I agree with Debora Ivanov’s answer that nibbling is likely an expression of anxiety in guinea pigs. In my experience, when my guinea pigs would occasionally nibble me, it was a gentle bite that indicated their unhappiness with something, but not an intent to harm me.

One incident where a guinea pig bit me more forcefully was when I mistakenly put her on her back to trim her nails. Guinea pigs have a curved back, and being placed in that position can cause discomfort and trigger their predator instincts. It is a scary experience for them.

However, I also had a guinea pig who nibbled me gently when I took her outside to eat grass. She was nervous about the large birds flying overhead, and she sought comfort by crawling inside the neck of my nightgown and giving me a gentle bite to convey her uneasiness. It was not anger or panic, unlike the first incident.

In my interpretation of your guinea pig’s nibbling behavior, she is likely nervous and asking you not to pick her up. Nevertheless, it is important to continue handling her so that she can become accustomed to it. Regular handling is necessary when cleaning the cage or checking her health, such as monitoring her weight, checking for injuries, detecting fever, and during veterinary visits.

There may come a time when she needs a gentle, warm bath in shallow, body temperature water if her coat becomes greasy or if she experiences constipation. Bathing can be an interesting and relaxing experience for them.

I have observed that guinea pigs have mixed feelings about being picked up. They may initially resist out of fear, but they can also learn to enjoy being held. If they are not picked up, they may feel sad. It may seem challenging to please them, but it is possible.

The key is to continue picking her up with care, supporting her backside with one hand and placing the other hand behind her front legs. Immediately place her against your body, with one hand supporting her backside and the other on her back for added security.

She might grasp onto your clothing to feel safer, but she cannot support herself that way for long, so it’s crucial not to remove your hands while holding her.

Talking to her in a gentle manner and making the experience interesting by allowing her to eat a special treat while on your lap, listening to soothing music or watching a calm TV program, or engaging in a pleasant conversation with a friend can help alleviate boredom and provide new experiences.

Over time, she may begin to anticipate being picked up, even if she never openly admits it. Some guinea pigs may always resist being picked up initially but still enjoy the experience once in your arms. However, avoid holding her for too long as guinea pigs need to urinate approximately every twenty minutes, and holding her for an extended period can cause discomfort and anxiety.

Guinea pigs dislike loud noises and emotional disturbances, but they do enjoy music, particularly gentle, high-pitched sounds like soft chimes. One of my guinea pigs’ favorite music albums was “Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles” by Rockabye Baby.

Lastly, if you have only one guinea pig, I strongly recommend finding her a little baby girl guinea pig as a cage mate. When they are young, they can form close bonds, and they will be much happier than living alone. Guinea pigs are social animals, and loneliness can cause them great distress. In some places, it is even considered animal abuse to keep a guinea pig alone. I raised my first guinea pig alone, unaware of the impact, and she developed neurotic behaviors as she grew older.

Best of luck to you and your guinea pig!