Will Guinea Pigs Fight

Guinea pigs are naturally very friendly creatures. They are known to roam in herds in the mountains of South America.

But do guinea pigs get into fights?

Guinea pigs are cute and entertaining little pets, but they can fight at times. Continue reading to learn why your piggies are hostile and how to keep them in check.

Two cavies may fight for a variety of causes, including to establish dominance, inappropriate mating, or being kept in a tiny cage.

If a guinea pig is in distress due to a sickness or injury, they may act out. It's important to notice the warning signals that a fight is about to erupt and to be prepared to intervene and separate the cavies if required.

So now you know it's not unusual for guinea pigs to fight, but each of these clashes has its own set of symptoms that can help you figure out why they're fighting.

Why Do Your Guinea Pigs Fight?

Establishing Dominance 

It's quite typical for one male guinea pig to want to impose authority over another, as we've already stated above.

When guinea pigs battle for supremacy, the following indications appear:

• Sauntering
• Snorting
• To leave their scent and mark their territories, they drag their butts
• Flashing their teeth by opening their mouth
• Chattering their teeth
• Chasing each other
• Hackles raised
• Mounting

After the fight, there will be a meek guinea pig and a dominant guinea pig. When neither piggie backs down, though, the situation becomes more hostile. This is when you must step in and interfere to prevent the guinea pigs from fighting.

When A Guinea Pig is Sick or Injured

If your guinea pigs have been living together for a while and then have a fight out of nowhere, one of them is likely injured or sick. Guinea pigs, like humans, become cranky when they aren't feeling well.

To figure out why the cavies are fighting, you'll need to keep an eye on them for any signs of disease or injury. If nothing appears wrong, you should take your pig to your local veterinarian for a thorough inspection.

To prevent the spread of infections, keep the piggies' cages clean and give new food daily.

The food they consume will have an impact on their well-being. Therefore, you must ensure that your guinea pigs receive all of the nutrients they require from a variety of sources, such as pellets, hay, and fruits, and veggies.

Sex

The proper pairing of guinea pigs is essential for maintaining peace in your guinea pig kingdom. Separation of males and females is recommended. Mating fights could occur if both genders of piggies are mixed.

A female guinea pig cannot be paired with two male cavies because the males will compete against each other for her attention and might even hurt her.

Having two or three of the same sex together is the finest potential pairing for a peaceful hutch. A female with a neutered male is also an excellent match. Although neutering your male guinea pigs is an optional procedure, it is a good idea to get it done.

Not Enough Room

Yes, guinea pigs are social and like being among other animals, but they also require their own space.

When numerous piggies are crammed into a small, tight environment, they are bound to have problems! With so little room to move, there's no way to get away from each other. If they are forced to stay together for a long period, they will become irritated with one another and fight.

A cage should not be less than 7.5 square feet in size, and preferably, it should be a minimum of 10.5 square feet.

If your guinea pigs' cage is large enough and not the source of their disagreement, you might add a divider to separate them so they can still smell, see, and hear each other.

It's Possible that Your Guinea Pigs are Fighting because They're Bored

When we're bored, don't we all grow grumpy and irritable? We do, don't we? The same is true for guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are typically laid-back creatures. If they are not stimulated enough, they will grow bored, restless, and irritated at times. They need to play with toys or other piggies, and they must also get plenty of sleep.

If this is not the case, the guinea pigs will become upset and fight.

Chew toys are by far the most commonly recommended.

When A Fight Breaks Out, What Should You Do?

Guinea pig fights can be quick and will be over before you know it, with no injuries. However, you’ll need to intervene as soon as it becomes clear that your piggies are serious about their work and aren't having fun. Just keep in mind that guinea pigs will bite anything in their surroundings if they get into a serious fight.

So, before putting yourself in the middle, cover your hands with oven mitts or thick gloves, or wrap your hands in a towel.

If you think you can catch the attacker before it harms the other pig, try to stop them as fast as you can. You might be able to stop the fight by putting something between them, such as a board, but it will be pretty tough to separate them.

To stop the attack, you may have to throw a blanket or towel over each of them, or at least the aggressor. As soon as you've completed this, separate them and set them in different areas to cool off.

You must ensure that they cannot hear or see each other in order for them to calm down completely.

If you've been bitten and your skin has been torn, clean the wound using soap and warm water to avoid infection. A guinea pig bite is usually harmless, but if you detect swelling around the cut or it just doesn't stop bleeding, you should consult your doctor.

Final Thoughts

Guinea pigs fight for a variety of causes. Many typical triggers can be avoided by carefully pairing cavies and ensuring they have enough space, toys, and food.

Fighting amongst your guinea pigs might indicate a variety of things, but it is not always harmful conduct. It's also crucial to know when cavies are playing or demonstrating typical dominance behavior, as well as when you need to intervene to keep your squabbling pets apart.

If a fight does occur, simply follow our step-by-step instructions on how to keep your guinea pigs from fighting.