guinea pig pair

Question
Hi Jenny,

I just got 2 baby guinea pigs last week. I'm not sure of their age, I have tried googling it, but I haven't found anything- but is there a way, depending on how many inches long they are, to tell how old they are? They are both females and from the same litter. How do I know if they are bonded? Sometimes they go in their igloo together, and sometimes one stays out...I'm not sure if that helps. But are there any signs I should look for to tell? I am trying to not bother them too much so I don't scare them, but how soon can I start holding them for more than 2 minutes and not have them freak out? I've tried holding each of them for about 10 minutes and pet and talk to them- when will they start getting more relaxed? I've offered them food- they won't take it from me yet. Any advice would be super! Thanks!

Answer
Hi Ali,

If they are from the same litter they will have bonded in the first few days of their life. So don't worry, they'll be good friends. They won't do everything together though! Being bonded basically means they won't fightwith each other, and will take care of each other.

If you tell me how big they are, I can guess at their ages for you. However, their weight in ounces will be much more helpful than their length in inches.

Have a look through my past answers for "new owner"; there's detailed tips on how to slowly introduce yourself to your guinea pigs. They are nervous animals by nature, so getting them to trust you takes time, but they can become very sociable and loving pets.

Jenny.