any guinea pig experts?

[mtemm]

we got a guinnea pig yesterday. he's really small, and looks healthy, but is definitely scared/getting used to his environment. I understand that is normal, but I am worried because he doesn't seem to be eating/drinking.

any experts out there with any ideas for me? he's such a sweet little guy and I just wish he would eat/drink something!!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Do you talk to him and stay with him while he is eating and drinking? I always did that with the ds pet. Guinea pigs are very social animals and they like noise, excitement (not too much), companionship etc. You could also hold him in your lap on a towel etc. and try giving him a treat. Does he also have a small space to cuddle up in? I think ours looked sad too at first, after all, who wants to be pulled away from their family etc.

 

[Creativebeth]

He sounds like he is just a baby! They are pretty adaptable, but they do like to have a friend. They are 'social' creatures, and usually they do better when you have 2 or more. No one recommends a single piggie.

Make sure that he has a cubbyhole to hid in.....they like to feel secure.

Beth

 

[mtemm]

thanks. yes, he is a baby. I got thru to my mil's bf (he used to breed them) and the store where we got him and they both said the same thing...leave him alone for a few days while he acclimates, put a blanket over the top of his habitat, and put his food near where he is currently hiding out in his habitat. fingers crossed he becomes more comfortable and will start eating/drinking.

 

[mamacatnv]

We have 2 girls, he needs a friend. GP's are very social and should not live alone. Hold him a lot, he will get used to your voices etc. He will eventually greet you with whistles when you come into the room or in our case when we open the fridge, they know their treats are in the fridge.

I only feed ours OxBow pellets, Timothy hay and fresh romain lettuce and asst. greens. When the girls were young, the local feed store used to order the OxBow growth food for me, now that they are older the feed store stocks the adult food and has really nice fresh hay. The dried out stuff in pet stores is not as good for them.

Ours are now about a year old and we just love them. We built them a big cage, they have 2 hidey castles and I always cover one end of their cage where we put their food.

 

[Art 1]

In S. America they are a delicacy, when my wife moved to the US she was shocked to see them sold as pets.