Handle your cavy in a quiet area without unusually loud sounds. Instinctively, a guinea pig would prefer to have a friend rather than be left in a cage all alone. Continue with Recommended Cookies. As you can see, there are a few reasons why guinea pigs might bite each other or eat their own feces. Learn more about us. Include chewable stuff such as a toilet paper box or a sock filled with hay or wood sticks. Is it temporary because she's been ill? In such a case, just place the cavies in separate cages and hope to get a more submissive companion. Typical guinea pig fights involve circling each other, shaking, and baring their teeth at one another. Guinea pigs will eat their cage for a number of reasons. Guinea pigs are one of the most popular small pets due to their sweet, gentle nature. The 6 Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite. Once youre certain that your cavies are fighting and not playing, you need to break up the fight to prevent serious injuries. You can place a male and a female guinea pig in a cage, but make sure they are spayed or neutered. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. Male and female guinea pigs housed together are likely to result in a pregnancy as guinea pigs are extremely active and easy to mate. This will help to reduce aggression and fighting. Did you ever think you would be intrigued by this question enough to warrant an internet search? Once they are socialized and bonded, they do not tend to bite each other, unless something else is wrong. When our Sanctuary heard that the @LAGuineaPigResc took in 250 guinea pigs from a hoarding case, they didn't hesitate to lend a hand!Most of the guinea pigs had severe bite wounds & were quite territorial, Because of this, they needed to be split up into smaller groups. Adrienne Kruzer is a veterinary technician with more than 15 years of experience providing healthcare to domestic and exotic animals. Watch for safe and friendly behavior as well. Guinea pigs teeth keep growing throughout their lives, thus, they must chew. So, if your pet is expressing such kind of behavior to others then dont worry about that. Guinea pigs feel stress like people or other animals. A Comprehensive Guide. Why are my guinea pigs biting each others butt? In most cases, this behavior is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. In today's article, you will read into detail about the reasons why guinea pigs bite their feet, as well as similar questions related to the topic. Why is my guinea pig biting my other guinea pig? Anyone can become cranky and display aggression when theyre bored, including guinea pigs. Menu One reason is that the new or young guinea pigs follow the footsteps or behaviors of older guinea pigs. However, this behavior may become more dangerous and even mean that the guinea pigs should be temporarily or permanently separated. The occasional nip or two on the ears will be the most intense that it gets. If you suspect your guinea pig is sick or in pain, don't handle it more than necessary and bring them into the vet. If your guinea pig is sick, it may also be in pain. Whether it be a signal to announce that one guinea pig is hogging up all the food or wont share the hiding house, biting is a form of communication. These are some of the best parts of owning guinea pigs. Your email address will not be published. Again, when the pet is nervous or scared, they are more likely to bite. What You'll Learn [ show] Be mindful that one or more of the pigs may have an underlying condition that makes them resistant to bonding and address it. Principal's Message; About BAMS Course; Future After BAMS Course Short answer: Biting and nibbling are simply their means of communication. Blood can be drawn at this point and as the owner, it is up to you to separate the battling pigs. In addition to being less gregarious, female guinea pigs have been demonstrated to be less patient with other guinea pigs and handled while they are in heat. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? Finally, male guinea pigs can become aggressive and bite each other when its time for mating. [The Case Against Pee Pads]. Guinea pigs can also be aggressive if they are in pain. As long as nothing wrong results from guinea pigs butt-sniffing (such as a fight), you can say with certainty that this is a perfectly normal, safe, and healthy activity. Why Do Guinea Pigs Bite Each Other Bums| Is It Concerning? Of course, sometimes guinea pigs just dont get along. You can create the hideouts with cardboard or boxes available at home or purchase some from the store. Besides sex, you need to pair guinea pigs based on their personalities. It is often seen that guinea pigs smell each others bums and try to get close to other guinea pigs. As a general rule guinea pigs do not eat each other when they die. HOME; ABOUT US. It may be asking you to stop stroking his back because he does not enjoy the way it feels. Guinea pigs may bite gently when playing around in their cages. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. While this behavior may seem shocking to us, it is simply a matter of survival for these small animals. Any advice? However, guinea pigs have also been shown to demonstrate the same enjoyment for socialization with their human beings. You must pay attention to the personality of each pig if you plan to keep more than one together and provide a safe, comfortable, and low-stress environment in which companionship can flourish. Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Bite #1. Do not put them in a cage together right away. Uncomfortable handling #2. By reading a z leveled books best pizza sauce at whole foods reading a z leveled books best pizza sauce at whole foods Heres What You Need To Know. Why would your guinea pig bite each other bum? Is Spinach Suitable for Guinea Pigs? Are you looking for information on your Business, SEO, health, technology, or Education? When guinea pigs are overcrowded, they become stressed, and this can lead to them attacking and eating each other. With a little bit of patience and understanding, you can help your guinea pigs learn to get along with each other and provide them with the best care possible. They just suss each other out, sort out the pecking order, unless and unless there are not any real fights of blood drawn with them. So, personally, I think the best way to stop guinea pigs from biting each other is by neutering or spaying them. On occasion, however, guinea pigs may nibble or bite. Manage Settings They fight to keep the herd together. Its best to pair a dominant piggy with submissive guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are fairly gentle creatures and biting is not a serious issue to consider when getting a guinea pig. Slowly introduce your presence Step #5. The 3 Best Sugar Glider Cage Sets [Guide & Reviews], Rabbits Fruit and Vegetables Consumption (Complete Guide), French Lop Rabbits: Look, Behavior, Care & More (With Pics), How Do I Know My Guinea Pigs Are Fighting, How To Break Up Fights Between Guinea Pigs, How To Stop Your Guinea Pigs From Fighting, How long does guinea pig dominance behavior last, How to Make Guinea Pig Shampoo [2 EASY Ways], 108 Adorable Names for Black and Long-Haired Guinea Pigs, lack of enough space to play and move around. Too much noise #4. Read More: 4 Reasons Why Is My Guinea Pig Jumping And Twitching | Learn How To Cure Them. Make sure the guinea pig cages have enough food, enough toys, and enough toys. 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, they are, however, there is a dark side to these animals they have a tendency to eat each other. A guinea pig may occasionally bite as a response to their emotions or environments. This site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. [+5 Leafy Greens]. Some guinea pigs may be able to return to living together based on the severity of the injury. If youre still afraid that they fight, especially when youre not around, you can separate the cage with cardboard or any other materials. These are all part of the dominance and submissive ritual that naturally occurs to help pigs get used to each other. Why would your guinea pig bite each other bum? This can occur between the young and old, male and female, and piggies with varying degrees of temperament. Guinea pigs often target the ears since theyre trying to show hierarchy. Bonding can take a few hours to a few weeks. Guinea pigs are extremely social creatures. Guinea pigs love to eat and even have some favorite foods. Just remember to wear thick gloves or have some form of protection for your hands. 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. When fighting, theyll chatter their teeth or even open their mouths wide. If you notice any of these behaviors, its important to separate them immediately. But not all biting and chewing are bad. (Surprising Facts), Are Mandrills Dangerous? I decided to investigate this further, and heres what I found out. It is somewhat difficult to distinguish between play biting and actual fighting in guinea pigs. How Serious Is A Guinea Pig Bite?Conclusion. 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. But lets take a closer look at some common causes that can lead your guinea pig to bite another guinea pig. Recently, I watched. Wash the wound for at least five minutes under running water from a faucet. In most cases, its nothing to worry about, but if it becomes excessive, most likely theyre trying to communicate something to you. If your guinea pigs cage is not large enough, has few toys, or lacks hiding spots, he may become bored and turn to chew on his cage as a way to pass the time. So that providing more space and making sure there is plenty of food for both can help to reduce this type of conflict. The guinea pig is more likely to try to understand why his companion has died, by doing so they might nibble on the body. ( Lets Find Out), Why Do Guinea Pigs Hate? Guinea pigs sniff one another's bottoms to gather information about each other. They create several sounds to communicate and express feelings. There are some steps to take if you find yourself in this situation without causing more damage. It may occur if your guinea pig is being held too high in the air, another guinea pig keeps stealing its food, or you attempt to pick it up while it's sleeping. Exploration Image Credit: The Escape of Malee, Shutterstock. They're both girls. Bring them back together slowly and if the fighting continues then something more permanent will need to occur. Biting results primarily from fear, but there are several other biological and environmental reasons for such behavior. Some of the reasons your guinea pigs could be hostile towards each other include. If a guinea pig mother is eating her own baby, it is because she is sick or she is very stressed. Wouldnt it be nice if we could greet our guinea pigs with those words each morning? This will help them become more trusting and less aggressive towards one another. Guinea pigs sniff one anothers bottoms to gather information about each other. Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. (4 tips! Its important to make sure the enclosure is large enough for two or more cavies so that they can spread out and enjoy their own space. Its also a good idea to take your pets outdoors. 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! In fact, a guinea pig making this noise will be tense and may seem to even vibrate. Dont worry infowikiz has got you. [Is It Safe For Them? These can help to reduce aggression and make sure your guinea pigs are happy. This is most common when a new cage mate is introduced, and they are figuring out their social cues. Make sure there are lots of places to hide and enough food to eat. 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. If your guinea pig bites you or its cage, it may be attempting to wear down its teeth. Providing additional hideouts such as hay cubes and tunnels can also help to give them more areas to explore. However, there are several reasons why a guinea pig might bite another guinea pig. When it comes to guinea pigs, coprophagy (or the consumption of feces) is perfectly normal behavior although it may be considered gross by some people. When youre feeding your guinea pig, be sure to include hay, pellets, and vegetables. The mother and newborn guinea pigs are shown. When you first introduce a pair of guinea pigs, they may seem like theyre fighting when theyre actually playing. I know that this might be a hard thing to read about, but its important to be aware of the dark side of these cute little creatures. How to Stop Guinea Pigs From Biting Each Others Bums. But ultimately, the best way to prevent your guinea pigs from eating each other altogether is to provide them with a large enough cage, plenty of toys and hiding spots, and a healthy diet. The noise could be due to several reasons such as traffic, loud TV, thunderstorms and the like. If a guinea pig is in pain or has been injured, it may become aggressive and bite its cage mates. This reaction is natural and is an attempt to protect itself or stop whatever is scaring it from happening. If you notice your guinea pigs biting each other, there are a few things you can do to help resolve the situation. (Benefits & Feeding Tips). But if youre introducing one to an existing herd, take some time to introduce them. Guinea pigs have teeth that continuously grow throughout their lifetimes, so they need to chew on things to keep them short. If you have to separate the guinea pigs, use a towel or thick gloves to protect yourself from injury. You can keep them in separate cages but still next to each other for interacting vocally. Well, youre in the right place, because I have to! Yes, guinea pigs can bite. (3 reasons). Should you intervene if guinea pigs are biting each others bum? I'm also a guinea pig owner myself, and I love learning and writing about these adorable creatures. The next day, try to reintroduce them to each other and observe how they react. What does Hamster Poop Look Like In-detail Guidance, What Fruits Can Hamster Eat? It looks like nothing was found at this location. Guinea pigs, of course, can bite. That is especially aww inducing! They don't bite often and they don't bite without a reason, but it is important to know that these fluffy creatures can bite. With the proper precautions in place, your guinea pig family will be able to snuggle up and share lots of love for many years to come. By taking these precautions and following the tips outlined above, you should be able to help your guinea pigs live happily. Guinea pigs tend to develop a strong relationship with its owner and persons. First, make sure both your guinea pigs have plenty of space and resources in their living quarters. Home >> Pets >> Why Do Guinea Pigs Smell Each Others Bums? pic.twitter.com/7IHMCk51Z1. Discomfort #6. Here are a few: At the same time, there can be peaceful actions mistaken for aggressive ones. These are the most common reasons why guinea pigs may bite at each other's bums. Separation may need to happen, and introductions can be repeated another day. This makes it more prone to bite. Here in this article, we will try to find out the reasons why do guinea pigs smell each others bums? Several behavioral facts that you can see if guinea pigs are about to fight are: Lunging and shoving each other with their noses. If you break the fight early enough there shouldnt be any serious damage. Most creatures, including mammals and humans, emit pheromones, hormone-like chemicals that allow community members to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar companions. They will also bite if handled in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. The majority of fights between guinea pigs tend to be caused by food. And you also dont have to deal with a pregnant female (these can be pretty aggressive). If the nipping gets frequent and/or draws blood, you will have to intervene. Guinea pigs like to chase each other and play hide and seek as a form of entertainment. They may bite at another guinea pig if they are hungry or competing over food. Understand a guinea pig's reasons for biting. Every individual has a different way of expressing his/her love for pets and animals. Keeping the pigs separated in different cages then slowly introducing them back together can help. These friendly little pets will normally only bite if they are afraid, or mistake you for a snack! For the most part, bottom sniffing is a cute and harmless behavior. she has developed this habit of following the other one round nibbling at her bottom - constantly. Guinea pigs do not simply bite each others ears out of hostility. When human beings are in their presence, they want to see, smell and hear the voice. Here are some reasons your guinea pig might bite. Part of this process may include the female spraying urine to attract mates, as urine carries a pheromones profile of its own. Ensure your guinea pig's enclosure is not too small. Below are some of the reasons your guinea pigs could be fighting. When guinea pigs are overcrowded, they become stressed, and this can lead to them attacking and eating each other. Guinea pigs have preferred meals. Guinea pigs do follow the same pattern and they want to stay dominant over other guinea pigs. Also, it should be large enough for the pigs to retreat to if they get frightened during introductions. Create a safe, secure play space and approach activities with calmness, not yelling or using erratic hand movements. You can solve this by including a wide variety of toys so that they never run out of physically stimulating objects. Can Baking Soda Kill A Hamster? Staying dominant over others has always been the favorite virtue of human beings. ), @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. Have you ever wondered why certain animals, including guinea pigs, sniff the bottoms of their peers who are just getting to know them? We are a group of animal lovers. For such little animals, guinea pigs can have a nasty bite. If you observe some posturing, butt-dragging, butt-sniffing, teeth chattering, and stressed squeaking that results in one of the piggies backing down and becoming submissive, they are just asserting dominance. Barry loves finding answers to your animal-related questions, the more research involved the better! The most common reasons for guinea pigs to bite are because they feel frightened, threatened, or bullied. If you or your child are squeezing your guinea pig too tightly, its leg is stuck in the cage, it has been injured, or is experiencing pain from something else, biting is more likely. This is also a form of bonding and getting acclimated to new surroundings. If you think your guinea pig is acting aggressively, its important to take them to the vet to find out any medical issues. About Trust; Advisory Board; Anti Ragging Committee; Governing Body; CMD'S Message; THE INSTITUTE. The Humane Society recommends the following cage sizes for certain numbers of guinea pigs: Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. Reduce the risk Step #2. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your guinea pig may be biting you or its cage because it is trying to wear its teeth down. It probably didn't mean to bite you and realized your fingers wasn't food as soon as it made contact with them. Guinea pigs are easily startled by sudden, loud noises, which might cause an unfortunate bite. However, if two guinea pigs dont get along well with each other, it can result in them biting and attacking one another. They most likely will find their favorite hiding spots until they feel it is quiet and safe enough to come out again. Guinea pigs can be wonderful, loving companions if they are given the right environment to flourish. Leftover food could develop bacteria which isnt good for your cavys digestive health. A guinea pigs cage should not be too tiny. Guinea pigs may fight for many reasons that do not pertain to their personality or gender. Do not worry; we will cover the most common reasons for biting, both playful and fighting.