New guinea baby won't come out of hiding.

[Kailanicole]

So I have an adult male guinea pig, Named Peach. He is 3 years old and I thought it was time to get him a friend now that he has graduated to his large cage (16 square feet). I got a male guinea pig yesterday, he is probably 2 months old (named Mayhem), and he is very skiddish and scared, as I would be if I were put in a new place. I didn't put him in Peaches large cage, I put him in a smaller one (the one I put peach in temporarily for cleaning his large cage) because I want to make sure Mayhem doesn't have any diseases he could spread to peach. He has only came out last night for food and has only drank a little (if any) water since I got him. He will not come out of hiding and runs from me even if I'm putting a carrot down on the cage floor for him. If anyone has any advice for of this is normal, and how to bond with a newcomer, as well as how to introduce peach to mayhem when the time comes that would be amazing. Sorry for all the detail...thank you!

 

[Betsy]

Welcome to the forum! Hope you'll be very happy here. You need to understand life from Mayhem's point of view to understand why he is so very scared.

Mayhem has been taken from the only home he has ever known and put in a strange environment on his own (which for a prey group animal is VERY scary and stressful). There are new sounds, smells and noises. There is also a pig smelly (to him) giant (you) with big scary hands bigger or as big as he is. I would be frightened if that was me in that situation. He doesn't yet know that you aren't going to eat him. Everything new to a guinea pig makes them think they will end up as lunch. There is a very good piggy whispering guide but I can't link it on this device.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

I have linked in a lot of guides above which will help you.

It is normal for them to be scared and if may take quite some time before he gets used to you. Use the guide above to help.

I have also attached the bonding guides on how to do a bonding. You need a neutral area to introduce the two to each other. Don’t ever put one piggy into another piggies cage straight off as it will be seen as an attack on territory and will cause a fight. You also need to be aware that character compatibility and mutual liking is key to whether a bond is successful and given you have bought a new friend rather than go boar dating and have your adult choose his own new friend, then there is always the risk that the two won’t like each other. Hopefully, it will be fine and they will be pleased of have each other as company, but you do need to bear it in mind.