My geanuia pig will not eat her pellets

[sammychase1991]

Hi! My wife and I just got our geanuia pig about 3 weeks ago and she does not like the pellets in her food. There other stuff in it too but she picks all the food stuff out. We bought her at 5 months old petco said. Also I'm kind of wondering when we go to bed and turn the lights out, she does her popcorn thing. And she nibbles on my finger but not my wife's.
And when we go to put her back in her cage we get to the bedroom she starts her loud chirping/talking and my wife caves and sits back down with her

[Bean]

Hi and a warm welcome to Wheekers!

Your post reminded me of a time about 20 years ago when we already had six guinea pigs in our living room and had adopted a new one which we kept in our bedroom for a quarantine period. She was really shy and nervous, but as soon as we turned out the lights for bed, she'd be running zoomies around her cage, popcorning and chuntering away! We'd turn the lights on to see and she'd just freeze, as if 'That wasn't me, nothing to see here!' waiting until we turned the light back out to resume! I think when they're settling in, which can take time, the dark and quiet can be relaxing for them - nothing to hear or see that they need to learn is safe. It sounds like you're doing a great job helping her get used to you, and as long as she has a nice safe hidey in her cage, I'm sure you will win her round!

It's recommended to feed your guinea pig a plain pellet rather than one of the mixes. They contain all sorts of crud that guinea pigs don't need, and as you've found, they can lead to selective feeding which means they might not be getting what they need.

It definitely seems to be the case that some fingers are tastier than others! Sometimes it can be because you prepared their veg and smell of food, sometimes I think they like the slight salty taste skin can have. Other times, I have no idea - one of our current gang licks my daughters hands to death even if she's just washed them, but has no interest in mine!

[3piggles]

Hello and welcome to Wheekers She could be lonely. Piggies are very social animals, and if they don't have other pigs to socialize with, they turn to us. They prefer other pigs, though. Have you considered getting her a female friend?

Is the cage in the bedroom, out outside the bedroom? If it's in the bedroom, it's probably a good idea to move it out into the living area. If it's already in the main living area, it might help to cover the cage at night, before you go to bed, to create a routine that says people time is over until morning. We give the girls a special treat we save for bedtime, then cover the cage and turn out the lights. Even if we don't go to bed right away, they girls know it's bedtime. They're still active, but not expecting anything more from us. In the summer time, I use Thule, which lets the a/c air through, and they can see us. They still know it's bedtime.

I hope you can find her a friend, and get her used to you two having a bedtime. You're wife needs to let her chirp and sing. That's part of their communication. They learn very quickly, and if she learns that chirping and singing brings your wife back out to keep her from being alone, she'll play on that to keep your wife from leaving.

Enjoy your precious little girl

[sammychase1991]

Well the pellets that we have, it had dried fruit and other stuff in it too. But last night she ate the pellets for like what seemed
An hour but I had prepared her veggies and fruit for her like an hour before.

And yes I don't know why she nibbles my fingers but not my wife's.

[sammychase1991]

Well we already have 2 mice and we have to have her in our room due to limited space out in the loving room and we have to have 2 separate cages for the mice because we didn't get them at the same time so....the older one tries to attack the younger one so we have 3 cages and no space for any more animals right now. I mean we do let her chirp and talk but I just do t understand why it's mainly at bed time she gets all hyped up

[3piggles]

You should establish a bedtime routine, and your wife has to stick to it That way you piggy knows it's time to do her own things, and not expect you two to pay attention to her. She'll get used to it, but as long as she's in your room, she will probably interrupt your sleep. Some white noise might help. A fan or a white noise machine, will make a constant, low-level noise that tends to cancel out a lot of the other noises in the room.

[sammychase1991]

She doesn't so much wake us up but when we are settling down to sleep and turn the lights off then she is hyper.

[Bean]

It could just be that she feels more relaxed when there's not so much stimulation - as prey animals they're often looking out for danger, especially if they're in new situations that they haven't yet become used to.

Another thing I noticed was how noisy water bottles are when you're trying to sleep!

[3piggles]

I was thinking about the water bottle, lol Definitely secure it to the cage, so she can't pull on the nozzle and let it go. They love the thwacking sound it makes. Not great for sleeping, though

Covering her cage may make her feel more secure, as well as being less aware of every little move you two make.

[anawilliam]

Hi! It might help to cover the cage at night, before you go to bed, to create a routine that says people's time is over until morning.

And, maybe she could be lonely. Piggies are very social animals, they prefer other pigs, though.