Behavior Bratty Little One Steals Food

[Alyssa Valach]

For a couple months now, I've noticed my 4 month old likes to steal food from my older cavy. By steal I mean he bites onto the bowl and pulls it away from the other one. I've seen him pull it across the cage just to get it away. As adorable as I think this is, it also causes him to tip over the bowl sometimes and dumps the food all over the bedding. Any advice on how I can get Teddy (the little one) to stop being so bratty?

 

[bpatters]

Just enjoy it. It's cute behavior.

You can't teach manners to a guinea pig. You could put two bowls in the cage, or a bowl that won't tip over. Bowls that are flared at the bottom, like some soap dishes, are hard to turn over.

 

[pigmommy89]

The best food is always in the other pig's mouth (or bowl). )

 

[Rywen]

I love it when mine fight over the same piece of hay. They are both sitting in a pile of hay bigger than they are and suddenly they both want the same piece, lol!

 

[PeanutnCookie]

My babies do this. I give them a piece of lettuce and they and mom all pull it out of each other's mouths. I don't think you can teach them not to do it. Try taking your younger one out and feeding so the older one gets a chance to eat some. After he eats about half of the veggies/food/hay, put the younger one back in. That way they both get some.

 

[Guinepig]

One of my piggies does that with veggies. His name is Piglet. I will give all of them one slice of bell pepper, and then Piglet will drop his piece and try to take the other piggies pepper! It's cute!

 

[LifeAsItMayBe]

One of mine does this too. It's a behavior that she was born with, she would even grab the bowl with her mouth when she was too small to move it. I use very shallow ceramic bowls to keep them from tipping over.