2 FEMALES GP ACTING DIFFERENT

Question
I NOTICE A SMALL SORE ON ONE OF MY GP AND THE OTHER HAS LIKE A SCAB ON THE FRONT SHOLDER AREA
I BROUGHT THEM INTO THE FRONTROOM TO WATCH THEM MORE CLOSELY. I HAVE OBSEVERED THAT THEY DON'T SLEEP TOGETHER ANY MORE THEY SEEM TO NIP AT EACH OTHER ONE OF THEM EVEN LAYS ON HER SIDE ACTS SOMEWHAT TIRED SHOULD I BE CONCERED?

Answer
Hello Amber,

The sores and scabs on them could be due to illness (a parasitic problem, usually mites), or it may have been caused by the other piggie.

How large is the cage? Cages which are too small causes fights - that's a fact. They need space simply to live, and with groups of two or more they not only need room to eat, sleep and play, but to get away from each other too.
See www.guineapigcages.com for the size recommendations and how to go about making them.

You will find that most cavies don't sleep together. They may have when they were very young, but once they hit puberty at 4 months of age they need and want their independence. It is extremely rare to find piggies sleeping closer than a few inches apart once they get past the first few months in their new home.

Nipping in itself is nothing to worry about. It is influenced by cage size as I said before, so make sure you have the cage in a suitable state and the relatonship between the girls shoudl improve. Also provide separate hidey houses, dishes and water bottles so they have their own things if they want time alone.

The laying on the side and acting sleepy sounds like it could be normal - they tend to lay a bit on their side, head down on the floor, back legs kicked out to the side or behind them. If this seems familiar to what your guinea is doing then it sounds like a common sleeping position and is nothing to worry about.

Other normal dominance behaviours which you don't need to worry about are mounting, chasing, rumblestrutting, butt-sniffing, nose-offs, and mild teeth chattering. These all apply regardless of the gender mix (i.e. Boy/Girl (make sure one is neutered if you have B/G combinations), G/G, B/B - all are normal).

Best Wishes,

- Laura
www.cavy-care.com