Features and habitat of the skinny pig
The word “skinny” itself is a colloquial word form that literally means a bag of bones, however, the skinny pig , as can be seen in its photo , is not at all thin, quite the contrary.
The characteristics of these animals, in addition to their exotic appearance, can easily be attributed to their gluttony. These animals eat 5-6 times more than ordinary woolly representatives of this species.
This need for nutrition is due to a very high level of heat exchange and the body’s energy expenditure to maintain its own body temperature.
Another feature that skinny pigs is that their pets are completely hypoallergenic. Even asthmatics who suffocate from the slightest speck of dust can keep this type of pet.
As for the fact that rodents are bred artificially and, accordingly, have an unstable psyche and poor health, this is only partly true. In fact, naked animals appeared long before scientists began breeding them.
For example, in the mid-19th century, they were extremely popular in aristocratic circles, especially in England, during the heyday of fashionable subcultures associated with absinthe and opium among the bohemians and aristocracy.
Such pets were very expensive; not everyone, even a wealthy person, could afford a naked pet. It was in those days that the nickname “skinny” was assigned to the animals, which later became the name of the breed.
The thing is that naked individuals are periodically born into families of the most ordinary guinea pigs. This is a kind of genetic mutation, a deviation. Bald animals are carriers of a special recessive gene.
This is precisely why they attracted Canadian scientists. The purpose of the laboratory studies was to study this gene, and the breed was formed completely by accident, being a “side” result.
It is not known how far scientists have progressed in their research into recessive processes, but charming pets have firmly entered the hearts of many people and in popularity can easily compete even with hamsters and white rats.
As for the habitat, the animals live only in captivity, and only with love and care. They are very emotionally sensitive, and from dissatisfaction with their owners or cruel treatment they can get sick much faster than from drafts or viruses.
Animals need their own home, which is better off in a terrarium rather than in an open cage. At the same time, the pet will be happy to accompany the child in games, or simply “watch” a movie in the arms of the owner.
As for cleanliness, there are examples of both completely spontaneous bowel movements and a persistent commitment to “doing your business” in a potty or tray. It is not clear what this moment depends on; it is possible that the training of the pet plays some role, or perhaps it is a matter of the individual inclinations of the animals.
What they look like
Appearance
The body shape of adult animals resembled the outlines of hippopotamuses. The head is large and wide. The ears are set wide, pointing straight forward and slightly bent. The nose is convex, the eyes are large and shiny. The neck is short, the shoulders are strong. The back is relatively straight, not sagging or hunched. The skin, gathered into folds, forms a dewlap in the neck area, and pockets on the paws.
Skin and color
The hairless pig has a blunt muzzle and no tail.
The skin of these animals is pleasant to the touch and quite hot. Skinny's body temperature is 39-40 degrees. At birth, piglets of this breed have no hair at all. As it grows, a small amount of hair appears on the muzzle, not above the eye line, on the paws up to the hock joint and on the back.
Skin color can be either solid or mottled. Very often, colors have beautiful names, for example, chocolate with cream, gold and white, saffron.
The weight of adult individuals is 0.8 - 1.0 kg, and the body length is 27 - 35 cm.
Character and lifestyle of skinny pig
Hairless skinny pigs are super social animals, very good-natured and affectionate. Very inquisitive, they can sit for hours opposite the hostess who is preparing dinner, watching her actions and with a “smile” across her face, accepting from her hands with her paws everything that this hostess gives in a fit of emotion, and, of course, immediately eating them.
If there is a cat in the house, the skinny guinea pig can be found curled up under its warm side and peacefully dreaming to the vibrating purr of the cat. Naked animals just as easily and quickly find a common language with dogs, fish and any other animals.
As for lifestyle, keeping skinny guinea pigs is also convenient because the animals quickly adapt to the rhythm and regime in which people live.
If a person sleeps during the day and works at night, for example, at the computer, then the pet will do the same. The only thing that is necessary is to take the animal out of the terrarium when returning home.
If a pig sees an owner who has come and ignores her joyful greetings, she may become upset and get sick, however, sometimes in such situations a heart break occurs, “from grief.” Therefore, quite often these animals are kept in groups of 2-4 individuals, so that they do not get bored alone.
What do they eat
Skinnies are herbivores. They love hay with greens. Skinnies are coprotrophs; they feed on their own excrement.
It is necessary to add vitamin C to animal feed, since the animal’s body is not able to produce this vitamin on its own. You can purchase this vitamin in liquid form and add it to water or include green and red peppers in Skinny’s diet. But green peppers are more suitable for daily feeding, as they contain less sugar. Several times a week the pig is given 2 leaves of cabbage. Skinny should be given mint and broccoli once every 7 days.
To maintain the balance of vitamins in the mammal’s body, you should feed it cucumbers and tomatoes, apples and citrus fruits, as well as spinach and beans. Skinnies need phosphorus, so they should be given oats and barley a couple of times a week. Pregnant females should be pampered with nuts and seeds more often. But there are foods that are strictly contraindicated for mumps. These are potatoes, meat and chocolate, any fried foods and sweets.
The first time after birth, the young need mother's milk and, if the pig is rejected by the mother, it must be fed manually using a teaspoon. A syringe cannot be used, as the animal may choke. You can feed your pig with goat's milk or formula.
Skinny pig nutrition
The main care for a skinny pig is to feed the animal, and this is quite difficult. Although pets love to eat and are absolutely omnivorous, like any guinea pig, there is a difficulty.
It consists in creating a diet in which the pet will receive the required amount of necessary food and will not overeat, since these animals are very prone to both simple obesity and obesity.
In addition to obesity, food directly affects how long skinny guinea pigs live . Even if the pet is an absolute companion and with great pleasure absorbs instant noodles, popcorn, French fries, pizza and washes it down with the owner’s soda. Although it looks great and feels great, such a diet is not healthy for the animal.
The main components of pet nutrition should be:
- cereals;
- greenery;
- vegetables;
- dry hay;
- fruits.
a ready-made mixture of grains for your skinny pig at any store - food for guinea pigs, hamsters or rats is ideal. According to owners who keep bald pets together with parrots, pigs also eat bird food with great appetite.
If you don’t want to buy ready-made mixtures, then you can do without them, you just need to put a bowl with grains for your pet, and you can buy a container with divisions, this will allow you to watch how the animal will choose what exactly to snack on. Among skinny’s favorite “dishes”:
- peas - pods, whole, green;
- oats;
- wheat;
- rye;
- corn - the animal can easily handle a small cob, holding it funny with its paws;
- apples;
- cucumbers;
- carrot;
- pumpkin;
- eggplants.
There is no need to give your pet foods high in starch and fruits excessively rich in sugar in large quantities.
Types of skinny pigs
These animals do not have any species as such; they differ only in color, which today is extremely diverse - from coal-black with a bluish tint to soft cream, with a hint of coffee with milk. Of course, albinos and chocolate pigs that look like little hippos are still popular.
Pictured is a Baldwin guinea pig.
In addition to the Skinny, there is another hairless breed of guinea pig - the Baldwin, this species was registered only 12 years ago. The origin is similar to the Skinny, the only difference is that Baldwins are born with short fur, and acquire their exotic hairless appearance after a few months.
The sizes of the animals are the same:
- length from 30 to 55 cm, although larger animals are also found;
- weight from 600 g (for the smallest, 30 centimeters), to 2 kg.
As for weight, these are the indicators of pigs on a “proper” diet, in comfortable home conditions, with the opportunity to constantly refresh themselves; the animals can confidently step over the bar of a couple of kilograms.
The photo shows a skinny guinea pig
Baldwins were identified as a separate breed not only because of the original presence of fur, but also because of their tendency to form folds; often these animals look not like hippos, but like miniature mastiffs.
However, not every individual is overgrown with folds, therefore, the desire to have not just a naked, but also a wrinkled pet is a kind of lottery. Taking an already adult rodent with the “necessary” exterior is also a lottery; animals of both hairless breeds are monogamous and it is not a fact that they will open their hearts to a new owner and survive the betrayal of their previous owners.
Reproduction
This question will not cause any difficulties for anyone, since there is no need to create special conditions for breeding hairless guinea pigs.
Sexual maturity occurs in females at 2-2.5 months, and in males at 3 months. But it’s not worth giving birth to pets so early: the body is not yet fully formed and pregnancy can be difficult. The optimal age for breeding is 6 months of age.
During gestation, the female is provided with adequate feeding, but not overfed! Vitamin E, B and others are introduced into the diet.
After the birth of the offspring, the female needs to rest from childbirth and pregnancy for at least six months before mating with the male again.
Skinnies, like Baldwins, are ideal pets that will not let their owners get bored. Their lack of hair makes them look good compared to other guinea pigs. This point is especially important for allergy sufferers, for whom hairless pets are unlikely to cause an asthma attack.
