Skittish piggy

Status
Not open for further replies.
Puzzlepigs

Puzzlepigs

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 31, 2011
Messages
1,309
Reaction score
118
Points
500
Location
Hertfordshire
Hi there, I posted a similar thread to this before concerning one of my guinea pigs.
Puzzle, the younger of my two pigs, has become extremely skittish since moving into their 5x2 C&C cage. They used to live in a much smaller cage - and I knew that they needed a bigger one, especially in the winter when they wouldn't be able to go outside to play on the grass.

Since moving to the C&C, I have noticed a big change in her behaviour. Bingo, my older piggy, who is going to be 5 in May, lost her friend, Frisky in 2010, so I knew I had to get her a new friend. They are fantastic together and look after each other. (Puzzle will be three this summer - August?)
Anyway, as I have had Bingo longer, she is more comfortable and obviously knows me better. I handle them regularly and Puzzle is fine and extremely calm once she is out.

The trouble is, she seems really scared as soon as anybody walks into the piggy room. She will run about the cage and hide under the top level (loft). Then when you coax her with a treat and try and pick her up (calmly) she will freak and run to a different hiding spot. I'm worried about scaring her, but I also know that I need to handle her and weigh/check her. Bingo is fine and is more than happy to be picked up.

I'm wondering whether she is just a bit overwhelmed by the size of the cage or something else. I'm really worried that she might be unwell - she hasn't lost weight, no sign of mites, scratches, lumps etc. She can't be pregnant, as Bingo is a girl, so is Puzzle and also, they have both been living together since 2010, so she would have already given birth if she had been.

I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but, she just hasn't been her normal self since being moved into the C&C. I'm 99.9% sure that a bigger cage is better and that was why I decided on the C&C. Also if it helps, they have been in the new bigger cage for 5-6 weeks.

More information about Puzzle-
Weight - 1046g (last weighing, 4 days ago)
Age- about 2.5 years old

Info about Bingo-
Weight - 930g (she has always been the smaller of the two)
Age- nearly 5 (in May)

Thanks for reading :)
Also, if it helps, I can try and get a video of Puzzle.
 
All i can say is... Ive had my pair for a year, they still run away when i walk in the room. They are perfectly happy piggies, eating, healthy, popcorning etc, they are just very skittish. Ive tried everything.. thats just how they are and ive learnt to accept it.

I know thats not very helpfull.. but yeah.
 
My response is similar to Connies. I had to change my pigs cages at Christmas due to them fighting and Clive has definitely become more skittish since then. He constantly hides and will scurry away if I so much as cross my legs when I'm sitting on the couch. He wasn't as skittish when he was living with Burt but has always been a bit like this. I guess it will take him time to get used to things - maybe 6 weeks isn't as long in piggy time? With Clive, although he is a struggle to catch, I compensate for it by giving him long cuddles on my knee as well as his floor time, it takes him a while to relax but he usually ends up squeaking away and yawning contentedly. I don't think there is anything wrong with your pig (or mine!) other than this behaviour so I wouldn't worry - you sound like you are very responsible in monitoring their health. Who knows what goes through their piggy minds!
 
Having said what i said before, the piggies have got a little more confident since i took away the upper level and extended further (about 6 weeks ago)
 
Thank you both very much, you have reassured me! Perhaps I haven't given her long enough to settle in, or maybe she just doesn't like me 'touching' her nice new big cage!
 
Is the new cage lower down than the old cage? As apparently that makes a difference
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top