Boys Fighting

[deathnotronic]

I have two guinea pigs, Chad and Brad. I got Chad first and then Brad. The two became best friends (Chad was a lot bigger than Brad). Then I got Meatball on Tuesday. That same day Chad and Brad had a vet appointment. They're all healthy. The vet said that Brad was about 2-3 months and Chad was about 5-6. Meatball is about 8 months.

Meatball and Chad will not stop fighting. I haven't seen blood, but I've seen a lot of fur chunks, and I did notice a scratch on Chad, but no noticeable bloodshed.

I've been reading around this site and I'm assuming that Chad is going through adolescence and trying to show Meatball who's boss. Meatball really doesn't instigate it though and Brad just runs upstairs to his little hideout. They can be very quiet once I turn the lights off and leave their blue Christmas lights on, but it only works then.

There have been some full on roll around fights. They live in a 2x7 cage with a 2x1 second floor (only Brad uses it though) so I'm sure it's big enough, they have two sets of food and three water tubes.

I know I've only had Meatball since Tuesday and I've been told that it could take a couple months, but I can't stand to see any more fur ripped out.

I'm thinking of just giving them all a bath tomorrow. I don't know what to do! Why can't they all just be friends?

 

[clotho]

Hi there. I am assuming from what you said about just getting Meatball on Tuesday, that you immediately put him in with your other two boys. Did you follow any of the recommendations on the website for introducing piggies properly or did you just throw him in with the other two? Piggies - especially males - get territorial.

First off, you should quarantine any new piggie for at least 3 weeks in a separate cage in a separate room. This is to make sure the new piggie is healthy (some diseases can take weeks to show signs of it and even a vet can't tell before the symptoms start) and you want to protect your current piggies from getting sick. If your new piggie has mites or any other physical problem, it could cause him to be irritable and complicate matters.

Guinea Lynx :: Quarantine

Secondly, you need to read this link over very carefully and follow it's advice: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm#Introductions This will show you how to introduce your boys properly. You need to put them together in a completely neutral area (no scents from any of them) with a big pile of hay or veggies to distract them. Watch them carefully, and stand by with a dustpan or oven mitt to separate them with if they fight. Leave them alone so long as they don't draw blood. They need to sort out who will be boss. If all goes well, after a few hours, you can put them together into the cage - but make sure you clean it COMPLETELY - everything in the cage - all food dishes, hideys, water bottles - get rid of all scents so no one feels they "own" it. Also change things around so it seems like a new cage to the piggies. Then put them in together and keep a good eye on them.

Some people suggest a buddy bath should only be used as a last resort. I think since your piggies are already fighting a bit, that you might want to use the buddy bath and hopefully it will help settle things down. Others might disagree, but if they were my piggies, that is what I would do.

Good luck with them and please let us know how it goes!

 

[deathnotronic]

Oh no I didn't throw them in at once. I set up a little neutral play area and put them in there (with food, veggies, and toys). I cleaned out the cage entirely to get rid of any scent. We washed everything. Their fighting woke me up. Mornings are usually the worst. The vet I take them to is the 'guinea pig specialist' at the clinic so I'm fully confident that he did a good checkup (my mom took them there because I had class). Even with the vet, they all look extremely healthy. They run around, eat very well, all is good except for the fighting.