Hello,
We have two young male guinea pigs purchased from a pet store 12 hours ago, one short-haired and one long-haired. They were not paired at the store, are from separate litters, and are for the time being living in separate cages. The long-haired is eating well (hay, pellets, vegetables) and drinking since there is 1.5 inch gone from the water bottle. He exits the hideaway to explore his cage from time to time. The short-haired just sits in the hideaway, not moving, no noticeable consumption of feed (hay, pellets, fresh vegetables) or water. When removed from the hideaway after 10 hours, the short-haired guinea pig just sat motionless in a corner of the cage near its water bottle. Eventually, after 20 minutes or so, it scurried back into the hideaway without touching food or water.
Is this just an adjustment period, where the short-haired is taking longer to adapt to new living conditions than the long-haired, or does the short-haired require something else? The short-haired was paired with his brother from the same litter at the pet store, and is on his own now for the first time. The plan is to introduce these two males in a few weeks once they are accustomed to the new surroundings.
How long can the short-haired go without consuming food or water before we should be concerned?
Thanks!
We have two young male guinea pigs purchased from a pet store 12 hours ago, one short-haired and one long-haired. They were not paired at the store, are from separate litters, and are for the time being living in separate cages. The long-haired is eating well (hay, pellets, vegetables) and drinking since there is 1.5 inch gone from the water bottle. He exits the hideaway to explore his cage from time to time. The short-haired just sits in the hideaway, not moving, no noticeable consumption of feed (hay, pellets, fresh vegetables) or water. When removed from the hideaway after 10 hours, the short-haired guinea pig just sat motionless in a corner of the cage near its water bottle. Eventually, after 20 minutes or so, it scurried back into the hideaway without touching food or water.
Is this just an adjustment period, where the short-haired is taking longer to adapt to new living conditions than the long-haired, or does the short-haired require something else? The short-haired was paired with his brother from the same litter at the pet store, and is on his own now for the first time. The plan is to introduce these two males in a few weeks once they are accustomed to the new surroundings.
How long can the short-haired go without consuming food or water before we should be concerned?
Thanks!
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