What a Wuss!

Noli's favorite spot

I had hoped that Cannoli would quickly adjust to a new home, since she has the laid-back Pinniped as a mentor.  She seemed such an outgoing spark when we adopted her.  Turns out her spunky attitude is solely for other guinea pigs.  When it comes to the humans, she's still overwhelmed.

Cannoli is a great little wheeker.  She has no problem drawing our attention when we come home in the evening or rattle a plastic bag.  But as soon as we arrive with food in hand, she hides under the hammock in the back of the cage.  Veggies are nice, but not worth exposing oneself to get them.  After nearly two months of working with her, I can entice her to stretch her nose out from under the hammock, but generally the rest of her remains safely in the shadows.  To add insult to injury, Cannoli is a slow eater.  It means that Pinni polishes off her own share then goes and helps herself to the rest of Cannoli's piece.

Yesterday Noli was the bravest yet:  she came all the way over to see what Pinni was noisily munching, but decided that stealing the corn husk from Pinni was less risky than grabbing the piece from me that I had pushed through the grids.  As Pinni happily munched more husk, Cannoli stayed at a safe distance and ate pellets instead (and I caught her pulling the bowl).

(not a good video - it's been hard to capture Noli's wussiness!)

Ah, yes, the mysterious moving bowl.

The food bowl moves around the cage

Several weeks ago I noticed that the pellet bowl was migrating across the cage instead of sticking to its spot up front.  I swapped it out for a heavier ceramic bowl, but it continued to wander.  It had to be Cannoli's doing, but I couldn't figure why.  Such a heavy bowl for such a little pig - was the pellet bowl being fought over?  Was someone trying to hog it all?  Then it hit me:  Noli was moving it closer to the back corner of the cage, so she wouldn't have to eat pellets out in the open.  Makes sense, since most of the pellets tend to be consumed overnight, after I cover the cage.  Noli gets all excited at night when I pull out the fleece; I can hear her running around before I've even finished tucking the edges.

I've had my share of wussy pigs.  Athena was funniest - she was clearly the alpha pig in the cage, but she'd shriek like a car alarm if she was picked up.  Bertie was extremely skittish when I first brought her home, but even she was a brave soul when it came to food.  Cannoli's attitude beats them both. 

I know from past experience that it takes time for a guinea pig to settle into a new home.  I answer the "why does my guinea pig hate me" question all the time, and tell the poster to just be patient.  But I can see why someone faced with a scaredy-pig like Cannoli can get discouraged.  I find myself needing to take my own advice:  be patient.  Feed her.  Love her.  Give it time.  She'll eventually come around.

Hurry up, ya big wuss!