Fighting Is it okay that my two female guinea pigs fight once in a while?

[maple&teddi21]

Hello everyone!
I recently got my first two guinea pigs a couple days ago. I believe they are sisters, but I'm not 100% sure because I rescued them. But anyway, I've noticed they fight every once in a while. But that equals up to about a couple times a day. It's nothing too serious. But then again, I'm just worried that it'll turn into something more. If you could please give any tips that'd help alot.

I think it's something to do with dominance, but I don't know.

I hope their bond isn't breaking!

 

[maple&teddi21]

Also, please note that I don't have space to separate them.

 

[bpatters]

First, turn them both over and compare their private parts. It may be that you have a male and a female, and because she's not in heat, she's not interested in his advances.

If that's the case, please separate them immediately, even if you have to make a temporary cage. Pregnancy and delivery are very hard on both sows and pups, and the death rates for both are high.

If they're the same sex, how large is their cage? And how much cage furniture do you have in it. Crowding is a major reason for guinea pig aggression.

 

[maple&teddi21]

They have around a 1000sq inch cage for them. I think it’s the minimum size for two?

I got them from a shelter, and both are supposedly female. I will still check though. I don’t really have room for two cages, so if this is the problem, it’ll not be the best temporary cage.

Crowding on the other hand, it’s not too crowded. I have a litter box and two cardbord hides. Theres also a bigger pellet bowl for them. I of course have other enrichment, but those dont take up too much space.

Thank you for the advice! Btw, how do I tell if the guinea pig is female or male? Or is it pretty obv? Tysm!

 

[bpatters]

No, sorry, it isn't even the minimum size for one pig. You need at least eight square feet, and you've got less than seven. You need to find a way to get a larger cage.

It should be very obvious which one is male and which is female, if they're not the same sex. If they look different, separate them even if you can't figure out which is which.

Here's a good site with pictures: http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/sexing-guinea-pigs.html

 

[maple&teddi21]

Well, okay. Thank you. Also for your information, I will be putting in a wicked liner tmrw so it works better. Thank you so much for the advice. I’ll keep you updated

 

[maple&teddi21]

Also! The cage I have is almost triple the size of their previous cage from their previous owners, it’s also alot bigger than the shelter cage for them. So either way, it’s an upgrade. They’re also really happy in it. They tend to wheek and popcorn alot. Also, I got the fighting to stop by putting hay in two different sides of the cage so they don’t get dominant by it. I’m currently working on making a quick temporary cage if I do end up separating them, but for now, I have their own hides on opposite ends of the cage, and they aren’t going by each-other overly much. So right now, their as separated as can be until the temp set up if need be.

 

[maple&teddi21]

And I am going to try to order some c&c grids to make one of their cages if they still end up fighting a little bit.