Cuddl-e-Cup

[FranktheTank]

I just bought my cuddle cup to day and my guinea pig hasn't even gone anywhere near it is this because he is not used to it? He also likes to hide behind it.

[pigsforlife]

Don't worry, that is normal until he figures out how to use it. When I first gave the girls their cuddle cup they did not know how to use it either, I enticed them with hay and their favourite vegetable.

[socal805]

Frank, before you know it he will be in it so much that you will be complaining of all the piggy poops in his cuddle cup!

[Wheek Weak]

Our two boars, Rufus and Petey, didn't know anything about cuddle cups either. They would turn them upside-down and use them for pillows.

The girls took to them immediately. They would crawl right in, curl up, and go sound to sleep.

Your little guy (like our boys) may find a use for it other than what it's intended for!

[FranktheTank]

Thank you and also I am yet to find a veggie he will eat. I've tried almost everything you should feed them daily that is on the nutrition chart.

[Wheek Weak]

How long have you had your piggie? Is he a baby?

Keep offering a variety of veggies. Sometimes it takes a while for piggies to try new foods. Especially if they have never had fresh veggies and fruits. They don't have the physical ability to vomit, so they are cautious about trying something new until they're sure that it won't make them sick.

Just make sure that he's getting enough vitamin C daily. Just a quarter of a green bell pepper everyday would provide about 40 mg. (they need about 25 mg per day). Check your list and look for the foods highest in vitamin C. Try to encourage him to eat those, while still holding down on sugar, calcium, and oxalates.

Patience and persistance is the key. Our Ruby didn't start eating green pepper or corn silk for a year-and-a-half. Now she loves them.

[FranktheTank]

Thanks my piggie is 8 weeks and I'll keep trying. How often should i try to introduce a new veggie.

[socal805]

Have you tried romain or other types of lettuce? (not iceberg) My little pig who I got when she was about 5 weeks old would only eat lettuce for the longest time, it takes them a while to try new things sometimes. Have you tried giving him one baby carrot? Pigs of all ages love carrots, just give him one though, pigs can't have more than 1 or 2 baby carrots per day,( or every other day) but ohhh how they love them!

[Wheek Weak]

Wow, he's just a little guy...I bet he's a cutie-pie!

I'm afraid I won't be much help. Just from experience, some of our herd will still not eat certain things, while the others beg for them. Some have learned to eat some things by watching their cagemate eat them. Still others (like our girls) won't even consider eating some things (like tomatoes).

With us, it's just been a matter of trial and error. We still offer the rejected foods once a week (or more).

I know it may sound silly, but I've read about a lot of people having success by pretending to eat veggies (munching, chomping loudly) near the cage, or while holding the piggy. You may try that approach.

Hopefully, someone with more experience on the matter will come along and give you more suggestions and be a little more helpful to you.

[FranktheTank]

I'll get some romaine and also try some carrots. Thanks.

[Wheek Weak]

Frank-
Have you tried green bell pepper? Just a quarter of one a day provides all the vitamin C they need. Most piggies love them. If they won't eat the green, try yellow, orange, or red (feed less red because it's higher in sugar).

Red leaf lettuce, endive, and escarole are usually well accepted also. Romaine is usually a hit with piggies. All of ours demand it!

Try to keep the carrots down to one (or the equivalent of) one baby carrot per day.

Good luck, and keep us posted on his progress, ok?

[MissCin]

:P They'll figure it sooner or later. At first my girls tried to go under it but now they fight over it.