Introducing a new piggie

Question
We have a piggie that is 5 months old (female)and we recently bought another female that is just 4 weeks old.  They share a cage that is 4' x 3'.  The first and older piggie sometimes bites the newer and younger piggie.  What can we do to help them be campanions/friends?  Thank you!

Answer
Hello Sally,

Congrats on your new little girl! If the older piggy isn't drawing blood or constantly truly attacking her, they'll be ok in time. They are establishing dominance. Like all pack animals they have a social hierarchy, that has to be established and maintained in order for them to peacefully coexsist. Throughout their lives there will likely be occassional little dominance "tiffs" but over all they'll get along ok. Sometimes they'll get bad, because the lower ranking pig challenges the higher ranking pig and if one doesn't back down, they'll have to be seperated. This is much more common in the males than the females though and will most likely never be an issue for your girls. Once dominance is established, they should be just fine. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It's really stressful and hard for a loving owner to deal with, but it's important that you don't seperate them unless one is really in danger or being hurt and try not to interfere when it's taking place. As much as it looks like your older piggy is just being mean, they really are just making friends the way piggies do. Give them time and you should have a peaceful cage again before too long. Good luck with your wonderful little girls.

-kkat
www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs