New Guinea pigs and water

[Harvey16]

Hi
I got 2 new baby guinea pigs yesterday after my poor boy Harvey got sick and passed away a month ago. The 2 New Guinea pigs are eating loads of veggies and some pellets but aren’t drinking any water. Should I be worried? Or is it just because they haven’t settled in yet

 

[Lady Kelly]

If they are eating loads of veggies then they are likely getting all their water from the veg. Were they using a water bottle where they came from? If not then perhaps offer some water in a bowl too and see if that changes anything. That's only going to work if they don't understand the bottle though

 

[Guineapigfeet]

Mine have a bowl and a bottle after Chewie decided, after three years, that she no longer liked the bottle and tried to rip it down! All three use the bowl now but I’m not sure if any of them use the bottle any more! I still have it out incase they tip the bowl over, which hasn’t happened yet!

 

[Harvey16]

If they are eating loads of veggies then they are likely getting all their water from the veg. Were they using a water bottle where they came from? If not then perhaps offer some water in a bowl too and see if that changes anything. That's only going to work if they don't understand the bottle though

Yes they had a water bottle but there was a big litter of them so don’t know how much they got to use it. I have a bowl down too and when I had them out for floor time I had a bowl down which one piggy just used to clean herself.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Yes they had a water bottle but there was a big litter of them so don’t know how much they got to use it. I have a bowl down too and when I had them out for floor time I had a bowl down which one piggy just used to clean herself.

If they are thirsty they will drink. Mine are hit and miss. Some days they can pretty much drain one bottle between the 3 of them and other days the level has barely budged.

 

[Harvey16]

Mine have a bowl and a bottle after Chewie decided, after three years, that she no longer liked the bottle and tried to rip it down! All three use the bowl now but I’m not sure if any of them use the bottle any more! I still have it out incase they tip the bowl over, which hasn’t happened yet!

They had a bottle where they came from but there was a big litter of them so don’t know how much they used it. I’ve put a bowl down too under the water bottle hoping they’ll get the concept but haven’t used it. Had a bowl down when I had them out for floor time but only one piggy used some to clean herself

 

[Harvey16]

If they are thirsty they will drink. Mine are hit and miss. Some days they can pretty much drain one bottle between the 3 of them and other days the level has barely budged.

Okay thanks. Just worrying because my last guy drank loads. And only died few weeks ago so don’t want anything to happen these

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
I got 2 new baby guinea pigs yesterday after my poor boy Harvey got sick and passed away a month ago. The 2 New Guinea pigs are eating loads of veggies and some pellets but aren’t drinking any water. Should I be worried? Or is it just because they haven’t settled in yet

Guinea pigs learn to drink from a bottle from their elders. If that hasn't happened before you got them and you don't have an older piggy to teach them, then it may take longer. Please note that the more veg you are feeding, the less water piggies will drink. The individual water intake can also vary massively.
All About Drinking And Bottles

PS: Please double check the gender of your newbies. Mis-sexing is sadly anything but uncommon.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

 

[Harvey16]

Guinea pigs learn to drink from a bottle from their elders. If that hasn't happened before you got them and you don't have an older piggy to teach them, then it may take longer. Please note that the more veg you are feeding, the less water piggies will drink. The individual water intake can also vary massively.
All About Drinking And Bottles

PS: Please double check the gender of your newbies. Mis-sexing is sadly anything but uncommon.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Thanks.
I have been told they are both females. I have double checked and am pretty sure they are. But they are still small

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks.
I have been told they are both females. I have double checked and am pretty sure they are. But they are still small

Please look at the pictures in our sexing guide and follow the tips for how to do a hands-on check on the secondary areas where the gender is much clearer; learning how to sex yourself safely is not the worst ability to acquire.
Sexing Guide

You are also welcome to post pictures in our sexing section for confirmation - although we may still ask you to check for the secondary traits if we cannot be absolutely sure from any picture.