Guinea pigs can be fierce when fighting for dominance or resources. Guinea pigs fight for many reasons, and checking all possible causes is essential before taking action. If you see your pet fighting more often or getting injured in a fight, it’s time to take action. Once a fight has started, separate the animals as quickly as possible for their safety.
Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Fight
Establishing Dominance
Guinea pigs, especially males, are naturally territorial and will fight to dominate their surroundings. So if you’re planning on keeping guinea pigs as pets, keep them in groups of four or fewer and provide them with plenty of toys and tunnels to play with.
If fighting becomes too much, it may be best to euthanize one of the guinea pigs – but do it as quickly and painlessly as possible. For your guinea pig petting sessions to go smoothly, reward your guinea pigs regularly for good behavior- this will help reinforce positive interactions in future situations.
There Is an Injury or Illness
One of the main reasons guinea pigs fight is due to an injury or illness. If you can identify and address the cause, it will help prevent future conflicts. Fighting guinea pigs may sometimes be difficult to determine – this is why you might need to take multiple measures to stop them from fighting. These could include enclosure design, providing suitable food and water supplies, etcetera.
Paired Incorrectly by Sex
Pairing guinea pigs with sex can lead to fights, so it’s essential to do it correctly. When guinea pigs are young, they need to be housed separately from each other to avoid any fighting.
If a fight does occur, you may have to spay or neuter them immediately, as this will usually stop the fighting behavior. You can also try providing them with toys and enriching their environment so that they have more things to stimulate their senses and less time spent fighting with one another.
Paired Incorrectly by Personality Type
When guinea pigs are of different personality types, they will fight because they do not understand the new environment and find it difficult to adapt.
The best way to avoid this conflict is by separating them according to their personality type or moving them into their room so that they can have enough time to adjust. If this isn’t possible, give them toys and other activities that match their personalities to cease fighting.
Their Cage Is Too Small
Guinea pigs fight because their cages are too small. Guinea pigs can’t run around and play like they want to, which causes them to get bored and fight for dominance. This fighting behavior is usually triggered by boredom or stress – guinea pigs whose cages are too small don’t have enough space to do anything fun, so they turn on each other in an attempt to find something fun to do.
If boredom is the leading cause of the fight, give your guinea pigs some fun toys or puzzles to keep them occupied! Stay calm and concise when trying to break up a fight – don’t shout or get emotional. If the fighting continues even after these methods have been tried, it may be time for professional help.
Stopping a Guinea Pig Fight
Guinea pigs can be adorable and fun companions when they’re not fighting. However, when a fight breaks out, it can be dangerous for both animals. If you can separate them as quickly as possible, you’ll minimize their chances of getting hurt.
Give Them Toys
Please ensure plenty of toys and spaces for the guinea pigs to play with, as this will help reduce their fighting instincts. If you have to fight them, be careful not to touch them – guinea pigs can get injured in fights. Please don’t give in to their demands; ignoring an aggressive guinea pig will only worsen the situation.
Use Barriers
Guinea pigs fight for various reasons, but territoriality is the most common. This means they fight to mark their territory and assert dominance over their rivals. The best way to do this is to use physical barriers like cage dividers. If that doesn’t work, try calming them down with food or water.
If that still doesn’t work, try using signs or noises to try and get them to stop fighting. If that still doesn’t work, it may be time to call the vet. However, if you fight with your guinea pigs, do your best to avoid getting hurt, and remember that guinea pigs are animals, and they fight.
Reintroduce Them
There are a few simple ways to break up a guinea pig fight. First, the best way to do it is to remove all of the guinea pigs from the room, then reintroduce them one by one until only one is left behind. If this doesn’t work, you can try placing each guinea pig in its small area before trying to break up the fight again.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that guinea pigs need companionship to be happy, and fighting can signify something is wrong. If you notice that your guinea pigs are frequently fighting, consult a vet to see if there’s anything wrong.
Guinea Pigs: Fighting or Playing
Guinea pigs can get territorial when fighting, and you may see them attacking each other with their teeth. If you’re not sure if your guinea pigs are fighting or playing, here are a few signs or reasons to look for:
- Food or territory.
- Over mates/pairs.
- Dominance over other guinea pigs.
If you see any of these signs, you must take your guinea pigs to a veterinarian as soon as possible. It’s best to keep the number of guinea pigs in the household under ten so everyone has enough space to play and cuddle.
If they start squirming, hissing, and biting each other, it’s time to separate them. Ensure you provide them with plenty of toys and novelties to keep them entertained. If fighting becomes a chronic problem, consider getting a guinea pig mate or adopting a guinea pig from a shelter.
There are ways to prevent the fighting: keep them well-fed, housed in an appropriate environment, and socialized from a young age. In the unfortunate event of fighting, get help early to minimize the damage and save the guinea pig’s life.