New Guinea pig Owner having troubles NEED HELP!

[LittlePreciousP]

Okay. First hello. I am a proud owner of a cute Black, Mostly White with little brown, female guinea pig. I only have one Because I've read (also I have a few family member) that have had guinea pigs in the past that say one guinea pig will do just fine by itself if I give it a lot of attention and play time. (Which I have been doing.) Anyway, I've done my research and all. But I've been having some troubles and concerns. Firstly, I got precious at a pet store. (I know bad thing to do but there is no rescue in my area, and I've tried to look for something closer but couldn't find any) And At first she was nothing like I had seen on all the YouTube channels or read about on these forums, she was quiet, she didn't move around much and just sat in a corner and pooed. At first it really concerned me because I thought I had done something horribly wrong or that she hated her new home. But after a while she got used to being in my lap and running around (she still won't come up to me when I sit on the floor with her). But the one thing that most concerns me is that she doesn't make any noise what so ever. She makes a small "oo, oo, oo" noise when I pick her up but that's about it. I'm scared that maybe she doesn't know how to or I'm just doing things wrong.
Secondly, Whenever I'm laying down and she's all curled up in her blanket and i go to pet her, she will flop her head down and make the "ooo" sound. Is that good? And she will let me pet her anywhere when she lays like that.
Thank you. Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. With much love PRECIOUS

 

[Lady Kelly]

Hi and welcome to the forum. What you have is a baby guinea pig who still needs to learn how to be a guinea pig and has never been alone, all of a sudden in unfamiliar surroundings with no company (and no amount of human interaction is ever going to be able to replace interaction with their own species unfortunately). Guinea pigs are herd animals and thrive with company of their own kind. I recently brought a baby and was meaning to keep her on her own for a couple of days while I was away and then introduce her to my group but overnight she didn't move out from under the hay and while there were poops there she hadn't eaten anything either. I made the decision to quickly put one of my older pigs with her and immediately she was running round the cage making lots of noises, eating and playing. Babies learn from other pigs even simple things like what is safe to eat so ideally she wouldn't remain alone.

If you look at our bereavement guide for example you will see that some pigs can survive on their own but some really do not cope at all. No two pigs are the same. When my Daisy was left alone through bereavement she coped fine and carried on eating etc but I noticed how needy she became, how chatty she was when we came home from work because she was clearly lonely and to see that was heartbreaking.

I really do think your baby needs a friend in order to live happily, you will soon see the difference in noise levels and behaviour with a pair

 

[LittlePreciousP]

Hi and welcome to the forum. What you have is a baby guinea pig who still needs to learn how to be a guinea pig and has never been alone, all of a sudden in unfamiliar surroundings with no company (and no amount of human interaction is ever going to be able to replace interaction with their own species unfortunately). Guinea pigs are herd animals and thrive with company of their own kind. I recently brought a baby and was meaning to keep her on her own for a couple of days while I was away and then introduce her to my group but overnight she didn't move out from under the hay and while there were poops there she hadn't eaten anything either. I made the decision to quickly put one of my older pigs with her and immediately she was running round the cage making lots of noises, eating and playing. Babies learn from other pigs even simple things like what is safe to eat so ideally she wouldn't remain alone.

If you look at our bereavement guide for example you will see that some pigs can survive on their own but some really do not cope at all. No two pigs are the same. When my Daisy was left alone through bereavement she coped fine and carried on eating etc but I noticed how needy she became, how chatty she was when we came home from work because she was clearly lonely and to see that was heartbreaking.

I really do think your baby needs a friend in order to live happily, you will soon see the difference in noise levels and behaviour with a pair

She does eat and she will run around without anyone, it's just the noises, I've been trying to change up her cage a little so she doesn't poop in the same area. And I've saved enough funds for just the one piggy so I don't know how much it will be for a second. And I don't know how she will take being with another piggy after so long. Also to note. I have had precious for a couple months now so she's not newly new.

 

[Wiebke]

Okay. First hello. I am a proud owner of a cute Black, Mostly White with little brown, female guinea pig. I only have one Because I've read (also I have a few family member) that have had guinea pigs in the past that say one guinea pig will do just fine by itself if I give it a lot of attention and play time. (Which I have been doing.) Anyway, I've done my research and all. But I've been having some troubles and concerns. Firstly, I got precious at a pet store. (I know bad thing to do but there is no rescue in my area, and I've tried to look for something closer but couldn't find any) And At first she was nothing like I had seen on all the YouTube channels or read about on these forums, she was quiet, she didn't move around much and just sat in a corner and pooed. At first it really concerned me because I thought I had done something horribly wrong or that she hated her new home. But after a while she got used to being in my lap and running around (she still won't come up to me when I sit on the floor with her). But the one thing that most concerns me is that she doesn't make any noise what so ever. She makes a small "oo, oo, oo" noise when I pick her up but that's about it. I'm scared that maybe she doesn't know how to or I'm just doing things wrong.
Secondly, Whenever I'm laying down and she's all curled up in her blanket and i go to pet her, she will flop her head down and make the "ooo" sound. Is that good? And she will let me pet her anywhere when she lays like that.
Thank you. Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. With much love PRECIOUS

Hi and welcome!

Sadly, so far Switzerland is still the only country where it is illegal to keep any group species (which includes guinea pigs) as single pets. Recognition of just how vital companionship is for mental and physical health and development of group animals has grown a lot in recent years; as has so much when it comes to caring appropriately for guinea pigs and other small pets!

Guinea pigs don't suicide when they are alone but even though they get on with life, you withhold the most essential part of their lives from them and - as much as you may love them - you deliberately fail providing for their biggest need. If Precious is truly precious for you, then please, please, please give her what she wants most, so you can enjoy her happiness, her trust in you as well as the vocal interaction with a companion that is making guinea pigs so unique and endearing.

Two guinea pigs don't cost much more and are generally healthier and more long lived because they are a lot happier! The minimal ground space they should have to be able to move and run around even as adults is the same (2x4 ft) - remember that guinea pigs have evolved as a roaming species that can walk a mile or more to their current feeding grounds from the shelter of an abandoned set twice daily!

Your little girl has come from a commercial mass breeder without any previous freindly human interaction, has been ripped away from her family and then sold by ignorant staff in a shop that cares only about the money but not animal welfare as a single baby into surroundings that for her are completely, frightening and hostile. She feels VERY lost and alone without anypig there to help her and guide her. Humans for her smelly large predators that play with her and that may kill her at any time if she is not as quiet and unobtrusive as she can be.
She needs company round the clock and not just for the little time you can spare to play with her; as a human you just can't provide that level of companionship and instinctive understanding. Right now she is desperately unhappy and pining for what she has lost.

PLEASE GET HER A SAME SEX FRIEND!

Please take the time to read these guides here and try to see and understand things not from what is convenient for you as human but from the perspective of a prey animal that has lost contact with its group and finds itself in hostile territory in the power of a predator that likes to play with it from time to time.
You need to learn to avoid any predatory/hunting behaviours and respect your pet if you want to build up trust over time.

Guinea pigs as a species:
Guinea Pig Facts - A Short Overview
Companionship

How to settle in make friends with your guinea pigs:
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

Introducing a new guinea pig:
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Here is our fully new owners' guide collection, which you may find very helpful; it addresses the most often encountered issues by new owners as well as providing care advice that complies with the current welfare recommendations by leading organizations and rescues around the world.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides