Bottom sniffing a LOT!

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becciwales

becciwales

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Hi, I'm new to this forum and have just bought 2 9 week old guinea pigs. We've got them in an indoor cage in our living room. They are very skittish still and I would like some advice on how to stop them running into their bed every time we go near them as this stops us being able to stroke them.
However, my most worrying point is that one of our guinea pigs is constantly at the others bottom. I'm not sure if it's licking or sniffing, it doesn't seem to be biting. Is this part of the bonding/dominance process or something to worry about. There's no obvious dominant male that I can see as yet. Basil seems to jump around alot, my research indicates that this is good and means he's happy. Bailey is constantly stuck to Basil's bum!
Any help/advice would be gratefully received!

Thank you in advance
Bec xx
 
Hi & Welcome

Congrats on the 2 new additions, you wont look back :))

With regards to them running into their house everytime you walk past, this is normal, especially in such young piggies in a new environment, piggies are prey animals so its natural for them to run at a new noise or person. It will take ALOT of your time and patience to gain their trust where they wont run away, but they will be climing the bars to get your attention when they want food :)) You should spend alot of time sitting next to the cage quietly talking to them offering them (bribing them) leafy greens, they will soon start to realise you are not there to hurt them. If the cage is on the floor, it may be an idea to raise it if you can, this may help with their nervousness, as with them being so low ground, they could feel quite intimmidated, i noticed a big difference when i raised my piggies, though they are on the floor now were all settled.

The bum sniffing is normal behaviour, they are just sussing each other out, sorting out the pecking order, unless there is any real fighs with blood drawn, leave them to it (have a towel near by incase a fight breaks out and you need to intervine, use the towel to grab a piggy, the towel will prevent you from being attacked. You could also have them out on your lap together with some foody treats.

Good luck with it all, any other questions just ask, we would love to see pictures of them and their cage :))
 
Thank you! The cage is on a stand with wheels on as I have a dog that would be too interested if they were on the floor. I'm off to work now but I'll post pictures as soon as I can. I haven't noticed them fighting and there's no evidence of blood. They were living together in pets at home also.
xx
 
Hello!

I am becci's husband :)

Can report that I managed to pick up one of the piggies just now, was a bit unsure about being picked up but he did love a cuddle.

They have discovered that rustling the hay bag that is near the cage sends them loopy and they just had to come out and look. Haha.

Will try and get some nice pictures later.
 
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