Normal Behaviour?

[TaintedTamer]

I have a new male guinea pig that I obtained from a fellow co-worker, who has had him in her classroom at work for a little under 5 or so months. She was being moved to a new room and didn't want to take the guinea pig along or keep him personally, so I ended up taking him home about two weeks ago. I'm not sure of his exact age, but I do know he had a previous owner other than my co-worker.

He seems to be doing well, he is kinda challenging to remove from his cage at times, but I've been doing my best to let him adjust and keep his cage clean and food/water replenished daily. Though the cage he came with was nasty and so I ended up going and buying him a new one today as well as grooming tools.

I've never owned a guinea pig before, but I'm positive hes never been brushed before since he wasn't too happy with that and he seems very bothered in his new cage. Theres a little ramp to a second level that holds his food and he refuses to climb up to get it, so now I'm worried I've done more harm than good today.

Any advice would be helpful, sorry if my information isn't the best, but my guinea pig just really doesn't seem happy and I need some tips on what to do.

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

Can you put food in lots of places to make sure he can get it? Eventually he may go up the ramp, you may need to guide him though. Also, shop bought ramps can sometimes be too steep so it could be that reason.

Dont mean to patronise, but if you havent had a piggy before, basic needs are hay, water and pellets.

There is loads of info on here, any questions just ask even if its small, someone will be able to help.

 

[Ralphisamadpig]

You could try propping the end of the ramp up to make it less steep, and food around like doglovinpiggylover said. some of mine are hard to ccatch it is reasonably normal. There are other threads on ramps etc maybe try searching for them (?)

He may be lonely as guinea pigs are herd animals so love having companions- it may a make him much happier, Although bonding males can be hard.

Hope it helps
xx

 

[TaintedTamer]

To doglovinpiggylover -
I have timothy hay that he loves as well as pellets and a large water bottle for him to drink from, I've read up on what he needs and everything. And I've made sure to keep food around the cage for him to eat, though I'm really trying to encourage him to go up the ramp since theres fresh and clean food up there for him.

And I've tried propping the ramp up to make it not as steep, but he stills refuses to even try to go up it to get to the food bowls. ><


To Ralphisamadpig -
I'm really tempted to get him a friend since I work alot during the day and I'm sure he gets lonely, but I'm not sure how old he is either. Isn't bonding older guinea pigs harder? I don't want him or a new guinea pig hurting eachother by fighting.

 

[Romily]

I would get him a young boar to live with xx

 

[Piggyologist]

Sometimes I can't catch mine either it's normal.

I read advise on other forums a couple of times that it's best to get a very young growing up boy to bond with and older male. You also need more space to ensure they won't fight. When we adopted our 3 girls they had their ears shredded and bleeding, had bite wounds all over and fought all the time; a year after there are still visible holes left in their ears. When we let them run free around the room and provided 3 drinking bottles, many feeding bowls, two hanging hay racks and 5 individual houses on the ground level underneath the main cage, they stopped fighting. Because they are little doesn't mean they don't like to have their personal space, just like us. I noticed from my experience it's a big factor for guinea pigs getting along: enough places to eat, drink and individual places to sleep.

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

To doglovinpiggylover -
I have timothy hay that he loves as well as pellets and a large water bottle for him to drink from, I've read up on what he needs and everything. And I've made sure to keep food around the cage for him to eat, though I'm really trying to encourage him to go up the ramp since theres fresh and clean food up there for him.

And I've tried propping the ramp up to make it not as steep, but he stills refuses to even try to go up it to get to the food bowls. ><


To Ralphisamadpig -
I'm really tempted to get him a friend since I work alot during the day and I'm sure he gets lonely, but I'm not sure how old he is either. Isn't bonding older guinea pigs harder? I don't want him or a new guinea pig hurting eachother by fighting.

Aw thats great, maybe just a timing thing then hon, one of my pigs i could never ever catch, i had to trap him every time and i hated doing it but what can you do?

 

[Tupeny]

To doglovinpiggylover -
I have timothy hay that he loves as well as pellets and a large water bottle for him to drink from, I've read up on what he needs and everything. And I've made sure to keep food around the cage for him to eat, though I'm really trying to encourage him to go up the ramp since theres fresh and clean food up there for him.

And I've tried propping the ramp up to make it not as steep, but he stills refuses to even try to go up it to get to the food bowls. ><


To Ralphisamadpig -
I'm really tempted to get him a friend since I work alot during the day and I'm sure he gets lonely, but I'm not sure how old he is either. Isn't bonding older guinea pigs harder? I don't want him or a new guinea pig hurting eachother by fighting.

A tunnel might coax him up the ramp - only one pig that I've ever had didn't sucumb to the temptation of a cozy looking tunnel! You can make them or buy them online fromo someone who makes them. You can stick it to the ramp with velcro.

Are there hiding places upstairs as well as downstairs? As many as possible is a good thing, then he can run from one top the other without being exposed too long. There are things you can buy (you've probably got some) and you can make some out of little boxes. Grass and parsleyand lots of time + patience have been good in my experience for winning round frightened piggies.

 

[TaintedTamer]

To Piggyologist -
I would LOVE to get him a friend, the only problem is that his cage already is taking up the entire top of my dresser and I honestly don't have the room to set up lots of space for him to run around let alone two guinea pigs. I don't really let him run around my room since my bed is off the floor and I'd rather not have him go under there (and I'm sure that'd be the first place he'd hide).


To Tupeny -
What kind of material would you suggest for the tunnel? Hes a big boy so I don't want to make anything that he might get stuck in or that he can tear apart.

And the 'upstairs' is only a small area that kinda makes the top of his hide-away space. Its maybe 8 inches wide, just big enough really for him to go up and eat some food.

 

[Tupeny]

Hi, I bought some from here, although there doesn't seem to be a picture there right now:

http://www.cavycouture.co.uk/ourshop/cat_200113-Tunnels.html

They are feece inside and cotton outside. All my pigs fit through them but if you discuss the size of your pig with the person who makes them perhaps she could make a bigger one if needed.

I also made one once, you just make a rectangle with fleece, wadding and cotton, then join it together to make a tunnel. I think there are instructions somewhere on the internet, maybe someone else will know where?

 

[PopcornPigs]

What type of cage have you bought? If it's a Ferplast rabbit 100 or similar, then the ramp for the top of the house is very steep, only one of my piggies has ventured up there so I've moved their food down.

 

[Tupeny]

What type of cage have you bought? If it's a Ferplast rabbit 100 or similar, then the ramp for the top of the house is very steep, only one of my piggies has ventured up there so I've moved their food down.

I've used one of these, with the ramp bottom wedged on top of one of these:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/accessories/cabins/36377

The guineas jumped onto the house then up the ramp which wasn't so steep any more. A tunnel would also help but I used it with young pigs and they tend to be more open to new ideas when they're little!

 

[TaintedTamer]

To Tupeny -
Awesome, thank you! <3 I'll probably buy one of those next payday, that site is pretty handy. ^^


To PopcornPigs -
This is the cage I bought - http://www.petco.com/product/106169/PETCO-Guinea-Pig-Starter-Kit.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch - it has enough space for him to get up there, but not really do anything. And a cage any bigger than that would have to go on the floor in my room. >>

 

[PopcornPigs]

You can get stands for some cages if that's any help