hates carrots & pellets

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Porky Pig

Hi...

I'm a new guinea pig owner and am struggling to understand my little boy at the moment. He hates carrots - will not eat them unless I put it right in his mouth (which I don't like doing bec it's like bullying him!). He also eats very little of his dry pellets/nuggets.

He voraciously eats brocolli, string beans, broad beans, cucumber and peppers and squeals til he gets them!

I've read so many articles and discovered that "all guinea pigs go mad for carrots" and will heartily eat their pellets/nuggets. Mine does neither.

Is this a problem? If so, what should i do?

thank you for reading this and for any help/wisdom you'll give.
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

It is very normal for your pig to dislike carrots, and to not eat many pellets. Guinea pigs have different tastes, just as humans do. I have ten guinea pigs and not one enjoys carrot. Carrot is not the "guinea pig superfood" so many places once made out it was. Pepper is far healthier - so it is great that your piggie enjoys pepper.

Pellets are the least important part of the diet, accounting for just 5% of food intake. Hay makes up most of the diet, while veggies account for around 15% of a good diet. It is, however, worth trying a few different brands of pellet to see what your piggie does enjoy. What food are you offering him at the moment?
 
Some piggies don't like the change in pellets, if he was on another product before you had him. Mine are not exactly keen on parsley - they leave that until last and won't touch beans. Tastes are so different!
PS: Too much carrot isn't that good, either, anyway!

For a well balanced diet look up this thread by CCC4: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30297

You can always substitute food your guinea pigs don't like with something from the same class of foods. If you introduce, give only one new food at the time and leave it hanging round a bit, if it doesn't get eaten. Then put it back on the menue a week or two later!
 
as laura said piggies are all different all her 10 dislike carrots but all my eight love them,try experiementing with other fresh foods and you will get to know what he likes in no time,maybe if he doesnt like the pellets you could try a different brand xxxxxxxxxx
 
Hello :)
I have 34 guinea pigs and every single one of them has their own likes and dislikes. It's a mammoth task feeding them each night as I have to remember not to give Minnie carrots and that Buddy will only eat green things..LOL. My point is is that it's totally normal. Don't worry and maybe try him with carrots in a few months as their tastebuds do change.
If he doesn't like his pellets you can either leave him be as no healthy guinea pig will starve himself, or try him on a different brand. Hope this helps x
 
Wow - I didn't expect to get replies that fast! You are a good lot xx>>>

To answer your questions:

He liked carrots INITIALLY. It did not last long (just a day or two of liking it).

AT THE MOMENT, he seems to go crazy over brocolli, beans (string and broad), cucumber (no nutritional value?) and, peppers --- although I've noticed him being less and less interested in the peppers recently.

As suggested, I will re-introduce carrots a week or two later.

the dry food my piggy is on is "Pets At Home Guinea Pig Nuggets". He eats very little of these a day. I regret buying a 2kg pack as I am aware that the vitamin c in it will decrease in time. The last thing I want is to buy a new/different pack of dry food and discover he isn't keen on it!

I won't worry now - I'll follow your advice and see how it goes.

PS - TRACY... you have 34 ?! Wow! I wonder if it ever feels like you are running a vegetarian restaurant every night! :)
 
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