Mini pigs make exceptional pets and are incredibly small compared to regular stock pigs. Pet pigs are usually described by the terms mini pig, tea cup pig, pocket pig, etc. In truth there is really no such thing as a tea cup pig. A mini pig will reach about the size of cocker spaniel dog. The photos of tiny little pigs on the internet are baby pigs and they will grow. Unfortunately there are a lot of scams out there that you will encounter when looking for a pet pig. In this article I will be talking about different breeds and what to look for in order to avoid scams.
When looking for a pig to buy first ask the breeder or owner, what breed the pig is. If they respond by saying, "It’s a mini pig" or "They are tea cup pigs," then avoid buying from them. Mini pig is not a breed! Juliana or Pot Belly, those are breeds. It is better for the pig to be a mix breed than for them to not know at all what breed it is.
When the breeder says that the pig will stay under 25lb you will know right away that this is a scam. No pig will stay that small. The smallest pig breed will be around 45lb to 60lb. Some breeders do advertise the parents of the pig litter as being around 30lb. Now I don’t consider this lying because in truth these pigs will grow up to the size of a small dog and at a glance they will apparent to be around 30lb. Pigs are made up of some kind of dark matter that weighs so much more than what it looks like! Just kidding, but really pigs do not look as heavy as they really are. I think that if breeders advertised the correct weight of their pigs, people would picture a much, much bigger animal.
The breed I recommend the most for pet pig owners is the Juliana Pig. This is the smallest pig breed and also a very pretty pig. This breed is small, spotted, with a straight back, no hanging stomach and has been bred to live closely with humans. When looking for a Juliana pig to buy it is very important that the pig have spots. If the pig is a solid color you can be almost 100% sure that it is not a true Juliana pig. Fully grown this pig should be between 30 to 50 pounds and under 15 inches tall. Some Juliana pigs do weigh more than this, but they are overweight and should be put on a diet to maintain good health.
For those who have more room and desire a bigger pet pig, there is the Vietnamese Potbellied Pig. These are the most common pigs in the pet trade. They have swayed backs and a big, hanging, belly. They come in a verity of colors, but most are black. These pigs will often be over 100lb.
It’s always a good idea to purchase a pig from reputable breeders who are willing to let you go see their own pigs.
If you have more questions about looking for a pet pig please send me a message!
About Animal Care Expert Meghan Arriola
Meghan Arriola is an animal care consultant from Texas that spends her time promoting holistic wellbeing for humans and animals, while also caring for her many pets including dogs, ferrets, reptiles, goats and much more!
Copyright 2015 – All Rights Reserved MJ Arriola Creations LLC
When looking for a pig to buy first ask the breeder or owner, what breed the pig is. If they respond by saying, "It’s a mini pig" or "They are tea cup pigs," then avoid buying from them. Mini pig is not a breed! Juliana or Pot Belly, those are breeds. It is better for the pig to be a mix breed than for them to not know at all what breed it is.
When the breeder says that the pig will stay under 25lb you will know right away that this is a scam. No pig will stay that small. The smallest pig breed will be around 45lb to 60lb. Some breeders do advertise the parents of the pig litter as being around 30lb. Now I don’t consider this lying because in truth these pigs will grow up to the size of a small dog and at a glance they will apparent to be around 30lb. Pigs are made up of some kind of dark matter that weighs so much more than what it looks like! Just kidding, but really pigs do not look as heavy as they really are. I think that if breeders advertised the correct weight of their pigs, people would picture a much, much bigger animal.
The breed I recommend the most for pet pig owners is the Juliana Pig. This is the smallest pig breed and also a very pretty pig. This breed is small, spotted, with a straight back, no hanging stomach and has been bred to live closely with humans. When looking for a Juliana pig to buy it is very important that the pig have spots. If the pig is a solid color you can be almost 100% sure that it is not a true Juliana pig. Fully grown this pig should be between 30 to 50 pounds and under 15 inches tall. Some Juliana pigs do weigh more than this, but they are overweight and should be put on a diet to maintain good health.
For those who have more room and desire a bigger pet pig, there is the Vietnamese Potbellied Pig. These are the most common pigs in the pet trade. They have swayed backs and a big, hanging, belly. They come in a verity of colors, but most are black. These pigs will often be over 100lb.
It’s always a good idea to purchase a pig from reputable breeders who are willing to let you go see their own pigs.
If you have more questions about looking for a pet pig please send me a message!
About Animal Care Expert Meghan Arriola
Meghan Arriola is an animal care consultant from Texas that spends her time promoting holistic wellbeing for humans and animals, while also caring for her many pets including dogs, ferrets, reptiles, goats and much more!
Copyright 2015 – All Rights Reserved MJ Arriola Creations LLC
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