Some questions about Sophie and Honey

[sophieandhoney]

Hi,

I read here a fair bit but don't post very often, my girls were unwanted and for sale on gum tree, I have had them for a year and a half.

Sophie likes her food and is fatter then Honey who is quite nervous still, she does let me pick her up now. Sophie will come up to me looking for food.

I have noticed that Sophie some times gets a bit dirty around the bottom ") and I recently bathed both girls due to hay mites (each time I wash Sophie I wash honey too to avoid any scent problems)

Any how to my point or rather some questions

1. Honey frequently rubbles at Sophie who tries to groom her (I have never seen her be successful) Why? and what should I do about it?

2. When they have free range Sophie hardly moves curls up in a bag or basket and stays put. Honey will explore but is VERY skittish. Sophie not moving worries me more....

3. Sophie will sit in the food bowl (front paws) and eat like this not letting honey get a look in.... the vet hasn't said Soph is over weight just a big girl... but I am not sure? less food? (Wagg dried food)

I am taking both girls to the vets for their check up soon. I just wondered if there was anything I should ask him to look for? they are shiny and bright eyed, Sophie moves in the cage ok.

thanks for any help

 

[Wiebke]

1) That is a social thing. Sophie is demonstrating her dominance in a mild way while Honey tells her she wants to be her friend.

2) Some piggies do not like to spend one extra calorie... Try to scatter treats around or hide them so Sophie has to work a bit to get at them.

3) Get a second bowl for Honeynd place it at a distance where Sophie can't hover over both of them at the same time. Sophie will still bag the majority of the food, but Honey will have a better chance to get at it. My adult piggies get about 1/2 - 1 handful of pellets per piggy per day. Up to 80% of the daily food intake should be hay.

You may find this thread from our reference section (always worth a look) interesting: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38805