Gp wont eat fruit or veg!

[Hiccup]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to having gp's. I have 2, hiccup and toothless (from how to train your dragon film) they are seperated at the moment to be bonded soon.

The problem I'm having is with toothless, he doesn't like any fruit or veg! Ive tried, apple, grapes, cucumber, carrot, red pepper. Wont eat any of it. Eats his food and hay, but I'm worried hes not having a varied diet with enough vit c. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[sport_billy]

Welcome to the forum. Here is a link to a great food list sticky which will give you pleanty of ideas on veg to feed http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42 and what they can't eat.

Favourties of ours Parsley, Spring Cabbage, Coriander, Little gem Lettuce, Kale

It's all a case of trying lots of different veg, let us know how you get on. Are you feeding your piggie some pellets also?

 

[herriotfan]

They all seem to have their likes and dislikes, just like us humans. It's trial and error really. Mine are so fussy that they will only eat some foods if it's prepared in a certain way i.e chopped, grated etc! Keep trying them with a variety and they'll soon let you know which things they like.

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs that have not had veg in their lives before often struggle to accept them at first and can be very hit and miss once they do. Be patient and persevere!

Try fresh green stuff first. Most piggies find a handful of fresh cut grass (make sure that it is free of any poisonous dog pee), fresh parsley or cilantro/coriander, lettuce or a bit of spinach quite irresistible. Spinach is very high in calcium, so it should not be part of a daily diet, but it is a good "lure" veg, so don't hesitate to use it at first until you can establish a regular diet if Toothless loves it.

Generally, the best thing to get them to eat is the "I want what you have" reflex when living with or next door to a mate and can watch the other piggy eat. Until then, you just have to sit it out and try your best!

Fresh mixed veg should make about a cupful/handful per piggy per day in as many servings as you like (that is about 10-15% of the daily food intake - hay should make up to 80%). Please try to include at least one high vitamin C veg like a slice of sweet pepper of any colour, a sprig of parsley or cilantro, or a floret of broccoli every day and vary between them once you have established a regular diet. Otherwise, you will get furthest with giving everything in moderation and varying the diet; you will need to find your own balance between what your piggies eat, your purse can afford and what is available to you.

PS: Unlike some advice you may come across, you can feed cabbages, even daily (I have done so for years now without any problems); they are actually not a bad source of vitamin C. But introduce them slowly and always as part of a veg mix. Take them off the menu if you have a piggy with an iffy digestion and a tendency for bloating (but with those piggies you have to go through all veg singly to find the ones they can't cope with).

Here are a couple of links about piggy diet:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42
http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

Please weigh your piggies weekly. It is an important tool to spot health problems early on when they are still treatable. Food intake can be deceptive; scales don't lie!
http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

 

[LordBernieBouffant]

I have (had!) a piggy like that. She wouldn't eat anything other than straw! and nuggets. She started with Romaine lettuce (that was the first thing she ate), then corriander and we've now proceeded to peppers, broccoli (flowers only but it's a start), green beans, hay and fresh grass. It's only taken me 7 months to get this far, but I keep on putting the stuff in and she's starting to have a go more and more

 

[Hiccup]

Thankyou everyone for all your help. I think he may have had a very small nibble on some cucumber today, so fingers crossed its a start! I'm going to keep trying with different things! at least my fridge is getting full of healthy fruit and veg for a change. Even found myself crunching on a raw carrot earlier! Lol

 

[Lady Kelly]

Thankyou everyone for all your help. I think he may have had a very small nibble on some cucumber today, so fingers crossed its a start! I'm going to keep trying with different things! at least my fridge is getting full of healthy fruit and veg for a change. Even found myself crunching on a raw carrot earlier! Lol

If it makes you feel any better when I took in Buddy he obviously hadn't had fruit and veg before and barely sniffed at it. I found leaving it in his cage as long as possible was the only way. I left a slice of bell pepper in there for 3 days and the disgusting boy ate it when it was all soft and shrivelled >>> lol but now he scoffs it down as quick as the rest of them

 

[suem]

have you tried chantenay carrots, they really are so much better than the normal bog standard supermarket carrots. We have just started an alotment and judging by the amount we are going to grow I shall have to have a market stall to sell the excess....wouldnt mind but it is hubby and sons project and they dont eat hardly any veg!rolleyesrolleyes