i’ve decided i’m going to get skinny pigs and have a few questions. can they have timothy hay? and how is their diet different from normal piggies? what special requirements do they have. can they be bedded on hay or does it have to be fleece? can if not can i still give them hay hideys? i have a lot to learnt but i’ve got until the summer. (:
skinny pigs
- Thread starter Teacake
- Start date
@PigglePuggle has a skinny so can answer your questions
Skinny pigs take a lot of extra care and I wouldn't recommend them if you are a first time piggy owner. They are very sensitive to the cold and must be kept indoors. I have a thermostatically controlled heater in their room to ensure the temperature doesn't drop below 17 C. They have fleece hidies with more fleece inside them to sleep in.
I keep my skinny pigs on fleece and they have a large tray full of hay. They don't tend to burrow in the hay as much as my haired piggies but love to sit on top of the pile and eat it. I have also used Fitch paper bedding in their cage which was also good but I just find the fleece easier.
In the summer they can go outside in a run but you have to be very careful that they are out of direct sunlight or their skin will burn. Like all guinea pigs they should be supervised if they are outside.
Skinny pigs are very active and very vocal and bit hyperactive. They have a high metabolic rate and will eat more than your average guinea pig. This means that of course there is a lot more poo.
If you have any questions I am sure either me, @PigglePuggle or @Flutterby will be able to help you.
I keep my skinny pigs on fleece and they have a large tray full of hay. They don't tend to burrow in the hay as much as my haired piggies but love to sit on top of the pile and eat it. I have also used Fitch paper bedding in their cage which was also good but I just find the fleece easier.
In the summer they can go outside in a run but you have to be very careful that they are out of direct sunlight or their skin will burn. Like all guinea pigs they should be supervised if they are outside.
Skinny pigs are very active and very vocal and bit hyperactive. They have a high metabolic rate and will eat more than your average guinea pig. This means that of course there is a lot more poo.
If you have any questions I am sure either me, @PigglePuggle or @Flutterby will be able to help you.
Flutterby
Anniversary Herd
Only thing i can add to the fab advise above is that they don't need anything adding to their skin unless their is a problem with it. A lot of skinny owners use creams weakly etc but if it isn't broke then no need to fix it. My skinnies never have anything on their skin.
PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
Completely agree with @YvonneBlue skinny pigs are very difficult pets and not really like keeping guinea pigs!
Tallulah costs me an extra £40 per month in winter keeping the house warm enough for her even when I'm out at work, even with that she needs constant fleecy tunnels and snuggle sacks that get saturated with pee and poo and need washing and changing about every 12 hours in winter, she rarely sleeps, hates the feel of hay on her naked skin so doesnt enjoy hay burrowing like normal piggies, though she is constantly constantly starving starving and wheeking wheeking... she is so hyperactive and gets bored so easily that if she doesnt have a fresh haycube or cardboard box or any other arrangement of fresh edible furniture everyday she eats the correx cage base. Loudly. At 3am. While wheeking or occasionally chirping at the moon like a werewolf piggy
But as @Flutterby says they have lovely skin and dont need any skin care or grooming at all and dont shed any fur
You have been warned! If you are still sure skinny pigs are right for you and you'll even feel that way in winter, then the best of luck x
money for heating or extra care isn’t a problem. i have five guinea pigs and i’ll be getting another one soon. i wouldn’t say i’m super experienced but i definitely know what i’m doing! of course i’ll only get a skinny when i can have it inside with a friend, and when i’ve researched them enough. atm i know nothing, but you have to start researching somewhere! (: