Guinea Pig Purring? Happy or Angry?

rinlalin

rinlalin

Junior Guinea Pig
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I just got a guinea pig a couple days ago and found out about 3 hours after I got him, that when I lightly scratch his back he purrs. theres a video here for you guys to analyze.

is he happy with the scratches, or is he angry?

also please give me tips on how to make him feel comfortable and happy in his new home. thanks!
 
Welcome to the Forum.. That doesn't sound like happy purring to me. It sounds like he's a frightened and unhappy boy. Piggies are prey animals and need time to get used to their new surroundings. You need to put yourself in his position. He has been ripped away from his family and put in a shop, just as he was getting used to that he has been taken away and put somewhere strange with new noises and smells and a huge giant (you) with hands larger than he is who keeps touching him when all he wants to do is hide somewhere quiet. Wouldn't you be scared in that situation? I know I would! You know you aren't going to hurt your new little boy but he doesn't know that - you have to teach him that and that takes time, patience and a lot of love. He is running on prey instincts at the moment. Keeping still in the hope that you will ignore him and he can run away! Does he have a friend? Piggies are not wired to be alone.

Here are some guides for you to read to help your piggy to settle in.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Betsy said:
Welcome to the Forum.. That doesn't sound like happy purring to me. It sounds like he's a frightened and unhappy boy. Piggies are prey animals and need time to get used to their new surroundings. You need to put yourself in his position. He has been ripped away from his family and put in a shop, just as he was getting used to that he has been taken away and put somewhere strange with new noises and smells and a huge giant (you) with hands larger than he is who keeps touching him when all he wants to do is hide somewhere quiet. Wouldn't you be scared in that situation? I know I would! You know you aren't going to hurt your new little boy but he doesn't know that - you have to teach him that and that takes time, patience and a lot of love. He is running on prey instincts at the moment. Keeping still in the hope that you will ignore him and he can run away! Does he have a friend? Piggies are not wired to be alone.

Here are some guides for you to read to help your piggy to settle in.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
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thanks! i'll stop giving him scratches for now and let him settle in. i don't have a second guinea pig, but i was told spending time with him every day would make up for that. should i get another?
 
Keeping a piggy on their own is like putting you in solitary confinement. They really do need others of their own kind to interact with. However much time you spend with your piggy you can't speak "guinea pig" any more than your piggy can talk "human". It would be in his best interests to get a friend. When you do don't just plonk the new piggy in your existing piggy's cage and expect them to get on. That is like a stranger coming into your home and making themselves comfortable you wouldn't like it and neither will your piggy. There are some very good guides about bonding pigs. I'll find them for you hang on ........

Boars, sows or mixed pairs; babies or adults?
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...ted-dominance-behaviours-and-dynamics.128361/
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

If you decide you want a girly pig you must get your boy neutered first and wait 6 weeks before he is safe to go in with the sow. We don't want babies coming along.
 
rinlalin said:
thanks! i'll stop giving him scratches for now and let him settle in. i don't have a second guinea pig, but i was told spending time with him every day would make up for that. should i get another?
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You were given the wrong advice there.Piggies are social animals and shouldn’t be kept on their own.Are you near any rescues or shelters?
 
Gem789 said:
You were given the wrong advice there.Piggies are social animals and shouldn’t be kept on their own.Are you near any rescues or shelters?
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I really don't think i am, sadly. I can, however, go back to the petstore and get another piggie from the litter he was with originally. do you think I should do that?
 
rinlalin said:
I really don't think i am, sadly. I can, however, go back to the petstore and get another piggie from the litter he was with originally. do you think I should do that?
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If there is no shelters nearby( are you in the uk or another country?) then yes I would purchase one from a pet store x
 
Gem789 said:
If there is no shelters nearby( are you in the uk or another country?) then yes I would purchase one from a pet store x
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I'm in the USA, ohio to be exact. to my knowledge there are no shelters that have piggies nearby.
 
Well if you do (I know this sound obvious) make sure that the piggy you choose is the same sex as the one you already have. Mistakes are common in pet shops and use the guide on introducing piggies I gave you above. Just because they are from the same litter doesn't mean they will get on during the teenage months (4-14 months) when testosterone levels are at an all time high. It is very much dependent on the piggie's personality. If they are laid back you should be OK. If one wants to be dominant and the other happy for that to happen then you should be OK. Sorry to put a bit of a dampener on things but you need to know these things. If they don't get on you could have them living side.
 
Gem789 said:
I don’t know how to link but have you looked on guinea lynx? I know they have rescues listed on there x
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I found a guinea pig at a rescue center 15 miles from me! I'm going to be going and picking him up tomorrow. so glad I found a place that had some piggies! (90% of the shelters around here are strictly dogs and cats. this one ended up having three piggies!)

can you link me to a guide on how to introduce them? I only have one cage, so I can't put them in separate ones.
 
rinlalin said:
I found a guinea pig at a rescue center 15 miles from me! I'm going to be going and picking him up tomorrow. so glad I found a place that had some piggies! (90% of the shelters around here are strictly dogs and cats. this one ended up having three piggies!)

can you link me to a guide on how to introduce them? I only have one cage, so I can't put them in separate ones.
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That was quick lol, have you contacted the rescue? I’ll have a look for a guide now x
 
Gem789 said:
That was quick lol, have you contacted the rescue? I’ll have a look for a guide now x
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right, LOL! I used a website that goes through all the shelters within 100 miles of me and found 3 little piggies. I emailed them and told them I wanted to come in tomorrow. As far as I know, he's still there and he's about to be mine!

Thanks!
 
He is lovely. I definitely agree with finding him a friend, it is best for him. Hoping you find the right match :)
 
Flutterby said:
He is lovely. I definitely agree with finding him a friend, it is best for him. Hoping you find the right match :)
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he'll have a new friend this time tomorrow! i'm going to introduce them and hopefully they'll love eachother! (i'm getting one from the same litter i got him from, so hopefully that helps!)
 
Welcome to the forum.
Hope all goes well with the bonding - I believe from those who have boars that it can be quite traumatic for the humans.
You've been linked in to the guides so good luck.
Hope to see pics of your boys soon.
 
Merab's Slave said:
Welcome to the forum.
Hope all goes well with the bonding - I believe from those who have boars that it can be quite traumatic for the humans.
You've been linked in to the guides so good luck.
Hope to see pics of your boys soon.
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I'm hoping my anxiety just won't ruin it, the slightest things can send me into over-protective mode over all my furry/scaley babies!
 
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