Two new guinea pigs, one is very shy

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darya

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Hi all, we've just good a pair of baby guinea pigs (two and a half months old) two days ago. They are two girls, Molly and Ginger.

At first they both stayed frozen but then Ginger started getting visibility bolder. I understand Molly needs more time but my worry is that she is not getting fresh veggies and I don't know how much she eats in general, I am afraid that she doesn't eat enough :(

I tried to put fresh veggies as a snack in front of her house where she is hiding while Ginger was in another part of the cage. In the end Ginger ate her cucumber and then moved to Molly's house and I think she might have eaten these ones too.

How do I make sure one guinea pig (Ginger) doesn't consume all the veggies and shared them with Molly? How do I make sure Molly is not starving?
 
:wel:

First thing to note is that hay is the most important part of the diet. Provided they get plenty of it then don’t be concerned about veg consumption at this point. Hay is 75-80% of what they need to eat in a day. Veg and pellets are merely supplementary/snacks.
Best thing is to put hay in every hide and in loose piles around the cage. That way they don’t have to come out but still get plenty of hay available to them both.

The only way to know a piggy is eating enough hay is with the routine weekly weight checks (hay intake can’t be gauged by eye). Obviously it’s early days and it’s unlikely you’ve yet done any weight checks but it is important to get into the habit as soon as you can. You need to give them a week or so to settle though.
Do note they are not likely to enjoy it and catching them may be an effort so best to herd them into a carrier and pick them up from there. Don’t try to pick them up with your bare hands.

Regarding veg (one cup per pig per day) and pellets (only one tablespoon per pig per day); the best thing is to scatter them around the cage and not use food bowls. That way, both piggies have equal chance to move about and find some. It also encourages foraging and makes meal times mentally stimulating.
For now, you can put veg into the hide as well so they can eat without coming out.

In terms of making them feel more secure, it’s a good idea to cover the cage with a sheet. Feeling covered and not exposed can help them settle and you may find she begins to feel more secure to come out.

The collection of guides below may help you

New Owners' Essential Information and Practical Tips Starter Collection
 
Welcome to the forum
I’m sure you are doing a great job, Molly being the shy one will just take a bit longer to feel at ease. You will find all piggies have such different characters
 
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