New pigs!

[patchandpebble]

Hi everybody!
We bought two new guinea pigs, both boys similar age, from a pet shop last tuesday. The first night we left them alone and they got along fine, but then from then on Patch started fighting with Pebble for dominance of the cage (even though Pebble didn't really fight back or seem to bothered about it and was very accepting of Patch dominating the cage). Every day the fighting got worse until Friday night when every time Patch even looked at pebble he would begin to chase him and Pebble seemed to be getting really stressed out. Since they were getting more and more aggressive we decided to split them (we were really hoping they'd sort it out but it was just getting worse) so theyre now in seperate cages next to each other. Considering we have only had them since Tuesday they are pretty sociable - we sat with the front of the cages open at first and began handling slowly and they both got used to us fairly quickly. From looking through the forum I think we may have been over feeding them slightly, how much of what should they ideally be getting on a daily basis? They go mad for broccoli and mixed lettuce leaves (havent been giving them iceberg, are there any other leaves to avoid?), they really like parlsey and cucumber and will eat mandarin, red pepper, carrot and a tiny bit of apple (they dont seem to like apple too much just like a little taste of it). Any chance of like a daily menu?
We've had them out for floor time, we have laminate flooring is that ok on their little feet or should we be putting down a blanket of some kind? Yesterday, we had a tv delivered and saw the huge box as an ideal place to have them run around for the first time until they get a little more comfortable with handling. Tonight we got them out directly on to the floor but neither seemed to get too much energy, they were mainly just having a little explore rather than exercise, and now theyre back in their cages theyre darting about doing laps of their cages. Also, Pebble is really vocal as it is but he'll often run up to the bars and wheek like mad, I assume he's asking for food but he's still got hay and nuggets and even a slice of pepper left, is it possible he's just asking for his favourites or do you think he could just be really really happy? He wheeks even louder if we rustle a plastic bag. Over time will they begin to use their floor time for exercise? I'm worried they'll get bored in their cages and underexercised. We dont have a garden to let them out in, only a yard which may hurt their feet? There's also a cat that loves to come into the garden and dont want the pigs to get frightened. What can we do to make sure they don't get bored, they do get enough exercise and that we're not overfeeding them fresh stuff?

Sorry this is such a long post! First time guinea pig owner so just wanna get it right to make sure theyre happy piggys. ;D

Thanks!

[jolovespiggies]

You will get lots of great friendly advice here love so I will just say and very warm welcome to our happy family.

Hugs

JO xx

[3piggles]

First, think of your two new boys as two high school roommates used to having their own room and being the apple of their parents eyes, suddenly sent across country to live together in a cramped dorm room, no longer special or even used to their surroundings. That said, the boys need time to adjust to all the changes in their lives, especially to being forced to share a tiny dorm room with someone they don't know or possibly even like.

Puberty (3-12 months) is the hardest time for boars to get along. If they are that age, best to separate them and give them supervised joint floor time, until they both outgrow puberty. Then try reintroducing them without all the old issues, and with them used to everything in their surroundings except sharing a cage. Make the joint cage the size of their two cages together, so they don't blame space restrictions on each other. Many ways to do that when you're ready!

Diet is 1/4-1/2 cup of pellets per pig per day. Unlimited hay and water as the main food, pellets for back up. Restrict fresh foods to a variety of low calcium, high C foods such as cilantro, parsley, bell peppers. Add brassicas in moderation, citrus in moderation, sweet things such as apples in moderation. Give them a mix of small amounts of many different things, and watch how they choose. They will show their favorites in priority, and each will have different favorites.

WATCH the POOS! Piggy poos should be about 1/2 in long, oval, firm with a slight wet coating when fresh, medium to dark brown. Poos should not be tiny, dry and breaking up, wet and sticking to feet and hands or light brown in color. Poos are the best visible indicator of piggy health, as pigs hide problems as long as possible. They can't hide bad poos.

I hope that helps. i wish we could have told you in advance to get different aged pigs, but it's very possible once through puberty, they will be able to get along.

[patchandpebble]

Thanks very much i was worried we might have been over doing with the veggies as when we got them their droppings were very hard and light coloured and after a few days they were much darker and a bit softer but from what you said they sound about right
When we had pebble out tonight he went right up to the bars of Patch's cage and they had a good chat on with each other and didnt get aggresive or defensive at all so fingers crossed theres hope for them yet when they wheek really loudly does that mean they want something or are they just playing?

Thanks so much!

[yodelpig]

Hi and welcome!

Loud wheeking is wanting something, but playing piggies will also make constant sounds.
Here is a little introduction to sounds: jackiesguineapiggies.com/guineapigsounds.html
Here is more abour social behaviour; dominance is at the heart of piggy society and it can take some time to settle it, especially with boys. it can look quite frightening to newbies and many tend to separate too quickly: www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm
(PS: Please don't think about getting a third boy!)

Unlimited hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake, it is best to keep the guts stable and the crucial back teeth ground down. Pellets and veg should make about 10% each. Mixed veg is about 1 cupful per piggy per day; please include one high vitamin C veg like a slice of sweet pepper, a bit of broccoli (all parts) or a sprig of fresh herb like cilantro, parsley, dill, mint or basil; please vary.