One piggy putting on more weight than the other

[DizzyD95]

Don't know if this is the right place to post but....

My girls are just over 3 months. When we first got them, Minstrel was the smaller of the two. However, Minstrel now weighs 120g more than Popcorn! She does tend to snatch food, however I do watch them to make sure they both get veggies. Popcorn is more scatty and therefore probably more active. Do you think I need to be concerned? Popcorn hasn't lost any weight, she just isn't putting it on as quickly. When they visited the vet last month, she said they were both in perfect health. I may just be over reacting. They weigh 458g (P) and 580g (M) Thanks!

 

[Piggies&buns]

If they are both in good health according to the vet and popcorn is eating and isn’t losing weight, then I wouldn’t be too concerned.
perhaps just put down two piles of veggies/hay/pellets and then watch them eat so you can see that she does get her share.
(My black and white striped boy in my avatar is called Popcorn!)

 

[Claire W]

So long as they are both in good health and gaining weight, I really wouldn’t worry. Piggies come in all shapes and sizes

 

[DizzyD95]

If they are both in good health according to the vet and popcorn is eating and isn’t losing weight, then I wouldn’t be too concerned.
perhaps just put down two piles of veggies/hay/pellets and then watch them eat so you can see that she does get her share.
(My black and white striped boy in my avatar is called Popcorn!)

Yeah, I've been trying to do that - Minstrel still decides the tastiest bit is whatever Popcorn is eating! But yes, I will definitely watch more closely to make sure she gets her share. Awh! He looks like a cutie!

 

[DizzyD95]

So long as they are both in good health and gaining weight, I really wouldn’t worry. Piggies come in all shapes and sizes

I am definitely over-reacting a bit, I was just so surprised when I weighed them that it was that large a difference! But yes, they are both gaining

 

[PigglePuggle]

We have a small slim piggy who is 8 months old and has never quite managed to reach 800g in weight, she just isnt as much of a pig as her friends! We tried feeding her separately, in a different cage area or out of the cage, but she prefers to eat with the others and she'll run away from a seperate food bowl to go be pushed out of one the others are eating out of. Think she will always just be rather petite compared to the others

 

[DizzyD95]

We have a small slim piggy who is 8 months old and has never quite managed to reach 800g in weight, she just isnt as much of a pig as her friends! We tried feeding her separately, in a different cage area or out of the cage, but she prefers to eat with the others and she'll run away from a seperate food bowl to go be pushed out of one the others are eating out of. Think she will always just be rather petite compared to the others

They're funny creatures sometimes! This is very reassuring though thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Don't know if this is the right place to post but....

My girls are just over 3 months. When we first got them, Minstrel was the smaller of the two. However, Minstrel now weighs 120g more than Popcorn! She does tend to snatch food, however I do watch them to make sure they both get veggies. Popcorn is more scatty and therefore probably more active. Do you think I need to be concerned? Popcorn hasn't lost any weight, she just isn't putting it on as quickly. When they visited the vet last month, she said they were both in perfect health. I may just be over reacting. They weigh 458g (P) and 580g (M) Thanks!

Hi!

Please feed them their veg and pellets in portions that they can eat in one go twice daily in a bowl each at least a body length apart and remove the bowls between meals.
Make sure that you have got access to unlimited hay (which makes over 80% of the daily food intake ) which cannot be blocked by one piggy and if necessary have it in two places. Also have two bottles in different places if you are suspecting food bullying.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Be aware that weight differences are normal and that are getting larger as the piggies grow. As long as both girls are fine in themselves, you need not worry. You check the weight/size ratio at any age around the ribcage ('heft'). More details on how to in this guide here: The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

 

[DizzyD95]

Hi!

Please feed them their veg and pellets in portions that they can eat in one go twice daily in a bowl each at least a body length apart and remove the bowls between meals.
Make sure that you have got access to unlimited hay (which makes over 80% of the daily food intake ) which cannot be blocked by one piggy and if necessary have it in two places. Also have two bottles in different places if you are suspecting food bullying.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Be aware that weight differences are normal and that are getting larger as the piggies grow. As long as both girls are fine in themselves, you need not worry. You check the weight/size ratio at any age around the ribcage ('heft'). More details on how to in this guide here: The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

Thank you I'll make more separate piles for them! It's so silly, I've had lots of piggies, but because these two are by far the youngest I find myself stressing out more! The are getting plenty of hay so that's good Thanks!