just a few questions..

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I have 2 female guinea pigs, I got them about 1.5 weeks ago. I would like to know if you could guesstimate their ages from their weight. Sophia weighs 13 grams and Priscilla is 11 grams...any idea how old they might be? Also, Sophia is much more outgoing and confident than the other one. She lets me hold her, she eats from my hand, and she doesn't run all over the cage when I go to pick her up, Priscilla won't let me do any of these things. Is it because shes smaller and possibly younger? What can I do to help tame Priscilla without freaking her out or making her nervous. I got them from a petstore and they are a little stinky, I'd really like to give them baths but I'm afraid it will make them even more afraid of me. Should I just let them be dirty until they are more comfortable? Oh and they chase each other all over the cage and sometimes bite each other on the rump, are they playing? or fighting? Thanks so much, sorry for so many questions.

ANSWER: Hi Ashley,

It's very hard to tell how old guinea pigs are just based on weight, as this depends on how large a litter they come from and their breed. However, guinea pigs in pet shops are usually 6-8 weeks old when they arrive, so it depends how long after this you bought yours, but they're probably 6-10 weeks.

Guinea pigs have unique personalities, so often there is a much braver one in a pair. You should give Priscilla a thorough examination to make sure she's not in pain, which could explain her behaviour. If not, it may just take her longer to warm up to you.

The chasing and nibbling is playful, and when they nibble they could actually be grooming. If you notice any wounds on either of them though, make sure you treat them. You may also notice them rumbling around each other too.

Guinea pigs don't like baths, but bathing them shouldn't make them dislike you. I recommend the products from www.gorgeousguineas.com for bath time; these smell much nicer and are much better for guinea pigs' skin than those shampoos available in pet shops. If you need tips on how to bath them, let me know.

Best wishes,
Jenny.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi thank you so much! Yes, tips on bathing would be great. I read somewhere that putting a washcloth on the sink bottom helps them have traction which will keep them less nervous, but thats about all I know. Should the water be warm, or lukewarm? How much soap should I use. I should have said before, Sophia (the outgoing one) is an abyssian and Priscilla is an american (that might not be the right name, she has smooth flat hair and a swirl on her nose). I actually just took them to the vet today who determined they are about 2 months old, when will they be full grown? Thanks again for your help!

Answer
Hi Ashley,

Here you go ....

The best stuff to use to get rid of mites is a remedy from www.gorgeousguineas.com called "Lice and Easy"; it's brilliant! It does a much better job of getting rid of mites than the stuff from pet shops, and will leave your guinea pigs smelling lovely. They also deliver quite quickly, and have an extensive range of shampoos for non-treatment purposes. I use "Just for Boars" as I have male guinea pigs, but they make lots of unisex and girly scented ones too.

Here's the instructions for bathing your piggies in Lice n Easy (this is the same for other shampoos, just ignore any mentions of mites, do your girls one at a time):

Guinea pigs do not like being bathed and it is always a tricky process; you will need someone else to help you.  The best thing to do is to find a large, clean bowl (like the one for washing up) and line it with a flannel. Get someone to hold your piggy in this bowl (like you said, putting a washcloth on the bottom will stop her slipping, but my boys don't stand still long enough for this to help!). Wet her with warm water (test it first) by either pouring it over her gently (not on her face!) or squeezing it over her using another flannel. Rub in the required amount of shampoo being careful not to let your guinea pig lick herself (for this bit, you can take her out of the bowl and get your helper to hold her on a towel on their lap) and then wrap your guinea pig up in a towel (to keep her warm, and stop her licking) for five minutes. Then return her to the bowl and rinse away the shampoo; the mites should fall off too! Dry your guinea pig with a towel, and once she is just damp, you can finish off drying her with a hair dryer if you like (some piggies love this, some hate it). Give her a nice groom and pop her back in her cage (but only once she is clean and dry).

Your girls will be fully grown at around six months of age, though they usually also get considerably larger in old age when they become less active.

Enjoy :o)

Jenny.