Help! New guinea pigs are terrified of us!

Question
We just got two 7 week old male guinea pigs from a pet store yesterday.  They are the satin breed.  They are terrified of us (me, my husband, my 3 yr old and 1.5 yr old).  They freak out if we even go near the cage.  If we (my husband or I) try to pick them up they run away from us.  This morning they have started jumping/twitching all over the cage when we go near them.  What is wrong and what can we do to make it better?  This is really upsetting because I feel like I am doing something wrong because I've heard they are supposedly so social and like to be cuddled.  Thanks for any information.

Answer
Hi Shawna,
its perfectly normal for them to be a bit nervous at first. After all, they haven't had time to get to know you and your family. Just spending alot of time around the cage will get them used to you. Sit for a while near them and read, or do something else. They will get acustomed to you being there. Feed them tasty foods, like cucumber, out of your hand. It may take a while for them to come up and inspect it, but if you just stay there with your hand in the cage and a treat in it most likely they'll let their increadable greed overrule their fear! Be gentle and don't make sudden movements or things like that at first. Eventually they'll get used to normal life, but the first week or so its good to try to be a little calm around them. What they need is time to adjust, and lots of patient interaction where they are allowed to come to you at their own speed. Don't force them- it'll scare them. After a few days you can start being more persistent, and pick them up and cuddle them, stuff like that. Moving from what they've always known is very stressful and it'll take some time before they get over that.

Guinea pigs ARE very social and cuddly, and make fantastic pets.

hope this helps,
Nea