Taking care of a runt?

[Sarahbear7467]

I just adopted 2 Male guinea pigs from the same litter about a week ago, dont know exsact age but around 2 months. One is a fair amout smaller then the other, pretty sure he was is the runt. He is eating, drinking, looks and seems healthy. Is there any special care runts need?

 

[Lady Kelly]

Are you sure they are definitely from the same litter? I know when you contacted the rescue after adopting your first they said there were no boars left to pair him with so just wondering how you have now come across his brother? Wondering whether maybe it's a different litter so he may actually be younger

 

[Betsy]

Good point @Lady Kelly one I was going to make.

 

[Sarahbear7467]

Are you sure they are definitely from the same litter? I know when you contacted the rescue after adopting your first they said there were no boars left to pair him with so just wondering how you have now come across his brother? Wondering whether maybe it's a different litter so he may actually be younger

Someone was adopting him but that adoption fell through. I work at the shelter where I got him from and I know that he's from the same litter.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Ok, what is the heft like to feel? See the second post in this guide Weight - Monitoring and Management as weight alone isn't a good indicator of health etc. Piggies can vary vastly in size and weight just like us humans. I've had healthy adult pigs weighing in at 850g and ones hitting 1250g. Neither of them at those weights had been ill or had any health concerns it's just some pigs are longer and bigger than others. My latest piggy was taken in at 6 weeks old and was deemed small for her age, now she's not even 1 year old yet but she's surpassed all the others and is my biggest pig

 

[AD12]

Do you have pictures of them both?

 

[Sarahbear7467]

The Multicolored one is Sugar who is the runt. Kookie is the Black one who in person is a fair amount bigger. Sugar acts normal, eats everything I give him, a drinks regularly. Only had Sugar for 4 days while I've had Kookie for 9 days. Haven't been able to weigh them yet, as I ordered the wrong scale and they're too light to register.

 

[Nassala]

Sugar is ADORABLE. If he's eating and drinking normally then I don't think there's much more you can do.

 

[Siikibam]

If he’s eating well then he’s absolutely fine. I think one of our girls was the runt, or one of the smaller ones in her litter as well. She’s smaller than her cage mate, though I wonder if it’s the hair that’s deceptive.