Is it normal for my guinea pig to *still* be so nervous

[Blossomhill]

We have had him since beginning of September and he is around 6 months old.
He is just so so nervous and timid.
A nightmare to even get out of the cage. When we let him run around in the conservatory he is so hard to catch.
He just seems really nervous and it worries me.

[notreallyhereDee]

mine are bervous but older. i got them when they were 'mature' so dont think they will ever be that tame and friendly. mine run away from me its a shame as they are so lovely and squeaky.

[WelshBoris]

Maybe he read that "hamster casserole" thread?

[LadyTophamHatt]

we've had ours nearly 2 yrs and they're still a bugger to catch.

I'd never let them run free in the garden...I'd NEVER be able to catch them.

[Blossomhill]

LTH ~ in the garden he is in his run. Too cold for him now so he has the run of the conservatory. I just have to clean up the millions of poos and wees he leaves behind him (typical male )
misdee ~ I love the squeaking. Mine always does it when I take his bowls out at dinner time, he knows!

[Spicedfennelwine]

one of the young guinea pigs I know is like this, very jumpy, she's maybe about that old or a bit younger. I think it's normal for rodents, some are just nervy.

[EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute]

wasn't there all that fuss a while ago with the rspca saying guinea pigs were shy and highly strung and quite likely to die of fright if picked up by a human and really shouldn't be kept as pets...? i'm not having a go - I have no room to speak as i used to creep up and shout 'boo' at a friends guinea pigs just to see them jump (v good value when you're a child - well, a certain kind of child. nb no guinea pigs died). on the bright side, at least we don't eat them like they do in peru. they pin their little legs to a board to carve them. in cuzco cathedral there is a fresco of the last supper with jesus and disciples tucking into guinea pig. tell him that before bed tonight and he might improve his attitude.

[Blossomhill]

I didn't see that no.

Why did I pick gp? Are rabbits any better?

[Blossomgoodwill]

bump before I depart for bed

[EnormousChangesAtTheLastMinute]

sorry, can't find the story i was thinking of any where - maybe i dreamt it - but here is a site with too much guinea pig information it says they're highly strung but make good pets and respond well to human caregivers. so i guess just keep handling calmly and feeding... good luck!

[tamum]

I wonder if he's more nervous because of not having a companion? Sorry, that's not meant to be a criticism, but they are generally happier in pairs. One of ours was quite nervous to start with but was OK by the time he was 3 months or so and they're both really tame and cuddly now.

[Blossomgoodwill]

thanks enormous changes

Tamum ~ we have been waiting for ages for a pal for him from the local rescue centre. Thing is we don't want him to "have the snip" as it would involve a ga and I think he is too little for one. So he can only be paired with another boy under 5 weeks!
The RC have been in constant contact but haven't managed to get a boy of that age yet! The RC buddy them up and Pickle would go and stay for 48 hrs there to test for compatibililty (bless!)

[tamum]

Oh sweet Maybe that will help then, and he'll settle down once he has a wee playmate!

[Blossomgoodwill]

Fingers crossed xxx