Aggression Guinea Pigs Suddenly Attacking Each Other!! Help!

[rachel0016]

My guinea pigs have been happily living together for a month.
They never once chattered at each other or attacked each other, even in the earliest stages of introduction. Every day they cuddled together and played together. No outward signs of aggression except an occasional growl.
Suddenly today I noticed them chattering and watched to see if it would escalate. They yawned and chattered for a very long time. The younger one lunged to bite at the older, so I immediately separated them.

Some factors could be:
-The younger one just hit puberty and may want to be dominant. However, I have noticed that they switched dominating roles often. Sometimes the older one would growl and rumblestrut, sometimes the younger. This was not a problem.

-I postponed washing their cage for an extra three days because I am moving soon. Maybe the strong scent? I spot clean daily, however.

-I just gave them a treat. However, I gave them treats before and they did not fight. Also, I covered up the smell and removed the treat while they were chattering and nothing changed.

Just a week ago I put the other cage into my grandma's house so I cannot adequately separate them at the moment.
Right now I have the younger one in the bathroom and the older one the cage.
Any tips, solutions?

 

[plum22]

How large is your cage?

 

[plum22]

How large is your cage? Are they males or females?
sorry about the double post lol

 

[rachel0016]

they are both males and the cage is .7 sq meters I believe if not a little larger

 

[jessieisabel]

It's my understanding that you're not supposed to separate unless they draw blood, so they can sort out their dominance.

What kind of cage do you have them in currently?

 

[bpatters]

The cage is too small for two males, for one thing.

Don't separate them unless they're bleeding.

 

[guin2567]

It sounds like a show of dominance, but if there is any pulling of hair or bleeding thats when you should worry

 

[guin2567]

Also, its perfectly normal for them to show dominance and you shouldent seperait them,it may be piggie pubraty, but if you keep them seprate it will never get better