Learn more about us. However, if you notice they dont seem to like each other and engage in violent behavior, you will need to act (I will explain this a little later). So An easy fix: throw in some more food whether it be pellets, vegetables, or more hay. Its also a good idea to take your pets outdoors. Whining is very common among pairs or groups of guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are extremely curious and usually enjoy residing in pairs or groups. If you suspect your guinea pig is sick or in pain, don't handle it more than necessary and bring them into the vet. What You'll Learn [ show] Yes Guinea Pigs do bite, but there is normally a reason why. If you realize that your guinea pigs biting behavior is no longer due to dominance or socializing, they may be incompatible. Guinea pigs do not need pee pads. #guineapig #pets #cavie #AnimalRights #veterinary #dermatology pic.twitter.com/X2CwEP2DPW. Why do guinea pigs bite each others bums? Dominance and submissiveness are both survival instincts and happen unconsciously, so piggies may act unpredictably even when they display harmless behaviors like sniffing. Unless you want to breed your cavies, its best to keep them separated or opt for neutering/spaying. It may be helpful to understand a guinea pigs history with previous cage mates or if it is used to living alone, to prevent any issues. Another reason could be that they are trying to get attention from the other guinea pigs. As mentioned earlier, guinea pig dominance behavior can last a couple of weeks. Sniffing is part of a ritual animals partake in to get to know each other. or wherever. Guinea pigs are one of the most popular small pets due to their sweet, gentle nature. Read our, What to Know Before Getting a Pet Guinea Pig, The 8 Essential Guinea Pig Supplies of 2023, Reasons Why Dogs Get Aggressive and How to Stop It, The 7 Best Halloween Costumes for Guinea Pigs of 2023, They make many different noises or vocalizations to communicate with each other. Here are some answers to possible questions you might have. It could be a sign of affection from your guinea pig, curiosity, or they may smell something intriguing on your skin that catches their attention. For the most part, bottom sniffing is a cute and harmless behavior. Discomfort #6. However, even the best-behaved guinea pigs can sometimes have disagreements that lead to biting. If your guinea pig feels scared, is startled, or is being bullied by other guinea pigs, it may react by biting you or another guinea pig. Normal behavior Typically, biting or sniffing each other's bums is entirely normal. In such a case, just place the cavies in separate cages and hope to get a more submissive companion. Apply a sterile dressing to the wound and pat it dry. (Surprising Facts), How Fast Can aLeopardRun (Average Speed), Do Armadillos Lay Eggs? How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! First, make sure both your guinea pigs have plenty of space and resources in their living quarters. Knowing why guinea pigs bite each other can help you take the necessary steps to prevent it. You can solve this by including a wide variety of toys so that they never run out of physically stimulating objects. Otherwise, you shouldnt be over-conscious because they are just doing what piggies do in routine. Barry Stingmore is a British content writer living in Fuerteventura, Spain. That being said, there are a few other reasons why your guinea pig might be eating his cage. This can lead to fighting when another guinea pig tries to establish dominance. Once youre certain that your cavies are fighting and not playing, you need to break up the fight to prevent serious injuries. Male and female guinea pigs housed together. The 6 Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite. Create a safe, secure play space and approach activities with calmness, not yelling or using erratic hand movements. This is a common mating behavior in male pigs. Its normal. Breeding your own guinea pigs may sound like a lot of fun, but there are many risks involved with the birthing process and too many guinea pigs are simply a lot of work. 3. Guinea pigs may fight for many reasons that do not pertain to their personality or gender. If the nipping gets frequent and/or draws blood, you will have to intervene. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. What are you looking for? Short answer: Biting and nibbling are simply their means of communication. What Are the Symptoms? In some cases, guinea pigs may just not be compatible with each other and can start to fight or bite. Blood can be drawn at this point and as the owner, it is up to you to separate the battling pigs. This type of maternal aggression is usually a normal behavior, but can sometimes be indicative of an underlying health issue like malnutrition or illness. In fact, in the wild, guinea pigs live in social groups consisting of a dominant male, several females, and their offspring. Your email address will not be published. Their teeth, used for grinding up tough foods like hay, grass, and fibrous veggies, can, by all means, leave a mark on your finger. financial planning companies in bangalore Search. Hello, my name is Bryan. They might provide humans with a weird look, but they are clear with each other. Guinea pigs love chewing toys, throw in a couple of tensions start running high. A Healthy Diet, Can a UTI Kill a Hamster? This behavior can be characterized by several factors, from bonding with new cage mates to lack of nutrition or stress. 1. Since guinea pigs teeth and nails are sharp, they can cause injury to you while breaking them up. She now works with a team of other experienced vets to provide the best advice and care for their clients' pets. Using a cage divider or a separate cage ensures the guinea pigs cannot reach each other and cause further injury. Care. It is good, however, to analyze the pigs personalities individually. Too much noise #4. An animal lover at heart, he shares his home with a dog and four rescue cats and has a passion for writing about animals big and small. If cavies dont have enough space or enrichment activities to keep them occupied, they may resort to play-biting or fighting as a form of entertainment. Can guinea pigs sleep with you and is it safe. But lets take a closer look at some common causes that can lead your guinea pig to bite another guinea pig. How to tell if guinea pigs are playing or fighting? 5 square feet (minimum), but 10.5 square feet is preferred, 5 square feet (minimum), but 13 square feet is preferred, 13 square feet (minimum) where more is better. So, as you can see, there are a few reasons why your guinea pig might be eating his cage. It may be safest to separate them permanently. This is usually not a cause for concern unless they draw blood and fight aggressively. If your cavies are bored, it means that they dont have enough toys to play with. Getting a cage large enough to support the two, and making sure that they each have their own hiding spots is crucial to having them get along well. Dogs are the most loyal animals among others but here we are concerned with guinea pigs. The Big Zoo is your guide to the Animal Kingdom with information about everything from animal species to animals in pop culture and everything in between! Your guinea pig might be biting you due to the smell of food in your hands. They may be acting out due to discomfort or lacking nutrients in their diet. Knowing the differences can help you learn about your guinea pigs personalities and if their behavior is normal. Consult with a veterinarian if you are concerned that they may be sick. The reasons behind the aggressive behavior of the guinea pigs are summarised below: Territorial behavior Trying to prove dominance Change in hormones Lack of play and exercise Boredom, stress, and depression Suffering from diseases Dealing with territorial behavior Your guinea pig is a kind of rodent, and like all rodents, it learns more about its . That is especially aww inducing! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Why Do Guinea Pigs Bite Each Other Bums| Is It Concerning? Use a towel, oven mitt, or anything you can think of to protect your hands as you move them away from each other. But not all biting and chewing are bad. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having two guinea pigs that are fighting, there are a few things you can do to help them get along better. If your guinea pigs are biting each other, the first thing you need to do is figure out the cause of the fighting. The fresh air, fresh grass, sunbathing, and moving around outdoors will help them feel more relaxed. Manage Settings Some guinea pigs bite ears to determine dominance. Puberty occurs in males around two to three months of age, and if two males are housed together, they may bite each other or be more likely to bite you because of their high testosterone levels. In these circumstances, the younger and feistier guinea pig will sometimes attempt to challenge their dominance. What To Do If Your Guinea Pig Bites You And It Bleeds?4. Can Baking Soda Kill A Hamster? So, personally, I think the best way to stop guinea pigs from biting each other is by neutering or spaying them. So, if your pet is expressing such kind of behavior to others then dont worry about that. When most people think of guinea pigs, they think of cute, cuddly little creatures that make great pets. What you have to do is to give them plenty of toys, hiding places and other activities to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. There is a big difference. If this applies to you, continue to read about if this new cage mate behavior is normal. The tissue may be bruised if you scrape. That is the short answer. This makes it more prone to bite. But if these bites are aggressive and accompanied by chasing and full-blown physical fights, then something is wrong, and you should separate them temporarily or permanently. The Big Zoo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Wear protective gloves and throw in a towel or some food to distract them. Her passion for these often-overlooked animals shines through in her in-depth articles and engaging writing style. The occasional nip or two on the ears will be the most intense that it gets. Think of the piggie like a child. What You Need to Know, The males make noises and strut around each other but dont attack, I wrote a great section on about all, One of them or even both will yawn widely to show off their teeth. If your guinea pig is feeling anxious or stressed, he may start chewing on his cage as a way to cope. You just need to find out why your guinea big had bitten you. Its best to pair a dominant piggy with submissive guinea pigs. Calico Guinea Pigs: 5 Things You Must Know! Wash the wound for at least five minutes under running water from a faucet.