Guinea pig bored and picky?

[Pohtaytur]

Hi, so I'm a new owner of a bonded pair of guinea pigs I recently adopted called Harold and Henrietta. I was kind of worried about Harold's behaviour. I've been giving him pellets and veggies to eat, and he would take the pellets from me before, but he stopped taking them from me as much after I gave him a pea flake for the first time. I got so confused! He still eats the pellets and hay as normal since the bowl gets empty when I check the next day, but he's started dropping the pellets when I give it to him by hand.

I've also tried giving him floor time once and he started digging at the fleece as a result. It's been the second time he's done so, so I was wondering if he was bored. I opened the door for him this afternoon and he didn't seem interested in going out!

I had adopted them from a shelter so they made sure my dimensions were right and even asking a friend, she said that it should be fine. I tried having him run around a bit when I feed him his veggies today to see if that would help and maybe it did? I'm not sure. I've tried doing research and all I know is that he might be bored? Is he just getting too much stimulation? Did I try introducing foods to him too early? It's pretty much the second week since I've gotten them so I have no idea!

 

[Siikibam]

It may be he doesn’t want to be hand fed his pellets. It doesn’t sound like he’s bored to me. Possibly that he doesn’t want to have floor time and feels safer in his normal surroundings. They have been with you a short time so he’s likely still settling into his new home.

If offering floor time, I would make sure that there are a lot of hides so he doesn’t feel exposed. If he doesn’t want to have floor time then give him more time to settle in and then try again in a few weeks.

May I ask, are they living separately but as neighbours? If they’re together, is he neutered and 6 weeks post op?

 

[Pohtaytur]

It may be he doesn’t want to be hand fed his pellets. It doesn’t sound like he’s bored to me. Possibly that he doesn’t want to have floor time and feels safer in his normal surroundings. They have been with you a short time so he’s likely still settling into his new home.

If offering floor time, I would make sure that there are a lot of hides so he doesn’t feel exposed. If he doesn’t want to have floor time then give him more time to settle in and then try again in a few weeks.

May I ask, are they living separately but as neighbours? If they’re together, is he neutered and 6 weeks post op?

They live together in the cage and according to his medical record he was neutered last year. I've tried doing more interactive feeding where he runs around for his veggies before I hand it to him and putting pieces around the cage. I don't know why he started digging after I gave him floor time for the first time, but boredom is what showed up. He's started taking food from me again too, so I have no idea haha.

 

[weepweeps]

Welcome to the forum. They are funny little characters aren’t they? One day they like or do something and the next day they won’t. I think they are just still settling in. Give them time to get to know you and it will take you time to get used to their little quirks. Post some pictures if you’d like to share. We love pictures here.