Cavy Agression (towards each other)

Question
QUESTION: I have two cavies... both are young. I've had them for about a month. They have been happy together until 2 days ago- they got in a fight and now they can not be near each other. Both are males, they have plenty of food, they get plenty of attention, and they get more than enough floor time.

I don't understand the change. After their first fight they are now both less active and don't want to be near each other.

Please help.
ANSWER: Hello Jeany,

You said your boars were young but didn't mention exact ages. I'm guessing though that they are now be coming "teenagers". Sometimes as young boars start to grow up and begin reaching sexual maturity, they stop getting along so well with their male cagemates. It's very possible they will never be able to live together again. You can try again slowly when they get a bit older. Just be prepared to seperate them quickly if things don't work out. Keep an eye on them though to make sure it's not an illness, but I'm sure they are fine, just growing up. I'm sorry they aren't getting along anymore but they can live perfectly happy lives as neighbors instead of cagemates. Good luck!

-kkat
http://www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your response... I am now building a bigger cage so they may be neighbors.

I was wondering if this change also applies to famales. Do famales stop getting along when they reach sexual maturity.

Thank you

Answer
Hello Jeany,

Yes on occassion females will start bickering upon maturity but not nearly as often. In the wild piggies would live in small herds, usually with 1 adult boar to 5 or 6 adult sows and pups. When young boars reach maturity the boar will run them off. So it goes against their instincts to live together. Although alot of pet boars do very well in pairs, it is fairly common for them to have to live as neighbors too. Females generally get along well with other females because they don't have the instinctual desire to run off all other females like the boars do. There is the occassional female who doesn't like to have cagemates but they tend to be much more rare especially when they are raised together. Introduction of a new female (who isn't a newborn daughter) tends to be when most females have trouble if they are going to at all. Good luck with your boys. I'm sure they will be quite happy in their new cage.

-kkat