My usually calm guinea pig is biting, headbutting and teeth chattering at me? Help

[imnot_ordinary]

7 days ago I got my first pair of guinea pigs! They're two boys and are about 7 weeks old now, though I'm fairly sure that one is older than the other since he's a little fatter and longer.

Everything was fine for the first 5 days. We started with cuddling for 5 minutes and gradually got longer. I knew they'd be scared of me so it was short at first. But yesterday when I was petting him he started wriggling and headbutting me and then tried to bite me.

I've been curiously licked and nipped before but he was really angry and I could tell but I didn't do anything wrong. I fed him a tiny bit of lettuce (not iceberg), 2 halves of a grape and a couple slices of courgette. He was really happy and was squeaking and climbing on me and suddenly his mood dropped.

I don't think he has mites but tomorrow we're going to get medicine stuff just in case. He's quite fluffy so I'm wondering if he's too hot. I haven't bathed him yet because I felt that he would want to trust me more.

I have ordered a bigger cage which will be arriving today just in case they want a bigger one. Their previous one was too small (not by much) but it was temporary.

It's weird because the other one is a bit more timid but he's never done anything bad like this. He has bald patches behind his ear but the hair is growing back so I'm not sure what that's about.

I'm trying to be patient but I thought I was getting somewhere and suddenly that all went. I looked at other forums but all the answers are saying the piggies either have mites or want a lady friend or are hungry.

Please help!

 

[Guineapigfeet]

It could be that he is now comfortable enough with you to say ‘I want to go back now’

Please do not buy shop medication on spec. If you are worried, please take him to a vet and have him properly diagnosed and if needed, treated with proper strength medication

 

[Claire W]

My piggies go mad when they've had enough of lap time or they need a pee may be it was one of those things?

And I agree with the above, please see a vet if you are concerned about mites. Shop brought stuff can do more harm than good

 

[sport_billy]

Our piggies will headbutt and teeth chatter when they want to go home, they are not being rude but are communicating with you... They are feeling comfortable and safe enough with you to tell you this rather than freeze in fear.

Please if you are concerned about mites see a vet.

Welcome to the forum

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum

Can’t add to the excellent advice given.

It would be lovely to see pictures of your boys

 

[Reenie]

Piggies have bald patches behind their ears. If you are worried that it's more than their natural baldy bit, see a vet because, as others have said, shop bought meds can do more harm than good.

 

[Kindness]

If you check every part of his hair with your finger tips you may come across crusty bumps, not every piggy with mange mites is irritated. When my girls had it when I first brought them they were as sweet as anything with it.