Skinny Pigs

[Alfie Froud]

I might possibly be getting a pair of skinny pigs, I would like to know do they have any special requirements with things like temperature?

 

[Betsy]

@Flutterby has Skinnies she should be able to help.

 

[Wiebke]

I might possibly be getting a pair of skinny pigs, I would like to know do they have any special requirements with things like temperature?

Skinny guinea pigs have special requirements. They need an indoors home, but they do not need extra heat or clothing because they compensate their hair loss with a super-fast metabolism.

However, they eat and poo a lot more than normal guinea pigs, have a shorter life span (3-5 instead of 5-7 years) because of the fast metabolism.
They very much need extra skin care, as it tends to become dry and cracked. It is also much more prone to scratches without the protective hair layer, so skin problems are part and parcel of skinny ownership.

Skinnies are not the best starter piggies; they require even more commitment and very regular good care - and very frequent poo patrol/cage cleans! If you are not fond of cleaning out your piggies 2-3 times a week and removing poos twice daily, I would leave be!

 

[Flutterby]

On the skin care front I have never had to put anything on my girls and won't unless their skin becomes a problem. I do find too many skinny pig owners put lotions etc on their pigs skin needlessly.

 

[Alfie Froud]

Skinny guinea pigs have special requirements. They need an indoors home, but they do not need extra heat or clothing because they compensate their hair loss with a super-fast metabolism.

However, they eat and poo a lot more than normal guinea pigs, have a shorter life span (3-5 instead of 5-7 years) because of the fast metabolism.
They very much need extra skin care, as it tends to become dry and cracked. It is also much more prone to scratches without the protective hair layer, so skin problems are part and parcel of skinny ownership.

Skinnies are not the best starter piggies; they require even more commitment and very regular good care - and very frequent poo patrol/cage cleans! If you are not fond of cleaning out your piggies 2-3 times a week and removing poos twice daily, I would leave be!

So does different breeds of piggies have differences other than appearance?

 

[Wiebke]

So does different breeds of piggies have differences other than appearance?

The hairy piggies don't because they have been bred the traditional way, but skinny pigs are basically lab engineered piggies with no hairs and shorter life cycles.