My new guinea pig is in good health, but lethargic can you give me some ideas?

Answer 1

is it a male. cos all my male would do is sleep, eat its food, go to the loo, sit it the garden, lay in bed. he was very lazy.

but as its new just give it time to setle in and some food treats

Answer 2

It depends on his environment. Does he have anything to do, or a friend to play with? Guinea pigs are much more active in groups (as they are herd animals), and they definitely can use stimulation. And, if you don't have a hidey house for him to retreat to, he will never calm down enough to do anything, as, in the wild, he would be a purely prey animal, only knowing how to run away and hide in response to any sort of unknown stimulus (such as living in a new house).

Try getting a tiny fake animal (like the kind cats get that you fill with catnip...don't use the catnip, of course!), and keep an eye on it for damage if there are beans/stuffing inside that the guinea pig might try to eat. You'll sometimes see them dragging it around like a small child. The little balls with bells in them are occassionally fun for them, but you have to watch out of the plastic bits, as those teeth will crack through them over time.

No matter what, he'll need time to adjust, but he'll get there.

Whatever you do, avoid getting an exercise wheel/ball to "get him going." Unlike (for example) mice, their backs aren't made to bend in the way that the wheel needs, meaning that it's a quick way to cause lasting problems, and those thin little legs break all too easily should a foot fall through the bars.

Answer 3

Most likely, your new friend is scared. Give him/her a chance to adjust to its new home. Handle it gently and calmly, feed it lots of leafy green veggies and unlimited hay, and make sure it has a hidey house. Also, no cedar bedding please!

If you have any problems, please e-mail me.