Guinea pigs

[Earlybird00]

We have had 2 girls for 2 /3 weeks now and generally going well. My daughter said one of them bit her today twice. I am wondering whether it could have been a nibble - hoping. Have been reading around different suggestions as to why. They are only handled twice per day for 15mins.

They are loving the card board boxes but I was wondering can you use any box even if it has a picture on it? What about amazon boxes with tape?

[maxelly]

Aww lovely, I wouldn't worry too much about the biting, guineas are probably the least bitey of all the small furries but if they are (accidentally) handled a bit roughly or taken by surprise they can give a little defensive nip - many are scardy cats about being handled (they're prey animals after all) and yours haven't had much time to get used to you yet. They can also mistake fingers for food under the right circumstances and will give an enthusiastic chomp on the tasty carrot coming towards their mouth I'd keep encouraging your DD to handle them plenty (gently, under supervision) using good technique (no squeezing their middles, allow them to move around, don't hold them rigid, flat palm to gently stroke the back of their head or back, keep fingers away from their mouths!)

Re the cardboard, yes I think printed/coloured cardboard is OK, ours have often had it anyway and never seemingly suffered any ill effects despite chomping their way through at least one whole box a month, someone will probably be along to say the ink is poisonous now . I would avoid tape though, they will likely try and eat it and I wouldn't have thought that can be good for their insides (although mine lurve to eat plastic when our backs are turned, particularly the kind of flexible plastic that comes on remote control buttons, headphones, power leads, anything expensive or inconvenient to replace and again seemingly haven't died of it yet- not to be recommended as part of their regular diet though!)

[boredinthouse]

Are they babies OP? My guineas bit me two or three times after we first got them when they were babies. They are a year old now and haven't bitten anyone for months.

I think most cardboard is ok (I hope so anyway!) as long as it doesn't have tape on it or anything like that.

[Earlybird00]

Thank you for your responses that's reassuring. We were very gentle keeping them on their mats today and no more nibbles. Who would know cardboxes are so much fun!

[LavishLavender]

Guinea pigs bites are generally uncommon and if they do it is often a little nibble. :) They may sometimes nibble if they wish to toilet back in their cage or if they smelt something on your hands they think may be tasty! Usually, it is a quick touch of their teeth and is more so out of curiosity rather than from a place of anger etc. (generally younger piggies do this as they interact with you and their new surroundings). I like this article for bonding ideas as they get used to their new home: kaveecage.net/blogs/kavee-c-and-c-cage-fleece-liner-guinea-pig/20-best-ways-to-bond-with-your-guinea-pigs

Cardboard boxes are great, and a fun "toy" for piggies :) (ours love them!). Just make sure there are no staples or tape.