maybe a Skinny soon?

[nibbler100]

Hello!
so iv been wanting to find a third little pig and make my little family a trio! iv been looking for a few months know and i found one! (iv been kinda really obbbsest with skinny pigs lately and what not) Shes a little skinny pig! i feel so lucky XD well anyways i need to know a few things before getting her.

1.) will skinny's tolerate cloths for long period of times. my house gets could sometimes and i don't want to get her if i cant keep her warm.

2.) will my other piggies be mean to her because she has no hair?

3.) what different things would i have to do to a skinny to keep there skin in tip top shape?

[pinky]

I hope you're adopting from a rescue and not buying from a pet store or breeder.

[bpatters]

will skinny's tolerate cloths for long period of times.

Cloths? I'm not sure what you're asking. But skinnies do have to be kept warm, which means carefully positioned lights, snuggle cups, and lots and lots of food.

The other pigs won't be mean to her because she has no hair, but you'll have to be extra careful with all of their nails. You'll have to file the rough edges off after you trim them so her skin won't get scratched.

Gorgeous Guineas makes a number of products for guinea pig skin care -- I'm sure you could find something from them.

Ditto Pinky -- I do hope you're adopting from a rescue and not buying from a breeder or a pet shop.

[SurfingPigs]

Skinny pigs tend to have more medical issues than most, I hope you account for this in your vet fund prior to adopting one.

[ellisa]

If you mean clothes, then no. Never dress up a cavy. Like bp said, skinnies do need to be kept warm with cozies, etc.

[nibbler100]

i have money set back no worry's on that and even if my found wasn't big enough (i have almost 300 set back still growing with every pay check) we have care credit for vet bills if needed. I have getting her from a breeder. the only place i know of who adopts piggies out haven't had any in over a mouth. I hit Craigslist daily but there hasn't really been any good ones that fit my Needs/ wants.

Trust me iv been looking for a long time. I talked to the breeder on the phone, he sounds responsible but i wont really know that until i go to see her. Normally i would wait for one to come along instead of going threw a breeder but when i saw he had skinny pigs i had to jump.

P.S. i haven't even decided on weather I'm getting her or not, if i do go threw with it and i don't like his treatment or care of the animals i will not get her. If I'm going to buy from a breeder then I'm going to make sour hes a responsible one.

[C_Elise]

I know heaters aren't the safest route, but if youre really going to get a Skinny Pig, which like the others said, definitely need an added source of heat considering I don't know many pigs that cuddle together, but try looking into oil filled space heaters, I have one in my bedroom because I have to keep my bedroom door shut at all times to keep my cat out, and the upstairs level of my house has no heating so the little heat that comes from downstairs and creeps up our windy staircase is all our upstairs level gets.
I know if they get knocked over (most are on wheels) they shut themselves off automatically, they radiate the heat, and they shut themselves on and off like, once the room reaches the temperature you set on the dial, it turns off and doesn't turn back on again unless the temperature starts to drop. My dad is NUTS about objects that can set the house on fire (but who isn't!) and he is fine with me having this one! He even said since I got it (which I leave it on 24/7, day and night, probably from october to april/may) the electricity bill barely went up, so I guess it won't cost you much extra!

[nibbler100]

i thought about a heater and we have one down stairs just not up hear XD ill look into it defiantly. if i do get her, i will get a heater. plus i wouldn't be comfy sticking a heater lamp by or near the cage my other piggies might get to hot XD

[bpatters]

For that reason alone, it's not a good idea to mix skinnies and haired pigs. Skinnies definitely (and that's the word, not defiantly) need warmer temperatures than the hairies. It's hard to keep the skinnies warm without overheating the haired ones.

[SurfingPigs]

Oh, needs and wants...

What are your needs? You have 2 guinea pigs already, so you don't need another friend for them. You may want one, but you surely don't need to go out and purchase a guinea pig from a breeder just because you think a pig looks cute without fur.

Your wants, however, are easier to see. You want a skinny pig because, to quote you, "iv been kinda really obbbsest with skinny pigs lately and what not" (sic). So, you are choosing your likely fleeting desire for a skinny pig and choosing to purchase from a breeder instead of adopting a pig that desperately needs a home. If I shave one of my foster pigs bald, will you adopt it?

I would recommend you reevaluate your decision. If you are making the decision that is best for all pigs involved, you will be responsible and adopt. If you want to make a decision that could result in a pig that doesn't remotely get along with your pigs, you can go buy a skinny pig whose mother has been bred over and over so that the breeder can make lunch money. The choice is yours.

[kourt1313]

Agreed with everyone else. To reiterate what someone else said, you already have two, they really don't need a companion. Please don't get another pig just because you want one, this is the very wrong reason and a selfish one at that. You need to consider what is best for your current pigs. Did I want to get a companion for Shelby? Not entirely, it's more money, it's more work, but I can't do what's convenient for me, I had to do what is in the best interest and needs of my pig. Your two pigs are fine, bringing another one in that has entirely different needs isn't fair to that pig at all.

[kittymalone]

For the reasons listed above, I agree with SurfingPigs that you may want to reevaluate your decision, especially if that decision includes a breeder. I have always LOVED Texel guinea pigs and actually looked into breeders because I wasn't sure how else to get one. I decided against buying from a breeder for a few different reasons: #1 contributing to the overpopulation, #2 there are LOTS of pigs eager for good homes in rescues and shelters and Craigslist, and #3 breeders charge A LOT of money (skinny pigs can run upwards of $100). I searched and searched for a Texel in a rescue with no luck, and looked on every cities Craigslist within 100 miles of me for probably a year. It took some time but I did find one in need of a home. No breeder involved. Be patient. Keep looking. A few months ago a girl had posted an ad to rehome her 3 skinny pigs. You might be surprised. Don't go through a breeder. Not when there are some wonderful pigs that need you.

[kittymalone]

Here are a couple I found on Columbus Craigslist...
Small Animal Rescue


Two Guinea Pigs & Supplies

The first listing says they are a small animal rescue. You might want to email them and see if they can keep an eye out for a skinny. It's worth a try.

[Frapplove]

I love you guys

[nibbler100]

Frapplove@ that was in inappropriate

kittymalone@ the female in the first adds to old, iv already called. shes around the same age as mine and d like you gt a younger pig to lesson the chance of a bad introduction and the other add the male and female are both housed together and iv not trying to have babys to take care of and then find homes for... again. but thank you (:
my other problem is there are not any in the shelters around me or any suitable pigs on crags list for awhile. the only reason i am looking at a breeder is because they have skinny's and iv always wanted one, i haven't even made a decision yet on weather I'm getting one.

kourt1313@ its no ones business weather i want/need a third one or not. i have the time, money, space, and everything else i need to get a third. So why not do it? i get it, its a breeder criticize me for that, not the fact i want a third. thank you.

SurfingPigs@ needs: younger, female, healthy (although i can afford the vet bills if need be), and not prago. Wants: skinny but will get a pig (no matter hair type or lake there of) if it needs a home. read the above post for kourt1313 to the other part of your commit. don't attack me for wanting a certain type of pig. yeah i want one doesn't mean ill get it. i posted this because i had concerns about the well fare of the piggie if i get it. not to be harassed about getting a certain type of pig from a breeder. i have a American short hair and a Addy, my third pig that i will get could be anything. Don't jump to a conclusion about me without even knowing me thank you.

bpatters@ i agree, and that is why i posted this because i needed info about that kinda stuff and it concerns me weather i would have the right suitable home for a skinny. i will try and looking to resurch more about it tho and maybe hang a thermometer in my room and record average temps but that is something i don't think ill be able to work around. thank you (:

Thank you to everyone who helped to answer my questions. i understand your concerns about me being interested in a breeder and i have talked to him. i asked about there conditions, how often there breed, when there separated from there mother, and why he breeds and if i can see where he keeps the pigs.

there conations: he has two females and two males of American short hair, Textiles, Addys and skinny's. He separates the males when the females start to show. there kept in C&C cages with wood chip bedding.

How often there breed: he said twice a year and he'll breed a female for three years and then find a home for her. he switch males about every one to two years. he separate the the males and females at three weeks.

why he breeds: he said to get different types of colors (only answer i really didn't like)

Once again i haven't made a disunion yet and the way things are looking (due to heating issues and keeping a skinny warm) i don't think ill be able to get a skinny. thanks to those of you who helped me with my questions. (:

[guineapigfied]

i have a skinny boy im looking into rehoming? :/ just throwing that out there, and my skinny and furred boars are GREAT together, mess makers

[SurfingPigs]

Attack you? I will chalk that statement up to your apparent youth and not ridicule you for it.

You can get young, healthy, non-pregnant females at any guinea pig rescue. And I bet you can find one in your local area if you watch craigslist for a month. I just adopted out five young, healthy, non-pregnant females in the past 3 months, and I'm just one of dozens of fosters at this rescue.

When you go posting on public internet forums about wanting to buy a pig from a breeder, you make responding to that open comment our business. It is my business to dissuade people from contributing to the problem, and its worse when people acknowledge the problem but cave in to their inner "I want I want I want."
You don't want people to comment on it? Try a journal.

[Gigabyte]

Breeding guinea pigs TWICE a year for 3 whole years? Way, way too much breeding. I just went to the guinea pig shelter today, and there were 73 guinea pigs for adoption, including skinnies. Keep looking.

[kourt1313]

Breeding guinea pigs TWICE a year for 3 whole years? Way, way too much breeding.

Exactly! That is way too much for their little bodies to handle! Tell me it's none of my business all you want but this breeder is not educated at all! SurfingPigs is right, you come in a public forum like this you make it our business and now that you've mentioned this breeder's blatant disregard for his pigs... I'm sorry, he rehomes the female after three years of being bred?! What, so he doesn't have to deal with the vet bills of the damage he's caused her?! "Well, she's done, let someone else deal with the aftermath." Completely irresponsible. You have much more research to do on this issue.

[Gigabyte]

@kourt1313 - Exactly. Animals don't need to be bred like this. If I can find 73 available guinea pigs in one rescue, I'm pretty sure she can find ONE guinea pig in a rescue where she is. But of course, this thread will, like most of this nature turn into, "WHAAA! I just wanted a pig, you guys are all out to get me, whine whine whine, etc..."
In which case we're not. It's the pig's well being, not the owner's emotions we need to care for.