Why has my Guinea pig turned on me

[GeniePig]

Feeling very distressed as my guinea pig Genie who I'm usually very close with has turned on me recently...sometimes he's okay with me but he keeps trying to bite me recently. We originally had 2 boys but Genie got bullied badly and we had to give the other one up for adoption. He's seemed perfectly happy since then (over a year ago) and has been growing in confidence for a long time until recently. He's not doing it to the rest of my family so it must be something I've done. I can think of 2 things, I got him out of his cage and his foot got caught in the metal chain suspending his hammock, and I tried to cut his nails recently (usually take him to a groomers but due to lockdown) and he did not like that or let me do it. The bites aren't hard and don't break or even mark the skin at all. He started jabbing at my hand and I tried to reassure him and he seemed to calm down and was squeaking loudly so I layed down next to him to give him a cuddle, he seemed fine at first then he bit my nose I'm so worried we might not get over this and be as close as before, please help!

 

[Wiebke]

Feeling very distressed as my guinea pig Genie who I'm usually very close with has turned on me recently...sometimes he's okay with me but he keeps trying to bite me recently. We originally had 2 boys but Genie got bullied badly and we had to give the other one up for adoption. He's seemed perfectly happy since then (over a year ago) and has been growing in confidence for a long time until recently. He's not doing it to the rest of my family so it must be something I've done. I can think of 2 things, I got him out of his cage and his foot got caught in the metal chain suspending his hammock, and I tried to cut his nails recently (usually take him to a groomers but due to lockdown) and he did not like that or let me do it. The bites aren't hard and don't break or even mark the skin at all. He started jabbing at my hand and I tried to reassure him and he seemed to calm down and was squeaking loudly so I layed down next to him to give him a cuddle, he seemed fine at first then he bit my nose I'm so worried we might not get over this and be as close as before, please help!

Hi and welcome

How old is your boy and for how long has he been alone?

Please take the time to read these two links here. The last chapter in the single guides deals amongst others how it comes out when your single piggy transfers all their social needs fully on you - including any teenage dominance issues.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

These guide links here help you to communicate with your piggies in ways that they instinctively understand since you are mimicking social interactive guinea pig behaviours and are framing the issue in a socially acceptable way. I have learned this by watching how my socially adept piggies have been dealing with their mates. It is very effective because you are speaking their language and are not expecting them to figure out humans.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?

In the longer term and once the current situation allows, it would be great if you considered companionship of their own kind for your piggy. They are not wired to live on their own. It is not their fault that they were sold for looks and not for a personality match after all.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

 

[GeniePig]

He's about one and a half years old and he's been by himself since he was about 3-4 months. Thanks, I will have a look at those x
I was wondering if anyone else has had the same problem as well & how they overcame it?

 

[GeniePig]

I'm not sure my family will be willing to get another one...it was really stressful them fighting last time and we don't have space to keep 2 separated:/

 

[Wiebke]

I'm not sure my family will be willing to get another one...it was really stressful them fighting last time and we don't have space to keep 2 separated:/

Have your considered neutering so he can live with a sow once he is safe to do so? Cross gender bondings are the most stable of all piggy bonds. You can find information on that in our boar guide or in our comprehensive neutering guide:
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Several of my boar adoptees are or have been fallen-out 'unbondable' boars that have had a dream career as a 'husboar' - a neutered boar living with a sow or several. Now that your boy is actually coming out of teenage, his hormones are starting to settle down a lot more so he is out of the worst of his hormones. How big is the cage? With teenage boars, that is always a major consideration.
Rescue dating for a boarmate of his own choice would be another option since key to any successful piggy bond is mutual liking and character compatibility.

If you want to understand more about what went wrong with your boar pair, you may find our teenage guide interesting.
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[GeniePig]

I would like to look into that, just at the moment I doubt anywhere will be open in the UK until summer:/ His cage is a bit small I am bugging my dad for a bigger one but he isn't working at the moment due to COVID...he said he'll get one in February though. I just think if it was due to that he'd be the same way towards the rest of my family though. I think I broke his trust trying to cut his nails...how can I go about regaining it?

 

[Wiebke]

I would like to look into that, just at the moment I doubt anywhere will be open in the UK until summer:/ His cage is a bit small I am bugging my dad for a bigger one but he isn't working at the moment due to COVID...he said he'll get one in February though. I just think if it was due to that he'd be the same way towards the rest of my family though. I think I broke his trust trying to cut his nails...how can I go about regaining it?

You can regain his trust by reading the piggy whispering links and the other information I have give you - it is actually all in there in much better detail than I could tell you in a single short post.

Try to consider dating/adopting from a good welfare standard rescue whenever that becomes possible. it is by far the safest way possible to get new friend without ending up with new headaches and is well worth the wait and little extra effort. In the current time, we just have to take thing as they come... Take the time to do your research, discuss things with your family and consider the best way forward. We can help you with tips of where you can get the cheapest cages of the correct size etc.
Here is our list of carefully vetted recommended UK rescues: Rescue Locator

 

[GeniePig]

You can regain his trust by reading the piggy whispering links and the other information I have give you - it is actually all in there in much better detail than I could tell you in a single short post.

Try to consider dating/adopting from a good welfare standard rescue whenever that becomes possible. it is by far the safest way possible to get new friend without ending up with new headaches and is well worth the wait and little extra effort. In the current time, we just have to take thing as they come... Take the time to do your research, discuss things with your family and consider the best way forward. We can help you with tips of where you can get the cheapest cages of the correct size etc.
Here is our list of carefully vetted recommended UK rescues: Rescue Locator

Thank you will keep you updating on how it's going...that sounds like a really good option, I'm not even sure if he trusts other piggies so would be good to see how he is around them. Maybe he'll find a little girlfriend