New piggy owner. Need some assurance.

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Ashleigh825

Ashleigh825

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I just got two guinea pigs today from my local pet store. Normally, I would adopt from a shelter but my local shelter has no guinea pigs for adoption currently and I have never run into any problems with purchasing pets from this particular pet store.

These two guinea pigs are litter mates and about three months old, according to the pet store. They were living comfortably in the same enclosure together before I brought them home with me. Naturally, they were very scared when I took them home and put them in the new enclosure. They huddled together in one corner of the enclosure as soon as they were put in the enclosure and have stayed that way for... maybe close to an hour or so.

I've never owned guinea pigs before and I was reading online that guinea pigs huddling in a corner is a sign of serious illness, but they were both peppy and running about at the pet store. I'm nervous because I'm not sure whether this huddling should concern me or not. I assumed they were just scared and wanting to cuddle together for comfort, but should I be more worried?
 
Hi there! How long have you had them? If it's only a few hours wouldn't worry too much about them staying hidden and huddled together. When my girls first arrived home I didn't see them really venture out and explore for two days or so. It can take them a little time to settle in to their new environment. I'm sure they will come out and explore soon :)
 
Hi there!

I have only had them for a few hours, so I guess I'm just overly nervous and paranoid, heh heh. I have no experience with guinea pigs but I really want to do a good job of raising them. They're such sweet, furry little angels, my goodness. I can't stop staring at them, though I'm resisting trying to hanle them too much the first day. I read that it's best to leave them alone for the first 24 hours, then slowly introduce yourself to them once they've had a day to get settled into their new enclosure.

Thank you for your kind reassurance! (: I'll still keep an eye on them just to be safe, but I don't feel as worried now.
 
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That's to be expected! I've had piggies for years and I still worry and constantly ask for guidance, my girls have definitely secured that part of my brain! Oh I still spend faar too much time with mine, my partner thinks he is second best ;).

It's lovely to see you taking such care and thought with your new additions! The forum is great for all sorts of information and lots of lovely people to share stories or questions with!

I found just sitting and talking to them once they've settled is one of the best ways for them to get used to you being around! That and a but of food bribery hehe
 
It's nothing at all to worry about, and is completely normal behaviour. They are nervous in their new surroundings, which is to be expected. I bet that if you stand out of the room so that they can't see you and listen carefully then you'll hear them wandering around in their cage. Mine were exactly the same. When they heard me enter the room, then they would run and hide in the corner.

I would avoid handling them today, but introduce yourself to them slowly tomorrow. You can start talking to them though, so that they get used to your voice.

Good luck, and enjoy your lovely new additions!
 
My two girls didn't come out from hiding for about 3 days after i first got them. They would only come out of their bed area to eat when nobody was around so spent the first week or so looking at them by peeping around the door! Also waited about a week before i handled them as i wanted them to feel safe and secure in their surroundings first. I have now had my girls for 3 months and they are still slowly getting used to me (one more so than the other). Good luck!
 
I'm pleased to share that when I got home from class today, I saw both Sam and Dean out of their little corner and running about, most of their hay eaten and their pellets and water definitely dug into in my absence. They both ran for cover when I walked in the door, though.

Sam's starting to explore more, walking about his cage and having some munchies while I'm in the room, as long as I don't start moving around too much, but poor Dean is still working up the nerve to join his brother.
 
sam and dean - supernatural? :))

It took a few weeks for my girls to relax enough to move around while I was about and they were in a hutch outside. I put some hidey tunnels or plastic stools around the pen so they had places to feel safe as they moved around the pen, as they became more confident over the months I reduced the hides to a much better number so they also had space to move about. If you havent got anything to use inside, a section covered with a blanket or towel over the top of the cage to provide a darker shaded section so they can gain some confidence while they get used to their surroundings and you.

It is perfectly normal as they are prey animals and hiding is their nature when they are scared or worried, but they will get used to you and their new home, it just takes time.
 
Hi and welcome!

Please give your boys time to settle into their new surroundings. Make sure that they have some kind of shelter to relax/feel safe and hay (which should make up to 8-% of their daily food intake), food and water close by. Shop piggies usually haven't had much in the way of human contact, so you have to start right from square one. It takes patience and persistence, but they will come round eventually.

Here are tips on how to deal with very skittish new piggies: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239
 
Thanks guys.

Sam and Dean have a roomy piggy igloo to retreat to so they can feel safe but I'll also try using a towel to cover part of the cage as well. They also have plenty of hay and pellets and water at all times for them. (:

I recently found some bad news... well, not really bad, but a little troubling for me. I picked up my piggies today to try and see their gender. Dean is most definitely a boy, but it looks like Sam is a girl. :{ I certainly don't want baby piggies (as cute as they might be), so I need to look into neutering Dean ASAP. I could separate them, but they seem to feel safe together so I'd hate to pull them apart right now if they're offering comfort to each other. I guess some good news in that is Sam can be a girl name, too, lol.
 
I've just seen that they are about three months old. I would definitely separate them straight away as they are old enough to breed, if the female isn't already pregnant.

It's essential to confirm the sex of the pigs straight away. It's probably best to take pictures of both their genitals and post them on here in a new thread so that they can be properly sexed.

I hope that they are actually both boys, but unfortunately its common for pet shops to get it wrong. Better to be safe than sorry!
 
Don't you worry! Firstly, like most others on this site, my 2 girls took WEEEEKS to get used to the sight of me. And then they took ages to eat on my lap, then they took ages to potter around.. Now I can lean into their cage, right over them, to clean poops and change bits and bobs. They look up and sniff my face!

It's all about approach, patience and intention. If my girls look worried at all, I back right off. Then I sit a bit away and they realise I'm not really all that intent on getting at them. They dont like strong attention really. Even comfy pigs can sometimes do a 180 if they think your too interested!

About regretting getting two, I'd lay that worry aside too. Being with company will improve the comfort and courage of your piggies! If one turns out to be a boy.. well.. unfortuante luck I suppose but it's a price that a fair few of us have paid. I got given a boy and girl by my friend who bred them when I was a teen, the male died of dental issues so I went to the RSPCA for a second girl to be a new sister for the other.. got given another boy :P So I've had to neuter 2. And even though it is a very real possibility that neutering for either pig is dangerous (more so for the girl)... you have a better chance of ending up with a very compatible pair! Every pig is different, some like to be bossy. But in my experience, a boy and neutered male combo always has the highest cuddle rates!

Fingers crossed you have two of the same, did you say you had posted piccies or their .. accessories ;p ? we can all chip in with our trained eyes!
 
That makes me feel loads better to know I'm not the only one who's ended up accidentally taking home a boy and a girl. I swear, I was on the verge of tears a little earlier because I thought I was a bad pet owner.

I've posted pictures of both my babies here: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1379868#post1379868

Unfortunately, my urgency to tell their sex meant I had to just grab them quickly and spook them, but they were both okay once I was cradling them against my chest and giving them little kisses. In the future, I will definitely be less insistent about picking them up if they're too scared.
 
woops, I meant girl and neutered boy in my last post.. not boy and boy :P

Dont worry about spooking them now, chances are they had worse before they got to you and I tend to think animals live in the now.. they're a touch young to have scarred pasts :P

You sound like you're comfortable taking things day by day so I'm certain your guineas will appreciate that and reward you sooner than later. Hope and understanding are your best friends! .. well ok, aside from your actual guineas :P .. and human best friends.. :P :P

let us know how things go.. if you want to repost more pics of bums so we can see how they look as they mature go for it.. if you can keep it in the same thread it'll be easier to track progress, but if no-one is noticing or replying you can make a new thread if you're feeling anxious!
 
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