Guinea pig suddenly very dominant after living with submissive pig for weeks. Can you help?

Question

I've had my two guinea pigs for 2 1/2 years. one is 2 1/2 and the other is 3 1/2. They have this problem where they can be together for weeks or months and get along great and then all of a sudden my younger boy (the dominant one) gets really mean and starts mounting the older, submissive one, growling at him, chasing him, just being very annoying.

Their cage is a huge cubes and coroplast cage, 2x6 bottom level with 2x4 upper level, so I know it's not a space issue. i just don't get why he's fine for a few weeks or months and then all of a sudden he goes nuts and gets really mean. He did this once before as well and I had to seperate them for two years because after a few months, he became very mean.

i'm going on vacation next week and am starting to worry. They're not drawing blood or fighting over food/water/housing, but my submissive boy is starting to nip because he's getting really tired of being chased all the time.

Help? Any reason why my dominant guy gets like this?

Answer 1

its kinda like pmsing but for guys, theyre just getting annoyed, its like spending a week with one of ur closest friends, fun at first and then BAM annoying, and seriously, wouldnt u get confused if u were constently being taken out and put back together, just put them together and watch them carefully if they start to fight try and make a loud distraction noise, like a clap or a loud no... hopes this helps

Answer 2

My boys behave like this sometimes.

At first I kept searating them and then re-introducing them but I find this makes it worse.

now I just leave them and they get over it after a few days. Perhaps you could try this and just let your gunea pigs sort it out themselves unless something serious happens and blood is drawn.

Answer 3

put 2 cubes in the middle or de scent the cage by using vinegar to clean it out then rinse well

Answer 4

MAYBE ONE'S A FEMALE. THEY WILL BITE WHEN ONE GOES INTO HEAT. IF ONE GIVES BIRTH, CONTACT ME.

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