How to get a timid guinea pig active?

Question

Henry   Hello there!
I have a few questions about how to get my guinea pig a little more active when i allow him out of cage play.
My guinea pig is about 4-5 years old,male, hand broken, and he lives alone since i can't will my mom to get me another one at the moment.

I have a big cage for my pig, but he doesn't like to run around like I've seen other pigs do.I also recently bought one of those playpens for large rodents, but all he'll do is sit in the little shelter he has. He's also timid, he runs from me when i walk past his cage or attempt to pick him up. I have no idea why he's scared of me, i never abused him or any of my animals.
Once i eventually get him out of the cage,and put him in my lap, he'll just stand there. He won't go explore or anything ( he did this even when i had another guinea pig with him. The poor baby only lasted 7 days before dieing of illness. ))

I'd like some ideas on home to get him comfortable being me and so he'll run around and enjoy his piggie self.
Is there anything i can do besides giving him another guinea pig or offering treats? because that has never really worked, he's still scared of me.
Thank You!
-Paige

Answer
Well guinea pigs are by nature very timid, and one of their instinctive responses when they see a predator or something that might be is to freeze. personally I think this is one of many daft instincts they have as if you stay still doesn't that make it easier for the predator to catch you?

the trick is the get him to realise that you are not a predator that you will not put him in harms  way, with him being on his own it will make a difference, guinea pigs tend to be more confident when there is a group of them.
the best trick to have is, if it is not already, have his cage moved to an area where people are alot, preferrably a bedroom or living room , the more hours you spend doing things near him then the more used he will get to you. another thing is petting him, the more time he spends being stroked and having the backs of his ears scratched then the more he will start to trust you.

from then this is just a case of rinse and repeat.

another thing to bear in mind is if he is five then he is already fairly old and unlikely to move around as much as the young ones you see in the shops.

best of luck