Why Do Guinea Pigs Attack Each Other – The Dark Side of Guinea Pigs
You may be surprised to find out that guinea pigs, which many consider social, cute, and cuddly pets, can actually be aggressive and even violent towards each other. Of course, they do not want to fight each other, but there are many reasons why this behavior happens.
So why do guinea pigs attack each other? Although guinea pigs can be vicious to each other, there are a few reasons this occurs. One common reason is simply stress. Guinea pigs can also be territorial and will not like other guinea pigs invading their space.
In the following section, we’ll explore more reasons why guinea pigs attack each other. Also, we’ll be giving tips on how you can prevent these conflicts to ensure your piggies get along.
7 Common Reasons Why Do Guinea Pigs Attack Each Other
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It’s important to understand why the fighting happens so you can ensure that both guinea pigs are safe and cared for. Here are the seven main reasons why guinea pigs fight in captivity.
Stress/boredom
The root cause of this behavior is usually stress. If your guinea pigs aren’t getting enough stimulation or socialization, they might feel alone and anxious. They’ll try to get more attention by attacking other guinea pigs in this case.
Illness or injuries
Another common reason that guinea pigs fight is because they have an illness or injury. When a guinea pig’s health is compromised, it may lash out at its cage mate in self-defense. Illness can include anything from a cold to something more serious, like respiratory disease.
To protect their food supply
Pigs are omnivores, and their natural instinct is to keep food for themselves. When there are not enough resources in the cage for both guinea pigs, it’s common for them to fight over what little food they have.
Fighting for social dominance
In the wild, guinea pigs live in colonies with one dominant male who must aggressively fight for social dominance. Likewise, in captivity, some males are aggressive towards other males and may bite each other’s necks in order to establish a hierarchy.
Territorial aggression
Guinea pigs are territorial and will fight when they traverse each other’s territory. And don’t worry: it’s not their fault! They don’t mean harm; they just want to defend their turf.
Incorrect pairing
In guinea pigs, males can often be territorial and aggressive when two or more males are in the group. Also, the lack of male mates in the group may lead to females fighting with each other for a chance at breeding with a male. Females will also attack one another if they’re not properly spayed and have an excess of hormones.
Introducing a new guinea pig
Every guinea pig is special, and no two are the same. In fact, they each have their own personalities, habits, likes, and dislikes. Therefore, they might attack each other when they meet and interact for the first time.
How to avoid conflict among guinea pigs?
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Guinea pigs get aggressive for all sorts of reasons. But with a little understanding, you can help your pets live harmoniously. Here are the tips to prevent fighting among guinea pigs.
1. Don’t mix breeds
Pigs that are not bred to be social together (like guinea pigs) will often attack each other, which can lead to injury. For this reason, do not mix breeds of pigs in the same space. According to the American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA), there exist 13 different breeds of guinea pigs.
2. Establish boundaries
Try to establish boundaries with walls or cages around the areas where the animals play. Remember that multiple males are territorial by nature, so it’s often better to stick with one male per cage. Females can be territorial too, but usually only if there is more than one female in the cage.
3. Provide enough space
Guinea pigs may want to protect their own space and will attack any other animal who tries to enter it- including their cage mate. Ensure that there’s plenty of space for them to roam without coming into contact with one another; this includes ensuring that there’s enough space in cages, carriers, and playpens.
4. Provide a good diet and exercise
First, ensure that your guinea pigs get the proper diet for their age and weight. Second, ensure you’re providing your pets with plenty of time outside their cage every day – a minimum of 1 hour per day should do the trick! Finally, provide them with new toys often to keep boredom at bay.
5. Careful introduction
When introducing a new member to your existing colony, place him or her in a cage with a barrier. You can put screens or panels with holes cut into them so they can see and smell each other but not interact directly. This way, they will get used to each other’s presence without feeling threatened.
However, it’s always easier to put a group together at once instead of trying to introduce others later on.
6. Correct grouping
The minimum group size for guinea pigs is two. However, avoid a female-only group. Instead, introduce a male to balance out things. The possible grouping may include:
- One neutered male with 2-3 females
- 1-2 neutered males with 2-4 females
- Neutered males in small groups
FAQs
This section will clear up all your questions and help you prevent attacks before they even occur.
Why do guinea pigs fight each other?
Guinea pigs attack each other for dominance when they are bored, in pain, or sick, when their cage is small, when introducing a new guinea pig, and when not paired correctly.
Why do guinea pigs suddenly start fighting?
They will suddenly start fighting when on heat, due to sudden sickness, and sibling battles when there is no entertainment. When we say joy, we mean playing with wooden toys or providing them with a ball.
Can guinea pigs kill each other?
If the fighting occurs in your absence, the more giant guinea pigs can quickly attack and kill the little piggies. It is always good to be observant when they start fighting.
Conclusion
Different personalities, nutrition, health issues, space, and mating rites are why guinea pigs attack each other. No matter the reason for the attack, there are things you can do to try and prevent this behavior.
Always watch your guinea pig and intervene when they seem stressed. Another preventative measure is to give them plenty of space, hideaways, distractions, toys, and hay for nibbling. Remember that not all instances can be prevented. But with these tips, you can decrease the odds.