Jul 22
Thanks everyone for the guinea pig advice… I need all the help I can get! 
Coco seems to like the new bedding and alfalfa that I bought for her this afternoon. I’ve yet to determine if she likes her Kritter Krawler or not. When I place her inside, she justs sits down rather than running around.
I’ve had Coco for about a month, shouldn’t she be warming up to me by now or does it take more time? When I try to pick her up, she’s runs away squealing, avoiding my hand. When I place her in my lap, she tries her best to get out. She doesn’t like to be petted… she just enjoys running around and hiding from me 
Is this normal? More advice would be greatly appreciated.
Tonight, I rented The Last Don. I’ve seen part two, but never part one. I’m going to watch it later. I’m obsessed with the mafia!
For those who love NINJA like Leila, Lisa, and moi, check out Enter the Ninja for all your ninja needs! 
Christine emailed me an *adorable* octopus gift… I love it! 
Also, Tarah has a new beautiful green layout.
Gonna go watch my movie now! Thanks for the comments: Anneke, Brigitte, cat, Christine, Dionne, Jem, jessi, leila, Lisa, Mandi, Michelle, Mike, Rach, Sam, Tarah, tuan.
Tarah
Hm…maybe she’s just scared still, I mean, she is so tiny and you’re so huge to her. I say give her some more time.
She’ll work it all out I’m sure. 
Thu Jul 22nd, 2004 10:33 pm
tuan
i owned a rat once, it was totallly ok with me handling it, but i bought another one a few years later and it was shit scared of me. eventually she’ll get used to it i think..
Thu Jul 22nd, 2004 10:43 pm
Cait
I have eight guinea pigs.. and have had them for a year or two. For one, don’t put the guinea pig in that ball. I don’t know why they advertise them as being good for guinea pigs, but they aren’t. We did the same thing when we first got ours. Guinea pigs’ backs don’t bend backwards around like hamsters and rats to run in them, so if they were to get rolling in them they could break their backs. Balls are dangerous for guinea pigs.
And about her not being eager to be handled.. that just takes time. If you spend time with her every day she’ll get used to it and like it. Guinea pigs just get really skittery when they aren’t handled.
P.S. - I love you website and have been visiting it for a few months off and on. When I saw the blurb about guinea pigs I figured it was time for me to make my first comment and try to help you out a bit.
Thu Jul 22nd, 2004 10:56 pm
Bubs
Thanks for the advice! Yeah, I’m gonna take that ball back tomorrow… she has no interest in it
Fri Jul 23rd, 2004 12:39 am
Jenny
My nextdoor neighbour had 2 guinea pigs… or was it one? Anyway it was sooo cute, i’d make a diamond with my legs and it ran about inside that space… ahhh childhood memories
Fri Jul 23rd, 2004 3:36 am
Sam
Our guinea pig used to have a ball, but she always got scared of it and peed in it. Then it would leak through the cracks x.x Fun fun!
If you keep holding her, she’ll get used to you. They always run away when you try to pick them up; at least, mine always did. But after awhile, she’ll get used to and maybe even like being held
Fri Jul 23rd, 2004 7:11 am
Christine
Well…I guess it’s just good for hamsters.
Fri Jul 23rd, 2004 2:08 pm
Mandi
Hmm.. I’ve never had a pet, so I don’t know if Coco is normal or not =/ But maybe she’s just having some mood swings or something, lol
Have fun watching your movie
Fri Jul 23rd, 2004 8:17 pm
Kara
Aw your pets are so cute! I always wanted a guinea pig but never ended up getting one…*shrugs* Oh well I have a dog now and two gold fish so they keep me occupied!
Sat Jul 24th, 2004 1:10 am
Chette
I hope you like the gift I give you.. it does fit with the color hehe
Sat Jul 24th, 2004 4:59 am
Dionne
Ninja power! Thanks for the the ninja-licous link!
Sat Jul 24th, 2004 9:13 am
leila
cool! thanks for the link!
ninja’s!
Sat Jul 24th, 2004 2:41 pm
natasja
Hi Bubs, i don’t know much about guinea pigs, but i used to have a bunny. I learned that when you pick her up you have to give her a favourite snack, this way she will associate being picked up with something nice. Although my bunny didn’t like being picked up or being on my lap either, she liked to get stroked when she was sitting on the ground. I also brushed her, but i really don’t know if Coco would like that.
Sun Jul 25th, 2004 4:31 am
Mike
kewl
and i has to sort him out 
your little Coco looks so kawaii
a gotta go now cos my little bros being annoying and selfish
Sun Jul 25th, 2004 2:19 pm
Michelle
Wowzers, I’ve never had a guinea pig, just hamsters.. they always peed on my dad when he tried to hold them, because his hands always smelled of newspaper.
I wanted to let you know you’re in my favorites and I’ll be linking you soon.
Mon Jul 26th, 2004 10:51 am
Charlemange
I have one of those balls for my chinchillas. I never used it. What a waste of $. Keep petting your piggy and having her get used to your scent. Small animals take longer sometimes to warm up to their new owners, but it’s worth it!
Make sure she has plenty of vitamin C in her diet and that her feet are never on wire flooring.
Mon Jul 26th, 2004 5:09 pm
charlene
So cute! I had one of those balls when I had hamsters, it was hilarious to see two balls running everywhere around the house
Mon Jul 26th, 2004 9:38 pm
Karla
I have had my guinea pig for 5 years, and he still is not too keen on being handled. They are very skittish animals for the most part. When I bought my guinea pig a Kritter Krawler, he got very scared and peed in it. He also bumped his nose on the sides leaving a scar.
Even my 2 pet rats hate their Kritter Krawlers, I had to return them ASAP.
Good luck with Coco!
Tue Jul 27th, 2004 7:22 am
Anneke
I’ve never had a guinea pig so I really don’t know what to say
But anyway, those kitty krawlers look too confining…
I’m gonna get a Freedom Pass too as I’m getting jealous of your movie marathons
Enjoy your week! xoxo
Tue Jul 27th, 2004 11:59 am
Milissa
I love your site, its really cute! I hope you have better luck with your guinea pig problems, she looks adorable though.
Tue Jul 27th, 2004 12:05 pm
Erin
Thanks hun! Coco is so adorable. I hope she likes her ‘crawler’ because I know that my hampsters used to. They would take off and cause fire to shoot from the friction. But then again, I think the hampsters were a bit demented themselves. Poor little dears. Poor little Coco! Maybe its because you are, what, 20 times her size? No kidding, I’d be afraid if I was that tiny too. I recommend laying on the floor on your stomache with your arms in a circle around her, petting softly or even just lying there. After awhile maybe she’ll calm down a bit. Maybe.
You’re smilies are adorable Bubs!
Tue Jul 27th, 2004 6:47 pm
isi
don’t put the guinea pig in that plastic ball
just let it run around like it is. and it’s normal if it’s afraid of you in the beginning. also guinea pigs really need company, buy him a friedd if you want it to be happy! 
Wed Jul 28th, 2004 9:22 am
Rain
Cute pig.
Maybe she’s lonely? A friend of mine has got four of ‘em, and they only seem to be happy when they’re together. Hope she warms up to you soon. 
Wed Jul 28th, 2004 12:24 pm
brigitte
When I had a GP back in the 80s ^_^ it was really skittish and didn’t want to be picked up ever. I think it was just a confidence thing, because as soon as I just decided to pick it up and damn the consequences, it was okay with it. I think GP’s are the kind of animal that just wants to know who’s boss, if you’re scared it’s scared, that kind of thing. Let me know if that helps and good luck with everything animal!
Wed Jul 28th, 2004 1:18 pm
Melissa
She just needs to be tamed. Sort of the same way chinchillas do when you first get them. What you do is spend about a half an hour a day with her. Open her cage door and start by setting your hand inside it, this gets her used to your smell. Don’t try to forcefully pick her up when she doesn’t want to it’ll only make her frightened of you. Try feeding her treats from your hands through the bars of her cage then work your way up to her taking it out of your hands. After awhile she’ll get used to you and wont run for the hills when your hand goes near the cage
Wed Jul 28th, 2004 9:25 pm
erin
i have one very similar and despite constant petting and handling for a few months she still doesn’t like to be petted. apparently theyre just very skittish by nature and many always remain that way.
Mon Aug 2nd, 2004 8:45 am
LeDarren
Hey i’m getting guinea pigs today and i’ve been researching them. They don’t like k. krawlers. It’s hard for them to roll in and they could break their legs as well as backs from them.
P.S. i HAVE A HAMSTER right now and it took her two months to get used to me. It just takes time. Try feeding coco a treat while you try to pick her up. If you don’t have treats use lettuce. Works just the same.
Sat Sep 11th, 2004 8:44 am
Samantha
wow..this sucks..I just got one of those balls for my guinea pig today
Sat Feb 5th, 2005 5:17 pm
Samantha
Its pretty wierd..hes just a baby (2 months old) and he respnds to the sound of my voice, he’ll eat out of my hand no problem, he’ll let me pet him, but he kinda freaks out when i go to pick him up..but once hes out of his cage hes pretty good. I’ve only had him for a little longer than a week.
Sat Feb 5th, 2005 5:21 pm