Skinny? Or American?

[GuineaPigGeek]

I am able to choose from either an American or Skinny pig for my new piggy this week. I REALLY want a skinny pig, but they have an area in my laundry room so its a bit chillier in there because there is two outside walls and concrete. Would a skinny pig be warm enough with lots of fleece cozies and some sweaters? I'm not really up on my Skinny Pig facts. @Flutterby you have two skinnies, can you give me some information? Or should I just stick with the American since I already have two and they are doing fine in the laundry room. They are both pigs that people don't want but I don't have room to get both, plus I'm already getting two other ones which will fill all my cages I have available. I really want the skinny pig but I don't know anything about them, and I don't want her to be cold. @Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

I am able to choose from either an American or Skinny pig for my new piggy this week. I REALLY want a skinny pig, but they have an area in my laundry room so its a bit chillier in there because there is two outside walls and concrete. Would a skinny pig be warm enough with lots of fleece cozies and some sweaters? I'm not really up on my Skinny Pig facts. @Flutterby you have two skinnies, can you give me some information? Or should I just stick with the American since I already have two and they are doing fine in the laundry room. They are both pigs that people don't want but I don't have room to get both, plus I'm already getting two other ones which will fill all my cages I have available. I really want the skinny pig but I don't know anything about them, and I don't want her to be cold. @Wiebke

Hi! Skinny pigs do NOT need sweaters or be kept in tropical conditions. They have a much faster metabolism than normal guinea pigs that keep them nicely warm in the same conditions as normal guinea pigs.

However, they eat more and poo A LOT more to keep that internal engine going at a higher speed. They also live shorter because of that. And they are more prone to skin conditions because they do not have the protection of a coat.
That is an aspect you need to consider.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/caring-for-skinny-guinea-pigs.38166/
(please note that the start of the thread is now outdated; it was written at the time skinnies started to become available to the wider public.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/skinny-pigs-and-clothes.122798/

Please be aware that adding a third to an established pair can be problematic.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

@helen105281

 

[GuineaPigGeek]

Hi! Skinny pigs do NOT need sweaters or be kept in tropical conditions. They have a much faster metabolism than normal guinea pigs that keep them nicely warm in the same conditions as normal guinea pigs.

However, they eat more and poo A LOT more to keep that internal engine going at a higher speed. They also live shorter because of that. And they are more prone to skin conditions because they do not have the protection of a coat.
That is an aspect you need to consider.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/caring-for-skinny-guinea-pigs.38166/ (please note that the start of the thread is now outdated; it was written at the time skinnies started to become available to the wider public.

Please be aware that adding a third to an established pair can be problematic.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

@helen105281
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/skinny-pigs-and-clothes.122798/

Okay thank you for the link! I have two boys so for now she goes by herself and I will try to introduce those two young ones to her later this week.

 

[Wiebke]

Okay thank you for the link! I have two boys so for now she goes by herself and I will try to introduce those two young ones to her later this week.

You simply can't put two boars together with a sow or next to a sow unless you want to intentionally cause a fall-out between them. Sorry - that is the most straight forward recipe for disaster!

 

[helen105281]

Skinnies can be a bit more tempremental so that is something to consider if you are bonding the new pig to an existing group.

 

[helen105281]

Just seen you have 2 boars already so bonding would not be possible anyway.

 

[GuineaPigGeek]

Two boys cant be together? They've been together since they were young. I'm building a C and C cage with a cage on top for the girl(s), even though they can't see her it will cause problems? Someone told me if the girls were on top it would be okay, now I'm confused lol.

 

[Wiebke]

Two boys cant be together? They've been together since they were young. I'm building a C and C cage with a cage on top for the girl(s), even though they can't see her it will cause problems? Someone told me if the girls were on top it would be okay, now I'm confused lol.

Thank you for clarifying that. The way you phrased it sounded like you were planning to put them together or keep them in adjoining cages.

Please keep the boys above the girls. Pheromones don't rise unless there are lots of them (like several sows coming into a strong season at once as happens occasionally here), but they drift down. It is the sow pheromones that boars should not come into direct contact with.

 

[GuineaPigGeek]

Thank you for clarifying that. The way you phrased it sounded like you were planning to put them together or keep them in adjoining cages.

Please keep the boys above the girls. Pheromones don't rise unless there are lots of them (like several sows coming into a strong season at once as happens occasionally here), but they drift down. It is the sow pheromones that boars should not come into direct contact with.

Oh lol. you I meant try to introduce the two young girl guineas I'm rescuing to this girl, not the boys to the girl lol. I really shouldn't be posting when I'm this tired haha.

 

[PiggyPower2018]

Finally made an account! She's really stressed out about deciding this. She has no clue. I don't really know what to say because I am a pretty new piggy owner. Well I better go to bed. Oh btw I'm her real friend if you are wondering.

 

[Flutterby]

Couldn't agree more with all the advice above!