Fighting or just establishing a pecking order?

Question
QUESTION: Hello.

As a reward and early christmas present, my father bought me three guinea pigs. All three are male and I made sure the sales assistant checked because I wouldn't be able to cope with them breeding.
Upon purchasing my new family members, I wasn't given a lot of information about them. I know that they lived in the same enclosure along with a few more males but I do not know if they are from the same mother. I also do not know what to expect from them regarding behaviour.
I've looked a few websites after a google search but they all say something different.
I am concerned that two of them are not getting along, or worse, one of them is being ganged up on.
On the first day, all three were nervous and banded together but now, there seems to be sounds of movement and then squealing coming from the hideout. Also, I did witness what seemed to be a scuffle between two of them. I managed to pick up all three, one by one and didn't see any scratches so are they actually fighting or are they just establishing the pecking order? The biggest one seems to be acting as the alpha male.
They currently share the hideout for sleeping but I have made sure there are enough bits and bobs to go around for entertainment and there is plenty of food available.
For the most part, they are quiet but as this is my first time caring for guinea pigs, I am not 100% sure of what to expect.
I would hate to have to separate them and I am not in a position to get another cage yet although I want to upgrade to a larger one when they start growning bigger.

Can you quell my concerns at all?

Cali Selina

ANSWER: Hello Cali Selina!
I say that its all going fine right now with them.
They are probably just astablishing who sleeps where and who eats what, depending on size and leadership. Try adding hut or place to sleep, this is most comonly why GPs fight.
If you ever have any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask me. I have had guinea pigs since 1996 and I currently (between myself and my husband) have 7 guinea pigs with three on the way!
I check my e-mail for new questions and ratings everyday and the longest I let someone wait for an answer is 3 days.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry to have to bother you again after shortly after asking one question. In the last hour, it seems to be getting worse. The squealing is more frequent and the scuffles becoming more voilent. I have seen Englebert nipping Harry quite a few times now and i'm getting more concerned as it's 3:36am, I need some sleep and I don't have anything else I can keep one of them until the morning. I made a makeshift second bed for them out of an old cardboard box filled with bedding and some meadow hay which doesn't seem to have helped. If anything, it's made it worse because now they appear to be fighting over who can go inside with poor Peter just trying to move out of the way.

It's not the noise that's going to bother me in my sleep, I can sleep like the dead, it's the fear of knowing that they will fight whilst I am asleep and I wont be awake to try and deterr it. When Englebert gets too violent, I try to make a noise to distract him but then I don't want him to associate me with loads noices and fear me. I am so worried at the moment and I don't know what to do :S

ANSWER: Hello again!
Wow 3:36?
Its like, 8:14 pm here! ;)
I suggest seperating them into 2 and one. Removing both houses will prompt them to stop fighting but they will make more running noises. These phases of fighting come and go in about 2-3 weeks. There is unfortunatly not much you can do but that.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sadly I have had to separate them and buy a new cage. I've removed Harry, the weakest one that was getting bullied  to give him a chance to fatten up and because Englebert (the bully) seemed to be getting on fine with Peter. I don't know what effect this will have on their relationship and now i'm worried that Englebert will start picking on Peter. If that's the case, Englebert will have to be alone.

Assuming though, that everything is okay, should I get a forth pig to play with Harry or will he be okay on his own?

Answer
Hello again!
I suggest buying a play pen for them.
Giving them supervised playtime once a day for about one hour should get them used to you, each other and there surrondings. They will probably get over this is about 2-3 weeks if not sooner.
I do not advise getting a fourth without thinking it through and through, as that many pigs between my husband and I is a challenge sometimes.