How do female guinea pigs show dominance?

Question

I buyed a female guinea pig 4 days. I kept hearing that guinea pigs are happier with a buddy. So I got her cage mate at the place i had gotten her. When I reunited them, they were fine. But when i put them in the cage, June, the guinea pig that i got first, kept bullying Basil, the new guinea pig. She keeps putting her nose in Basil's behind, or pinning her in a corner, I can't tell if she's biting her, or if she's just poking Basil with her nose. Basil never fights back, but it seems like June won't stop nagging and nitpicking Basil. I'm scared for Basil, but I want to keep thinking that their just fighting for dominance. Oviously June's being the dominant one. I just want to know how they fight for dominance.

Answer 1

sounds like typical pig behavior.

now if the new female stops eating or is getting harmed in anyway i would immediatly seperate them.  i wouldn't wait for bloodshed, if you hear squeeling constantly from the other pig and this continues i would consider a seperation.

Answer 2

This is all normal, nothing to worry about.

All pigs establish dominance, particularly when first introduced (or reintorduced in your case) or in new territory.

The sorts of things you should expect to see include chasing, squeeking, nosebutting, mounting, rumblestrutting (they walk funny and make a purring noise) etc. Be aware that squeeking and squeelnig does not necessarily mean they are in pain. Sometimes a submissive pig will squeel just being approached by a more dominant animal.

Do NOT separate your piggies then try to put them back together. They will have to re-establish dominance every time so its completely pointless.

Leave them together and let them get on with it. You do not need to separate unless there is bloodshed. The bickering should only last a few days, until they have settled their differences!

If you want to make things easier you should make sure your cage is big enough, and that you have at least two hideys so the pigs can sleep separately if they want to. If you think one piggie is hogging all the food get a second food bowl and place it at the other end of the cage. Hay and veggies can be sperad around the cage anyway, so the piggies can not steal them all!

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

female guinea pigs may show dominance by letting the other female without food or water so i recommend you to separate them before one of them gets hurt or die because of not being able to drink water and eat   good luck

Answer 4

OK it seems like june is just showing her place and dominance. Shes just telling Basil that this is her place. I just recently got a new GP and Bella was nipping her here and there even when i gave zoe attention bella nipped her as she was jelous. Give June loads of attention as well as basil. They will stop fighting when they sought out the dominace lol.

Answer 5

My guinea pigs were the same!

Guinea, my first pig didn't like it when Squeak, my second, arrived. Guinea was always nipping at Squeak and growling. Squeak never fought back, and Squeak loves Guinea. Over time it got better my Guinea is still kinda mean.

Ur guinea pigs will be alright...don't worry...

Answer 6

That's perfectly normal, and actually not very strong dominance behavior at all. Just remember do NOT separate them unless a bite results in bloodshed! Anything else is perfectly fine! Female guinea pigs show dominance in the same way males do. Mounting, rumbling, rumblestruting, chattering, chasing, nipping, pulling fur, circling, and trying to raise their head above the other. The 'bullying' may go on for a few weeks, or only a few days, it depends. Just be patient with them, and good luck!

Answer 7

My pig (Chloe) did the same thing when I introduced her to her buddy Arya. Chloe was deffinatly the 'dominant pig' and was going to make sure Arya accepted it.  They nipped occasionally and chased each other around for the first 2-3 days, but after that/since then they have been best buddies! Don't worry about anything unless they start fighting, or if one won't let the other one eat.