I have three male gunea pigs, one is fixed. When ever I bring them food they get really happy, but when I try to pet them/play with them, or get to close to them, they run to the otherside of the cage. I don't know if this changes anything, but, they have a huge cage that is about 3 1/2 to 4 ft long and about 5 wide (it's in my basement) and they love it. I also had to seperate one of the males because he would hurt another one of my gunea pigs, so the one that is atacking the others i sperated into about a third of the cage (their is a wall inbetween) I have also had them for almost a year now, they are still afraid of me. And it is just not me, it is everyone in my family too!
Does anyone have any ideas to help them trust me, or anything I am doing wrong that I should fix???? I really want to be able to pet them without watching them run away.
2006-12-11 00:57:40 · 4 answers · asked by One moment please... 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
This is completely normal behavior. Guinea pigs are prey animals. Their only natural defense is to run from anything that has the potential of being dangerous.
Guinea pigs also have relatively poor eyesight. So when you walk into the room, they don't see "their loving owner", they see a fuzzy giant that could potentially eat them, and their instinct tells them to head for cover.
Try not to take it personally. Some guinea pigs do overcome this with patience and lots of treats, but many don't. It's nothing against you, it's just an instinct that's so deeply ingrained that they have trouble fighting it. :)
2006-12-11 01:04:10 · answer #1 · answered by Lotus Effect 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's perfectly natural behaviour. Even the cuddliest lap guinea pig can have the reflex to run from your hand.
You can try talking to them while approaching the cage. Don't quickly put your hand down above them, but slowly put your hand into the cage, in full view of the pigs. Let them smell your hand first before petting or picking up. You can always try bribing them with a yummy vegetable treat as well.
One of my pigs always runs. I've had him for over a year and a half, & only now will he let me pet him in the cage(sometimes).
2006-12-11 04:12:29 · answer #2 · answered by citronsoul 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guinea pigs are always skittish like that. It's nothing you did. They are just prey animals so they assume that anything bigger than they are wants to eat them so they run for cover.
My husband used to have a super sweet guinea pig that would cuddle and everything, loved to be held, but picking him up out of the cage... even after growing up with constant handling.... was still a game of chase.
2006-12-11 01:08:53 · answer #3 · answered by mutherwulf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your sister and do distinctive learn! I have been given a rat no longer doing the learn and had to make changes as time went on! they are small rodents, so should not be too plenty artwork! desire that helped!
2016-12-30 06:21:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋