Need advice

Question
My husband and I bought a male guniea pig 5 months a go for our daughter.  He was quiet at first, but then he got comfortable and began showing personallity.  He chews on his cage bars sometimes, and anything else he can.  No problem.  Last night however, we brought home a new little piggy, also male.  We introduced them in a pen.  The older one instantly began trying to mount the new one.  Is this a show of dominance?  He seems to like the new pig, at least he's not aggressive to him.  In fact he's very interested.  They are in speperate cages until they get used to each other.  The older pig now incessantly chews on his bars, so much so that I just can't take it anymore and have had to place his cage in another room for a bit to get a break.  The new little guy is very shy just now, as I would expect.  I want him to get used to us, and I don't want either of them to be jealous of the other.  How can I stop the older one's behavior?  The mounting the little one and the constant bar chewing, which he seems to be doing in an attempt to get out and get to the other one?  Any help would be great, since sometimes someone has to sleep in the living room with these guys and we need quiet at night.  Will the older one's behavior stop after he gets used to the new pig?  Should I just put them together in one cage?  What do I need to do to make sure both pigs are comfortable with each other and us?  Thanks so much.

Heather H

Answer
Chewing on the cage bars is his way of trying to get your attention so you'll let him over there. He's also trying to get the attention of the "new kid."  Mounting is perfectly normal behavior when you first introduce a boar to another pig, male or female. At first it is an attempt to mate. But in a very short time he will figure out that he's barking up the wrong tree and give it up.

If there's no aggressive gestures toward the little one I would leave them together and let them work it out. The senior pig has just gotten the scent of another cavy and he wants over there really bad. The bar chewing will stop once he gets to be in the same cage with his new buddy.

When I go into my caviary and open a bag of carrots I have a chorus of sounds from squealing to bar rattling.  They're all trying to say "ME FIRST, ME FIRST!".  Once the carrots are distributed everything gets quiet except for the sound of chewing.

Guinea pigs are grazing animals and need to chew. If you aren't able to give them a supply of hay or hay cubes you can always just toss in a chunk of wood. A 2x4 about two or three inches long will occupy them endlessly. It helps keep their teeth properly worn and it breaks boredom.

A corn cob is an excellent chew thing as well. If you cut a piece of uncooked corn cob about two inches thick they'll chew and chew on the corn, then work on the dried cob. They love it.

So I suggest you just bite the bullet and put the two boys together. There will be some noises and amorous gestures for a day or two, but then they'll settle in and enjoy each other's company. And when that happens you'll be able to enjoy the pigs again. Hang in there mom, you'll get a good night's sleep again in no time.

(Be glad they're not like hamsters who run on those doggoned squeaky wheels all night long!)