the primary enclosure but I needed somewhere for her to sleep temporarily. I already knew what type of enclosure I wanted to provide ultimately. I only had to locate the supplies.
Once we got home with her and got everything set up, she looked absolutely miserable and lonely. I felt so terrible for her that we ended up returning to the store the next day and purchasing the 3 month old female Squeaks. I was not too concerned about introductions as they had been housed together so I just assumed it would actually be the best fit for both of them, and we would avoid any type of falling out.
I actually made a joke about Squeaks being the one piggy that Squibbles hated the most out of the group (there were 4 altogether) while we were on our way home with the new addition.
When I put Squeaks in the cage Squibbles really was not happy. She seemed agitated at her presence but there was no alarming behavior between them. The cage was way too small for one piggy much less two so I figured things would get better once I moved them to a larger area.
They only ended up spending 24 hours in that ridiculous starter kit (how is it legal for them to sell these cages?). I cleaned out my entire closet and built them a make shift enclosure the very next day on December 4th. As soon as I placed them in the new temporary set up they seemed extremely happy! Popcorning and running about.
The area was still too small measuring in at roughly 2x5. After a week passed by I rearranged my entire bedroom and after two days of adjustments, I was able to provide an area of 10 square feet. They were thrilled at the final arrangement and so was I.
Everyone has been happy and quiet for the last 2 weeks. I?d never seen any type of dominance displays between the girls until late last night. I was initially concerned but took the the internet and read all about establishing dominance behaviors.
From what I could tell, what they are doing is normal so I just kept my eyes on them all night long. Squeaks began rumble strutting at squibbles and making what I would call a low growling noise or a deep purr possibly teeth chattering? Hard to determine. Squibbles just whined whenever Squeaks got near her. No physical altercations were observed.
The situation is gradually becoming more heated though which is why I am posting this thread. Squeaks will not let Squibbles be. She is constantly harassing her, chasing her, mounting etc. I know that this is normal to a degree but it?s been going on nonstop for about 2 hours and I?m getting really concerned.
They nipped at each other?s noses a few moments ago and Squeaks just will not stop making that threatening sound while Squibbles is continuously whimpering. I have not separated them as I read that one shouldn?t do that unless there is an injury.
I?m really worried though and I really could some feedback. Sorry for such a long post but I felt I had to give some backstory.
Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
