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600g Guinea Pig Adult Boar

SusieW

SusieW

Junior Guinea Pig
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Feb 23, 2018
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Location
Nottingham, UK
Hi, I'm new to the forum and have never posted on any sort of forum before so a bit nervous about posting but would really like some viewpoints on the following please!

A couple of days ago I rehomed a one year old boar. He is gorgeous and I love him already and he's getting on great with my three boys. However, I was pretty shocked when I met him because he is tiny! He seems thin to me and is small in general. One of my existing boars is pretty much exactly the same age, but they look like a different species! My boy is 1299g, the new one is only 616g. My others are 2 year olds who weigh 1305g and 1411g. They aren't fat as we had a recent check to the vet and I asked as I always get people commenting on how big they are, but they are strong and muscly and all round big boys.
What's a normal size for an adult boar? Are my boys weirdly big or is the new one too small? Why would he be such a different size? He's spent his life up to now alone in a small shop bought cage, and my boys live in a C+C cage that totals 45sq feet floor space plus 22ft tubes to connect the levels. They are really agile and love to run and jump really high. Would the different environments help explain the size difference of the pigs in terms of muscle mass and stuff? I'm really confused! The new boy is eating lots and seems happy so I don't think he's ill.

Also, I'd really like to know what breed he is. He has long hair around his ears and on his rear end and a crest on his head but the rest of his hair is short. I can't see any guinea pigs who look like him in pictures on the breed page.

Thanks in advance for any ideas! :)
 
Hello and welcome. The average weight for an adult piggy is anywhere between 900g to 1500g although this can vary so yes, I would say that your new boy is very small :(

I would keep an eye on him and see if he starts to gain weight (it is recommended to weigh guinea pigs once weekly) now that he is in a loving environment and on a good diet.

If he doesn't start gaining weight, I'd advise you pop him to the vets for a check up.

Good luck!
 
Thank you so much for your reply! Also, I love the guinea pigs in your picture- they look a lot like two of mine :)
 
Agree with Claire W, keep an eye on how his weight changes now he is with you. Does he feel underweight? Can you feel his ribs a lot? etc. See whether he gradually gains some weight or, if you need to go to the vets at all, then pop him a long for a check up. My adult boars have always been around the 1200g mark though the females have varied more widely with my smallest one maintaining a 800-850g weight for most of her life.
 
SusieW said:
Hi, I'm new to the forum and have never posted on any sort of forum before so a bit nervous about posting but would really like some viewpoints on the following please!

A couple of days ago I rehomed a one year old boar. He is gorgeous and I love him already and he's getting on great with my three boys. However, I was pretty shocked when I met him because he is tiny! He seems thin to me and is small in general. One of my existing boars is pretty much exactly the same age, but they look like a different species! My boy is 1299g, the new one is only 616g. My others are 2 year olds who weigh 1305g and 1411g. They aren't fat as we had a recent check to the vet and I asked as I always get people commenting on how big they are, but they are strong and muscly and all round big boys.
What's a normal size for an adult boar? Are my boys weirdly big or is the new one too small? Why would he be such a different size? He's spent his life up to now alone in a small shop bought cage, and my boys live in a C+C cage that totals 45sq feet floor space plus 22ft tubes to connect the levels. They are really agile and love to run and jump really high. Would the different environments help explain the size difference of the pigs in terms of muscle mass and stuff? I'm really confused! The new boy is eating lots and seems happy so I don't think he's ill.

Also, I'd really like to know what breed he is. He has long hair around his ears and on his rear end and a crest on his head but the rest of his hair is short. I can't see any guinea pigs who look like him in pictures on the breed page.

Thanks in advance for any ideas! :)
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Hi!
Your boy has either not had a good diet in his previous home (especially if there has not been unlimited hay), has got untreated dental issues or he is a runt; occasionally there are only very small piggies, mainly from overbreeding.
Please have him vet checked by a piggy savvy vet; including especially his back teeth.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator

Without a picture it is impossible for me to tell, but your boy is most likely either a short-hair crested with something long-haired cross or a long-haired coronet with a short-haired parent.
 
My three youngest boys (11 months or thereabouts) are between 720g and 950g. They are all a reasonable heft. When i first got my older piggies, they both lost weight but settled about a 100 less, (930 and 1200g) so I reckon they just had a different diet before I got them. Get your wee fella checked out if you are worried or if he loses weight or is thin, but he may have been a runt, or is just naturally petite.
My wee ones also have crests and longer hair at their bums. I assumed there was a bit of sheltie in their ancestry.
 
Thank you so much everyone! I'll take him to the vet if he doesn't bulk up. He's eating loads of veg, hay and pellets now so hopefully he'll be happy and healthy. :D
I love Groucho! I'll post pictures when I'm on the computer as it's not working via the tablet but mine is hairy at the back just like Groucho :D

Thanks again everyone! :)
 
SusieW said:
Thank you so much everyone! I'll take him to the vet if he doesn't bulk up. He's eating loads of veg, hay and pellets now so hopefully he'll be happy and healthy. :D
I love Groucho! I'll post pictures when I'm on the computer as it's not working via the tablet but mine is hairy at the back just like Groucho :D

Thanks again everyone! :)
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I look forward to seeing your wee guy!
 
Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that my little guy has gained 50g since we rehomed him so I'm really happy :D He's on medicine for a cold (we took him for a check up just in case after all) and has a broken front tooth but the soreness on the bottoms of his feet is improving now he's in a clean environment and he's so happy. The leader of my boys is obsessed with him and they are together all the time now! Still not uploaded the photos but I'll post pictures when I have.

Thanks for all your help! :D
 
SusieW said:
Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that my little guy has gained 50g since we rehomed him so I'm really happy :D He's on medicine for a cold (we took him for a check up just in case after all) and has a broken front tooth but the soreness on the bottoms of his feet is improving now he's in a clean environment and he's so happy. The leader of my boys is obsessed with him and they are together all the time now! Still not uploaded the photos but I'll post pictures when I have.

Thanks for all your help! :D
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That's wonderful news x
 
My pair (a boy and a girl) are both around the 7-750g mark and happy healthy pigs, just tiny! They had a rough start and were acquired by me from a rescue but we've had them two years now and they are both thriving.
 
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