Shy guinea pig?

[Launey]

Why is it that one of my guinea pigs won’t take romaine lettuce unless he is in the cage, he won’t even take treats and he is terrified of me and I have had him for a year and I hold him as much as his cage mate, I don’t expect him to be overly friendly ever but I want him to be more comfortable around me like his friend, the other guinea pig licks me all the time and seems to like being out of the cage

 

[Piggies&buns]

Piggies have their own characters - some simply do not like and won’t ever like some things or contact. All you can ever do is accept his personality and follow his lead.

One of my four boys (two of which have now passed away from old age):
- Wilbur - (2 years old) loves to be stroked, is very friendly, is always pleased to see me, and will tolerate a short cuddle. Takes food from me willingly from about the second day he was with me.
- Hugo - (2 years old), Will take food from me (and did so from the very first day he came to me) climbs the bars to see me, always wheeking for attention and will take food from me BUT absolutely hates being touched at all on any way. Will struggle and nibble if held in efforts to get away.
- Dexter, passed away last March at 6 years old. Very friendly, took food from me after the first six weeks with me. Would only let me stroke his head. Wasn’t keen on being held but would let me enough to do his health checks.
- Popcorn (passed away in December aged almost 7 years). For the first year and a he was scared but curious, ran away with any sudden movement, was terrified but curious. After being with me for 18 months he took food from me for the first time. After the first two years he settled and stayed curious but still ran away with sudden movements. Never let me touch him, would be scared if held but he would struggle a little to get away but he was scared and him staying still was through being scared not through enjoying being held. By the time has 4 or 5 years old, he chilled out, still didn’t want to be held but knew he was safe and relaxed and allowed the odd stroke on his head and was still taking food from me.

I don’t hold mine for any reason other than health checks - they don’t like it and I don’t believe there is any point in forcing them to do something they don’t want. I sit on the floor in the shed with them and allow them to come to me if they want to.

So as you can see my four have all been very different and popcorn in particular even after having been with me for years, he was never going to be as settled as some of the others have been

 

[fluffysal]

It is all about different personalities. Both my boys do enjoy lap time but it's a very different experience with each of them.
Sir George spends a couple of minutes snuggled up while telling you about his day. Then he lays on your lap, graciously accepts a couple of pea flakes, a big yawn is followed by a sploot and nap. He likes to be stroked but DO NOT touch his head! If you're really lucky he'll give your arm a little lick.
Master Boris will climb all over your lap and up you, giving kisses everywhere while begging for pea flakes. He prefers to be petted by stroking his head and giving chin and ear rubs. Sometimes he will snuggle and have a nap but not always.
Both let us know when they need a wee.

 

[Launey]

Piggies have their own characters - some simply do not like and won’t ever like some things or contact. All you can ever do is accept his personality and follow his lead.

One of my four boys (two of which have now passed away from old age):
- Wilbur - (2 years old) loves to be stroked, is very friendly, is always pleased to see me, and will tolerate a short cuddle. Takes food from me willingly from about the second day he was with me.
- Hugo - (2 years old), Will take food from me (and did so from the very first day he came to me) climbs the bars to see me, always wheeking for attention and will take food from me BUT absolutely hates being touched at all on any way. Will struggle and nibble if held in efforts to get away.
- Dexter, passed away last March at 6 years old. Very friendly, took food from me after the first six weeks with me. Would only let me stroke his head. Wasn’t keen on being held but would let me enough to do his health checks.
- Popcorn (passed away in December aged almost 7 years). For the first year and a he was scared but curious, ran away with any sudden movement, was terrified but curious. After being with me for 18 months he took food from me for the first time. After the first two years he settled and stayed curious but still ran away with sudden movements. Never let me touch him, would be scared if held but he would struggle a little to get away but he was scared and him staying still was through being scared not through enjoying being held. By the time has 4 or 5 years old, he chilled out, still didn’t want to be held but knew he was safe and relaxed and allowed the odd stroke on his head and was still taking food from me.

I don’t hold mine for any reason other than health checks - they don’t like it and I don’t believe there is any point in forcing them to do something they don’t want. I sit on the floor in the shed with them and allow them to come to me if they want to.

So as you can see my four have all been very different and popcorn in particular even after having been with me for years, he was never going to be as settled as some of the others have been

Thank you, I just didn’t know if I maybe am doing something wrong because I am scared if I might be doing something wrong not knowing it and causing them harm

 

[Launey]

It is all about different personalities. Both my boys do enjoy lap time but it's a very different experience with each of them.
Sir George spends a couple of minutes snuggled up while telling you about his day. Then he lays on your lap, graciously accepts a couple of pea flakes, a big yawn is followed by a sploot and nap. He likes to be stroked but DO NOT touch his head! If you're really lucky he'll give your arm a little lick.
Master Boris will climb all over your lap and up you, giving kisses everywhere while begging for pea flakes. He prefers to be petted by stroking his head and giving chin and ear rubs. Sometimes he will snuggle and have a nap but not always.
Both let us know when they need a wee.

Yea, I also have a third guinea pig living bye them (I got him from someone who was gonna bring him to a shelter and he has not been interacted with much so I thought that would not be a good place for him) but he is getting a bit friendlier, I haven’t had him very long but I have held him a few times and he wouldn’t take treats at first but he sometimes will, so I guess what you said does check out and it is better to have a mixture of different personalities of guinea pigs because if mine were all the same I would find that kinda weird