HELP!swicthed to a new cage, now he’s hiding all the time

togepitheguineapig

togepitheguineapig

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 22, 2019
Messages
22
Reaction score
14
Points
125
Hey you all,

We have a guinea pig about a month and we were using a small home which had no hiding places just a square box. However, we swicthed to a new cage which is a way bigger than the old one having a safe hiding place yesterday. He got us touch him then in the small box but now he is hiding all the time, not getting touched him or eating not the time we lure him out of the place with a lettuce. We don’t know what to do... please help.
 
It’s probably because he’s not used to the new environment. I’d say just give it time, make sure he’s eating and drinking. He will get used to his new home soon!
 
Welcome to the forum! You have come to the right place for all things piggy.

It's good that you have got a bigger cage with somewhere to hide. But you also need to put yourself in the position of your piggy. He has been taken from his family, put in a place he doesn't know probably with a load of strangers, just as he was starting to make friends with them, he has been taken away again by huge smelly (to him) giants and put in another place on his own and just as he was getting used to that he has been moved again. If you were a small prey animal used to living in a herd and in one place wouldn't you be scared about all the changes? I bet the poor lad is terrified! All lost and alone with giants who may eat him. To a piggy any day where they don't get eaten is a good day. You know you won't eat him you have to teach him that.

Your boy is feeling very vulnerable atm. Cover his cage with an old towel so he feels a bit safer and leave him in his new territory for a couple of days with food and water near his new hidey. He will come out and explore his new territory when nobody is around. You need to be patient with piggies. It takes a long time to earn their trust. You need to do it at their pace.
 
Oh really thanks, i’ve been very sad since yesterday because he is not eating and drinking well and touched him. Is there any advice or we just leave him alone without intereaction but talk?
 
Welcome! I have had mine for 4 years nearly and that still get scared... but they have each other so maybe look at getting him a friend. Guinea pigs are best in pairs... x
 
artcasper said:
Welcome! I have had mine for 4 years nearly and that still get scared... but they have each other so maybe look at getting him a friend. Guinea pigs are best in pairs... x
Click to expand...
Actually when I got back home from work, he was more adjusted to his cage, he came out of the cage, when he saw me then we played a little with some lettuce. Here the most exciting part comes! I played some death cab for cutie songs to him, then put my finger on his face, he laid down and slept on my finger!
 
Are you planning on getting him a friend? Piggies need piggy company. You'll find a friend would help bring him out his shell. Can you upload a picture of your setup to see if we can make somw other suggestions to help the little guy feel secure?
 
This is togepi and the other is his home.
 

Attachments

  • 8C78E2EC-6780-4EE4-9590-E253BAE17324.webp
    8C78E2EC-6780-4EE4-9590-E253BAE17324.webp
    52 KB · Views: 11
  • 7392EF43-B599-405F-A9B0-2269D17197AF.webp
    7392EF43-B599-405F-A9B0-2269D17197AF.webp
    30.8 KB · Views: 12
Nowadays we do not think to get him a friend, maybe this is a little selfish but we do not want to split our love in two. Maybe later...
 
badwolf said:
Are you planning on getting him a friend? Piggies need piggy company. You'll find a friend would help bring him out his shell. Can you upload a picture of your setup to see if we can make somw other suggestions to help the little guy feel secure?
Click to expand...
Nowadays we do not think to get him a friend, maybe this is a little selfish but we do not want to split our love in two. Maybe later...
 
togepitheguineapig said:
Nowadays we do not think to get him a friend, maybe this is a little selfish but we do not want to split our love in two. Maybe later...
Click to expand...

You're right, it is incredibly selfish. Your piggy needs a friend for his own wellbeing. Please don't make your pig suffer because of some silly notion.
 
togepitheguineapig said:
Nowadays we do not think to get him a friend, maybe this is a little selfish but we do not want to split our love in two. Maybe later...
Click to expand...
You won't split your love in two. You'll love another piggie just as much as this one you have now. When you have another child you don't split your love between them. You love them both equally and rejoice in their individual personalities. It's the same with piggies. Guinea pigs are herd animals and need a friend.
Guinea Pig Facts - An Overview
Companionship
 
Hello. I totally agree with everyone else, you need to have a second guinea pig. Guinea pigs are herd animals, first of all! Guinea pigs who live alone "survive" but they are not the happiest. Guinea pigs need another so they can interact, groom each other, sleep together, and provide a feeling of comfort. Guinea pigs also feel more confident around people when they are with other guinea pigs, that is probably the other reason your pig hides a lot besides the fact that his environment is fairly new. Your love isn’t even split in half to be honest, because if you truly love him, you will get him a friend. It can be easy to think that guinea pigs are okay by themselves - I thought that when my first rescue pig was alone for a few days. But as soon as I put Buttercup with him, his personality exploded -he was SO much happier! Often, people suggest stuffed animals and mirrors for single pets, you may come across this on the internet (I only suggest it if a guinea pig has lost it’s companion to death in the meantime) but this is a terrible idea for longterm care. Please don’t deny your guinea pig that social need. Humans cannot speak their language & no matter how much love we give, nothing can replace the bond animals have with one another. You’ve done a great thing by having a bigger cage and I believe you do not have cruel intentions so if you truly love him, do the right thing. Hope I’ve helped!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top